Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-12
FRANCIS WILSON'S OPINIONS.
He Relieves That the EaElfsh Arc
Ahead of Us in Comic Opera.

From the Baltimore American.
Mr. Francis Wilson Is a bibliomaniac.
Thus It was natural to find him in his room
at the Stafford last night porting over the
contents of q qulint volume of forgotten
lore that he had picked up In some old GU
riositN shop during the course OF his traV-
els. The comedian had shortly arrived from
New Jersey, but this fact showed no evil
dences of sorrow on his part Mr.. Wilson
Is in Baltimore on his annual visit, bring
ing with him his newest comic opera. And
it was comic opera that became the burden
of his talk after he had asked and been an
swered a few questions regarding the city.
THE twentieth century comic opera. Has
IL arrived? | am afraid not-though l be-
ljev,. 1t will be here before the century eX-
pires" he said. Its opportunity Is here,
and the demand is great, for it must be adj
nitted that there is not at present really
legitimate comic opera before the pubic
The drift of comic opera has been toward
extravaganza, and the continued popularity
of that class of entertainment has grad
uallv brought it to that form. Along with
this has come the rise of the so-cailed mu-
steal comedies, which, after all. is Dut the
English term for the American comic opera.
The popularity of these entertainments with
orr theatergoers is tremendous. It is fact
beyond question that those musical come
dies which have been the most successful
have been the work of English authors ana
cDrnpoSers Ours have had sad lack OF
the graceful and dainty lyrics in which we
are excelled by the English. Probably TINS
is due to the fact that the English writers
take more time, and are allowed more tlme
for their work. Over here we throw a mu-
steal comedy of comic opera together in
short notice That Is, some of us DO L
won't admit that do, If can heip IT, You
will notice on the programs OF these Eng
lish musical comedies that there have been
several gentlemen engaged in the prepara-
ton of the work. Frequently the book and
the story IS the work Of one man who eX-
cells in this direction, the lyrics have been
written by man who is the best in his line,
and the music perhaps. by at least two
composers. They all set to work, take their
time III the good old English FASHION. ana
there is no disputins the fact that they turn
cut superior article. At any rate Amer
lean audiences regard it as the superior ar
ticle after the astute American manager
brings it over to this side with the stamp
Of London approval unmistaka bly on it.
Comic opera needs another combination
like Gilbert and Sullivan, and it needs the
combination badly. We have good libret-
fists. here, but we have worked them TO
death. And now we have the situation of
having few good librettists, which Is SIM
su!ar thing in a country where humor is so
abundant and where satire is the most Ell
fective weapon of the press. You probably
do not realize 1t as l do, and as all man.
ayers and men at the head of a company
do, that there Is Just now an astonishing
scarcity of good singing soubrettes-knoWn
iatterly as prima donna soubr"ttes Inc
same condition of affairs exists In England.
where the pick of the American market Is
now engaged Thy are needed badly, and
the few that are available are regarded as
treasures Do not understand by what l
have said that question the popularity OF
comic opera. There never was any question
about that. / have simply pointed out Its
needs and they are points which will be
| met in the future. The public has shown
a most encouraging liking for my opera this
| season. Some of my critics have remarked
! that il is the most Wllsonesque opera ]
| have had for some seasons. From this
/ infer that have had the audacity to push
/ myself to the front. II this be SO. and the
| public and the critics are pleased Zee
| that 1 have at least not striven In vain.
! Il must say a word about my associates
and managers. who are known in your city
from the fact that they control the Acad
emy. Messrs. Nixon and Zimmerman have
given me the handsomest and most com
/ plete production Of my career, and pro
+ yided me with a company that Is by TAI
the best have ever had. l cannot say tot
much Of their sagacity and wisdom In the
| direction of theatrical affairs and or VIVA
| great benefit both artistically and success
| fully. their careful and constant direction
has been to myself and my Organization
| Mr. Wilson is a devotee of golf. and M
! Is hoping that good weather during MS Vlsl
in Baltimore will present opportunities FOL
a jaunt across the links with the caddles.