The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-30
GEORGE AIDES 0PERETTA.
"TUE SULTAN or Still" GIVEN
At UtLItCk'S THEATRE.
The American In, aston Of the Philippines
Finds Its Way Into Theatrical Travesty
a I.ibrett0 Full 81 Good Nonsense
Music Poor In Contrast with u.

The Cons, il u, ion and the cocktail follow
the flag That is the text Of The Sultan
of Sulu." farcical operetta produced at
Wallack's Theatre last night amid con-
tnuous roar of laughter and applause
There was no possible question of the popu-
lar success Of he production. Wise men
may go about to-day and shake their heads.
They may declare hat the libpttist violated
the probabiities, the properties, the uniiies
and the Code Napoleon. They may assert
that the composer could not different late
between counterpart and counterpanes:
but they cannot state that THE Sultan Of
Sulu" did not delight last nights audience.
unless they put truth at the bottom OF a
we'll
II is George AIDE who has-not TO be too
trvial-come to theaid OF. fare cil opere ia
II is so long since there has been a really
funny hbretto that he deserves public
vote Of thanks and this il where he gets II.
or course he has not been as funny as he
can. If he had been. no theatrical manager
would have produced his operetta. The
first thing librettist has o do in these days
II TO write something manager can under
stand. The manager in this case is Henry
W. Savage, inventor Of the Castle Square
brand of grand opera, and he has certain
sense of humor. So Mr.. AIDES book passed
him and reached the public and the public
said: Good work."
Mr. AIDE has put the American invasion
Of the Philippines on the stage. IT was
bound to come. We dramatize everything
now from n comic picture to bloody and
pestiferous war, and we usually do II pretty
well People who could dramatize some
Of the novels which are turned into plays
nowadays could dramatic the label on
defunct tomato can. We Yankees are a
wonderful nation for cultivating new helds
of human industry,
We own a place called Sulu. We own
its Sultan He Is not quite 50 sure OF that
a. we are, but we have met him and have
called him ours. Mr.. AIDE has made a
low comedian Of him, and he takes kindly
to American government and cockt ais.
He il surrounded by American soldiers,
all pointing their guns al him. The Colonel
Volunteer who i going home to be
elected to Congress, says:
we believe that government depends
upon the consent of the governed. Do
you consent To this government
Are all the guns loaded'' asked the
Sultan.
They are"
Then consent"
1t was not an anti-irnperialstic audience
last night. and that joke did not 60. But
every, hing else did. There were plenty
Of pretty girls. and they always 60. There
were good dances brilliant and well-planncd
stage pictures, soldiers, marines, Suu
girls Of the genuine operate variety black
slaves imported from negro minstres7,
and three Of the cutest, sweetest, bruneite.t
little Filipino boys you ever saw. All
these went. There were typical songs
with more points than the Atlantic coost.
There were comic situations and move es'
without stint and there were plenty of lines
with queer AID original humor in them.
The music was mighty poor stun and II
was generally very badly sung; hut who
cared? Those who wish to hear fine music
| can 60 To performances Of the works OF
De Koven and Victor Herbert and he
other old masters: but those who wish 10
see how the blessings of democratic civili-
zation affect a savage monarchy under the
| far eastern skies where the United States
| flag snaps in the teeth OF yellow despots
will put The Sultan OF Sulu" in theirs and
| pat themselves on the back for doing il.
The company. barring the general lack
| of vocal ability il clever Frank Moulan
| is capital as the Sultan. He made hit as
soon a. he appeared. and he kept on making
| hits till his batting average would have
/ stand Maud Lillian Berri looked well
"a the American girl, Henrietta Budd. and
| Temper SAKE a. an army Lieutenant sang
his numbers tolerably. But the best sing
| ing was tina, Of the comedian, Mr.. Moulan
| Somewhere back ia the misty past h. learned
| how. and he has not forgotten. The chorus
| could not sing even a little, but II could
| and did dance, and l. was rood TO see.