The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-04-07

Voices - Many Notable
Additions tothe Company,
Everyone Cordially Re
ceiVed.
With the echo Of bHtbe roundelay
through the Isary branches of Sherwood
Forest and the rattle of quarterstan and
bow. Robin Hood and his merry men
appeared last night on the stage of the
National Tbeater- Clear and true We're
their voices; gay and brave we're their
coIcrs: Iusty and bright We're their
songs. So it was that like the Pied
Piper Of HamIin. they led away out Of
the whirl Of this latter DAY and care
burdened world thousand or more OF
their fellows and filed their hearts win
the spirit of chfvaIry and kntEhthood.
Hand in hand with Rotin were his
merry companions. L5rrIe John and WIZ
Scarlet. The swcer-voiced Alan-A-pale.
and the uucru0us Friar Tuck. the beau
tecus Maid Marian and the piquant An
mabel over and ever they sang madri-
gel and pastoral and at the close of the
opera their hearers went forth as they
did thirteen years ago-rheir ears ring
ing with rich. warm harmony and an
infectious. insistent melody
Robin Hood" is survival Every
sent nce Of its dialogue and every strain
Of rs music are so familiar that last
nights audience could no doubt have
prompted the performance. It has at
tanned TO this position because more
than any other American work it IS Sc
Tious- consistent. artistic. redolent with
atmosphere. and dependent upon an
epoch and a life which are in them
selves picturesque and diverting.
Not a Revival But a Regeneration.
But in The years since Mr.. De Koveu
and Mr. Smith first saw their work real
lied. it has undergone marked change.
Year after year those who took its chief
roles-Tom Karl, Henry Clay Barnabce
W H Macdonald. George rockingham
Edwin Hoff, Eugene CowIes, Camille
D'ArviIle, Jessie Bartlett Davis. Peter
Lang, and Josephine Bartlett-greW
more and more familiar with the text
and less and less familiar with the
spirit Karl made way for haE dozen
inferior tenors, and his fine voice and
manly presence We're almost forgotten II
the mediocrfty which followed. Barna-
bee, Macdonald, rockingham, and tive
members Of the chorus are all who re
main. and one Of these last night was
unable TO assume the role with which bis
fame is now most associated In his
stead, appeared a young man, J. X Mar
tin. who substituted for Mr., BsrDabeeH
veu-bnown lack of voice, baritone
voice of marked beauty, and who main
tanned the role on q plane OF consisten
and legitimate comedy
This production. then, is not re
viYaI. but a regeneration. Robin Hood
is no longer heard as veteran oper'
produced by veterans. and the meIan
choIy inspired by the thought that oil
favorites have been supplanted is NOR
than dissiPated by the inherent and IN
affected JOY which arises from The SCUM
Of sweet. fresh voices. and the spon
taneous gayety Of young hearts.
From another viewpoint this infusion
Of youth into an opera which deals Wit
youth contributed 10 enhance The ar
value OF the production. In opposition
10 later comic opera Robin Hood" is
development Of an established and splen
did art form. II has unity and proper
ton It's music and dialogue are de
signed to create desired atmosphere
II is constructed TO display the beaut
OF opera instead Of the malfoTmed 81
With which musical comedy and late
comic opera have been infected So il j
that when interpreted, not merely SUNG
and performed with evenness and con
tinuity it has character and dignit
which attach 10 no similar writing O
later years. Last night the encores wer
enthusiastic. bur they we're not per
mitted TO interrupt the progress Of tn
work.
a Notable Cast and Fine Performance
The new members OF the company ar
william C. Weldon. Who appeared a
Robin Hood: Howard Chambers as Wi
Scarlet. Olive Celeste Moore as Alan-A
Dale, Campbell Donald as Guy OF Gis
born, ard Alice Judson as Annabe
Grace Van studdiTord. the Maid Maria
OF the cast contributed 10 the role
wealth Of voice and rather substantia
charm of person which made her per
Torrance the best since that of Sis
D'ArvilIe
Mr. Weldon and Mr.. Chambers hay
splendid young voices. Miss Moore
easily the best Alan-A-DaIe the oper
has ever know-u-young, deuure. atrrae
tive in appearance. and possessed Of
naezzo-soprano voice Of rare richucs
and color. The appearance Of Miss Jua
son had q particular interest. A yer
few years ago she was a school gin
here. Last night she appeared as a
important figure In the foremost Igh
opera company in America. This VA
distinction enough, but il was approve
and. confirmed by an audience Of her fel
low townspeoDle. who greeted her warm
" and re5oieed 10 End that she san
sweetly and acted with much skill
Not the least valuable element mani
Fest in this metempsych IS the che
rus. the Bostonlans would be the Jas
musical company to append its clair
70 public support on any such c0usId