The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-19
"rhe sultan of suIu" nj EnsIi.h's.

The personal prestige of George AIDE.
writer of modern moral stories in slang
and member OF Indiana's constellation of
active litteratueurs served last evening to
fill English's with people curious to OBJ
serve what grade of musical comedy libret-
to he could produce. Ii 1.-The Sultan of
Sulu'' Mr.. ADD has satirized the American
invasion : the Philippines and particularly
of 'the smiling Isle of Sulu." His work.
as shown in the opera. bristles with clever
ness and was thoroughly enjoyed by the
audience.
A detachment of American troops lands
on SuIu, and their commander informs XII
Ram. the sultan, that his island has been
purchased by the United States and he is
TO serve in the future as governor. A quar-
tet of school teachers has been brought
along to go among the people and teach
them things they ought to know, and a
female judge advocate is come to see that
propriety shall rule. Most Importantly, the
American commander. Col. Jefferson Budd.
of Arkansas. conveys TO the sultan the
secret OF the cocktail, for after drinking a
half-dozen glasses the sultan insults the
Judge advocate by proposing that she shall
become a member of his harem. For this
offense she divorces his wives and, in de-
fault of alimony. sends him to jail. Finally
the sultan is restored TO power and happi-
ness by the receipt or orders from Wash
ington that none of the customs of The
country shall be disturbed. The polyg-
amous condition resulting in Sulu after its
possession by the Americans, was, IL will
be remembered, a thorn in the flesh Of the
home guard about the time the a~nti-cantcen
legislation was set going: Mr.. AIDE has
remedied that by making the sultan decline
to take back his wives. They marry SOL
diers.
The sultan learns that 1t is proper for him
TO put his arm about a woman's waist
when he is waltzing with her. but not when
they are still; that IL cocktails follow the
flag, so also does the katZenjammer; that
an officer of volunteers is a hero. and when
he returns home is elected to Congress,
while the regular army man stays on the
frontier TO fight ttat faithful servants,
when they become American citizens, join
the Walters Union and demand salaries
and tips and may run for Governor-these
and numerous other things that should
make "A savage think twice before becom-
ing civilized and free the sultan is made
to know.
The fun OF Mr.. AIDES libretto is of this
sort and the filling is of conventional and
often-rsed comic-opera ~buffoonery. 1t the
close of the first act a plug hat is present
ed TO the sultan as his badge of office. and
the mock eremOny is chanted. Another
good bit Of burlesque is of popular songs
A ballad entitled Come Back
to Manistee," and relative to the wander
ings OF a young woman hat Is yearned
for al home. makes the sultan weep. He
joins three others in singing the refrain in
barber shop minor chords.
Frank Moulan on his first entrance as the
sultan looks like a cartoon of Hamlet, blu
he brightens on learning that ne is not &c
be executed, and for the rest of the time
he takes a lively interest in matters. In
fun-making he has the help of Fred Freal
as the sultan's secretary. Templal
Sake. Miss Maude Lillian Berri and Miss
Gertrude Quinlan sing the serious songs
and Charles Giblyn, as a New England
insurance agent, acts briskly. Miss Blanche
Chapman contributes to the humor by g
clever representation of the judge advocate
Robert Lett is the Arkansas colonel. TIL,
chorus is large and an orchestra of eighteen
does a great deal for the composer by Civ.
Ing good volume to his score. ALFRED
Wathall wrote the music and he did MOI
take advantage of the opportunity to givs
IL Oriental seductiveness. Ii is OF ordinary
grade. The antics of Mr.. Moulan and hi:
servants and the sharp common In Nh
AIDES Hbretto won a great deal of applause
and Will entertain two large audiences to
day.