The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-25
Babes in T'oylnd- is not comic oltra :

babes in Toyalq-- Is not -eomlc otfra, |
vet II approaches much closer to it than |
do many of the things 50 called. The !
programme rightly describes it as m en- |
travagan2a, a term frequently used with
precision in earlier days of the theatre.
Victor Herbert has shown how good nsic
can be composed for such a SHOW for
show i what it really il. No doubt the
composer thought of "iIaensel und GreteI'
when he sat down to create the score Oh
work in which hahes in the wood played
important parts But he must also hay"
thought of Leo DeliLes and his darciIg
Inarivntttes
Cl.v,ry did Mr. Herbert steer clear of
both. His music IL his own. In the march
of the wooden soldiers he has written one OF
the1Drightest and most cha acterStic humur-
esques brought forward ~ some seasons.
The score OF this number il captivating,
and the manner in which the composer
has utilized the imitation wooden drum
corps. cvmbal PLAYERS and fddI.r- On
the stage, shows the praCti7rd hand OF II
thorough musician with fire Irish sens"
of humor What Il wonderful thing Il is
TO br half Irish, half American and educated
German fashion in music
Again. there is that charming prelude
! to the scene in the interorof the toymakers
| shop, toy pastoral, with the crown K Of Il
| toy rooster, the qlIackirg of toy goose.
| the barking OF toy dog and the lowing or
"a toy COW. To a musician Of Mr.. Herberts
schooling srch number was perfectly
| obvious To the ordinary comic opera
composer of commerce it would never have
occurred The song "Toyland, which
| follows * charming in mood and has IA
chorus which raises il above the level of
| III" commonplace,
Taking i all in all the music of Babes
| In TuyIand" il ore Of Mr. HsrbertS happiest
achievements, and il deserves all The more
! praise for not being obscured by the bril-
| liant Spectacular features of this enter
tainncnt
Last of all comes "Ermiuie out Of
the muSty volumes Of HONORABLE" Casino
| history il breaks once again into relter-
ated activity and the world grows gayrr
for IT, "Ermuia" is real "Comic opera,
or. az il should he called, operatta. Here
Is a production in which the librctto and
the music are Of equal importance. The
libretto il a delightful piece of fOoling, "A
| comedy in which there IL an element of far
cicalextravagance mingled with Just a touch
Of the incredible You will not, cannot
believe in the success of the deception
undertaken by Ravvy and Caddy, but
YOU see il succeed and you laugh at the
antics OF the vulgar thief and smile at the
assumpt ion of his elegant pal You even
accept the impossible Princess and SYM
pathize with her frequent
Don't interrupt the Baron.
| You agree with RaVVYE wise ObSerra-
ton "My friend, the Baron Is a feast
and you are prepared to write upon The
tablets of your memory all that the di"kit
birds say. Why not? The two thieves are
ngratating rogues, They speak bright
lines Even DOwic would believe them
when they ask and answer
Where is the home OF the COnfTal"rnlty
"ln he Metrolopus"
They dance ninbly and they sing badly
AT any rate one of them does. VIII N
BrodericIl, TO be sure, has a voice and car
iutone n tune. But Francis " ilsOns NoiC"
II il fnnicr than his legs and they are
humorists of the first order. No one does
any extraordinary singing IN "FrIninir
~ now performed at the Casino, though
essie Bartlett Davss subterrnnoan 'Rlr
ter does occasionally bring back sNi
memories Of the days when sh" rOanl"t
In the PRONE Sherwood Forest and asked
, us to promise her that some day we'd he
: hers. ,,,
That war in Robin Hood We'll, "RohiI
| Hood If also q genuine 0p'rrlla, IL y
still on the active list Lake hrmlnie,
. il il a good purchase The longevity %
these two works ought 10 mean molhIuS
70 the obserNani manager. hey hhN
, | long outlived their period, aud they ar
| still fragrant. To both VIZ may say VII
I | Caddy, "Ere's cath Ia your Royal Ugh
u | ness, and may the skin Of kooseb"rr
. always be big enough 10 make humbrel
u | for hall Of your henemias."
G ". J. HENDERSON,