The Washington times., 1903-10-04
Another Fable.
George AIDES Sultan of
Sui" and the Moral 1t
Teaehes-BTains and Mu-
steal Comedy.
tGTHE SULTAN OF sULU" has con-

tiously as the provinces" the
popularity which he knew in New YORK.
He and his courtiers have added to their
tributary lands the Capital City OF the
people which thought 20 assimilate the
Sultan with more OF less benevolence-
In one week a community distinguished
for its eloquent anti-imperialists has
been converted to the broadcast political
expansion known in history.
This is a remarkable situation. But
the credit rests not with the Sultan or
with the people, or with any of the birds
OF the air or beasts of the field in the
tropic island of Sulu. but with the mind
witch deployed their life with more or
less ingenuity so as to satirize in il half
the foibles Of his fellow-countryInen
For "The Sultan of Sulu" proved to be
more than musical play. It was rath-
er a brilliant satire and lively comedy
fused together with bright music. George
AIDE. and not the Sultan. then. is to be
given the credit for this contra assimi-
iation-
A Novel Triumph.
This operate satire, or satiric opera,
Is, in fact, triumph of brains. a great
many people have deceived themselves
lately by a doctrine that brains were the
cheapest commodity on the market. This
may be true of brains put UP for sale;
but brains put to use and offered in ex-
change still yield the highest possible
premium. A thousand young men of
Mr. AIDES type have tried their hands at
comic writing lately. The demand has
been great. the pay large. and the re-
Spouse has correspondent. But no one
else of this small army had insight
enough to perceive, or wit enough 10
prove, that "show girls" electric light
effects. costumes and names were not
sufficient to make an entertainment.
This discovery belongs to Mr.. AIDE alone.
The profit is thus his by right.
%The Passing Show"
It is singular that since musical
comedy first raised its head--it came
in the form of THE Passing Show
about ten years ago-it has served to
illustrate the resources of every com
modify known to the stage excepting
trains alone. 1.-THE Passing Show" was
as bright and as satiric as The Sultan
CT Sulu.% 1t was written, according to
c1mmon report, merely TO I'LL in a gap
in the bookings of New York city roof
garden There was not much plot. the
auGionce was inflicted with some right
poor comedy, end the singing was raw
But there were also graceful dances.
pointed burlesques en- the yogues Of the
day, and good dialogue by the yard. So
The Passing Show" passed everywhere
and made money.
Imitation-Not Flattery.
Since that day several OF those fea-
lures have been extensively initiated
Little plot has been supplanted by no
plot. Poor comedy has given way to
perspiring attempts TO be funny. Sing
ing which was raw has become a parade
of painted faces, powdered necks and
cracked throats.
All this has reioiced in all the en-
phasis stagecraft can bestow. The stage
has developed into a fairyland. Cos
tunes have grown in cost until the
grand opera OF ten years ago and THE
Passing Show are relegated to the
dramatic 10-eent stores. And the press
agent-the press agent has outdone all
the rest. He has made fortunes in Wall
Street for thousands Of chorus girls
He has married these same thousands
to as many millionaires. He has pic
tured them signing their contracts. at
rehearsals. trying on their costumes, and
driving away from the theaters-and he
has interested the public in it all. But
hts GROWING achievement has been the
creation Of an ''original sextet"--tweive
in number-in which no one could sing.
no one could dance. and no one could
act, which cavorted to mighty poor
music into fame brighter than that OF
half the scientists in the country and
more profitable than all their science.
Non Compos Mentis.
All this time the graceful dances
pointed burlesques. and good dialogue Of
The Passing Show idled in loneliness.
II anyone doubts this. let him read this
poem by one Of the most successful
''purveyors'' Of musical comedy:
Sometimes wen hit the buIrs-eye.
And then, sometimes WON'T
But the world will keep on moving
II we do or II we don't
That "quatrain"-all four-line dogger-
ais are called quatrains these days-is a
fair sample OF the whole undertaking. II
is unnecessary TO say more.
Paying the Piper.
But while this form Of entertainment
has awaited the coming Of Mr. AIDE the
theater has been suffering First came
the loss Of moderate priced grand opera
for who would present The Barber Of
Seville" at 90 cents who could charge
81 for "The Belle of New York;" Next
light opera passed from the stage for the
same reason. Then comic opera com
promised by abandoning its reason in
exchange for the spiendor OF musical
comedy. Now there are more dramatic
companies in America playing works in
German than are engaged IN grand opera.
light opera, and comic opera all togeth-
ct. There are six regular opera co1npa-
MES now on the circuit. There are prob
ably sixty musical comedies.
The managers of all these musical
eornotfes fooI IN ssTT-ba cvltar - CT. -