The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-25
The BOstOnians and "RObin Hood"


Here are some interesting facts about
robin Hood, the beautiful opera with
which the Bostonians will open their In
dianapolis engagement at Englishs this
afternoon at the Christmas matinee. The
first performance of this musical work of
Reginald de Koven and Harry B. Smith
took place at the Chicago Opera House on
the evening of June 8. 1890. Its success was
entirely unexpected. rehearsals having
been far from satisfactory. and the stag
ing of the most inexpensive order. Even
to-day the author and composer cannot I'M
derstand why robin Hood still holds
sway. OUTLYING every other opera of their
collaboration that has cost them much more
labor, and, in their opinion. more artistic
work. The critics have often tried to en-
tighten them on this point, but they are
hard to convince. MeSSrs. Barnabee and
Macdonald had an inkling of the value of
ance, but although De Koven and Smith
would have gladly surrendered their entire
rights for s1,5oo; the managers were not suf-
fciently sanguine to make the investment
and, as a result, have continued to pay
royalties for every performance since-and
these royalties have amounted to between
$4,000 and 100000. This does not include
the authors fees received for the perform
ance of Robin Hood" in England and
Australia, for the rights of the foreign
New York managers were slow to believe
| that Robin Hood" was the phenomenal hit
that the Westerners acclaimed. So Robin
and finally the Bostonians were compelled
| to rent New York theater. 1t was ques-
| ton between Days and the old Standard
| The former demanded $500 a week more
rental, with most exacting conditions, but
! it had the advantage of popularity The
Standard was far from being a successful
| house, and it required a piece of wonder
| full drawing quality TO attract paying au-
| dience there in those days. When il was
| settled to go to the Standard everybody
ridculed the idea. 1t tempted instant fiasco
and the first nights audience almost de-
manded inducements to enter the theater.
! On the second night the old Standard was
the playhouse of the city and the harvest
| or the Spectator began. Engagements for
| the road had been made and when, at the
| END of the five weeks allotted to Robin
| at the Standard with an advance sale that
promised to crowd the theater for the sea-
| son, the Bostonians tried to postpone out
| of-town bookings, they found it impossible.
| The first New York production of the opera
| took place on Sept. %, 1891. On the follow
| ing May 10 it was revived, playing late into
| the summer at the Garden Theater. H c.
| Barnabee and w. II. Macdonald have APP
peared in their respective parts Of the Sher-
| iff of Nottingham and Little John nearly
| 1900 times. The cast of principals i'm the
| original production was made up of Measrs
Barnabee. Macdonald. Edwin W. Hoff. Eu-
| gene Cowles. George rockingham, Peter
| Lang, Marie Stone, Jessie Bartlett Davis,
| Carrie Maconde and Josephine Bartlett. The
| will be made up of Barnabee, Macdonald
| Howard, Chambers, George rockingham.
| Douglass Ruthven. Peter Donald, Kate
| Condor, Agnes Brown and Gertrude Zim-
/ mer.
The other beautiful operate success of the
this evening and at the matinee to-mor-
| row afternoon.