Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-08-16

ApUiICd0lC 10 ldllet udN COHuiliOHS.
You really can account for tastes, II
you will only try.
There is reason, easily discovered
for each new style hat Or new cut
to ones trousers.
The favor in which musical comedy
is now held is not far to seek, nor
does it require a telescope to discover
it As
Primarily. musical comedy is popu
lar because it is new. and, finally, be-
cause it is pleasing. Like other fads
foibles or fancies, it grew out Oh some
thing else; is an Improvement, or ad
yancement, a refinement of something
older, grown stale. and of which the
public taste has wearied and grown
tired
The chrysalis of musical comedy was
comic opera-it the withered ancient,
which, like old age. is now in corners
thrown.
1t served very we'll in it's youth, but
in its maturity it fails to please and
satisfy us.
Through comic opera we became ac-
uuainted with all sorts of serious regal
persons odd and whimsical potentates,
and all manner of extraordinary and
impossible personages.
foy M i,lo ,ty dO1btlncS
came to look upon these once divert
ing individuals with contempt and
loathing Of this sort of thing we
had plenty; indeed, cloying and sa-
tiated Sufficiency.
And then, afteA' period of lethargy
and longing. came musical comedy. 1t
was hailed with JOY, for the reason
that it abandoned the grotesque and
extravagant and introduced us to the
zeal snd the actual.
It is; not in story alone the new spe-
cies of musical play eXcels. Musically.
the new form is vastly more pleasurea-
BILE than the older favorites
The scores of the old operas were
stgrand'-or nearly so-whlle the
music of the modern music play is
mostly jngling, tinnient and tinkling,
This sort of thing may not be as
good for us or as elevating as the new
form. but it is more pleasing and salts
tying to the average intelligence.
Is it any wonder that musical comedy
is popular?
One of the nrst OF American libret-
aists to foresee the approaching change
in taste was Willard Spenser. his
Little tycoon" met with an enormous
success, even before George EdWardes
era of "Runaway' and many other
kinds of~"Girl' of the London Gayety
came into vogue.
Other librettsts, despite the furore
that the Little Tycoon created, were
strangely 10th to copy the new form.
The reason for this may not unlikely
he discovered in the fact that THIS de-
lehtful comedy with musical setting
did not. oddly enough, find favor IN
the metropolis New York looked up
on the "Tycoon' as Philadelphia
idea. so one to be ridicued and frown-
ed upon.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
metropolis could not 'see' this new
brand Of entertainment at its true
worth, its success in other cities was
enormous. Even at this day OF Rleh-
ard Mansfield. Viola Allen and Julia
STarlowe receipts, the Little Tycoon
still holds the record at many places
throughout the country.
New York has not had chance OF
seeing Mr. Sponsors second and most
successful musical piece. Miss Bob
White. Despite this fact the merry
play of fun and drolIery has had
wide popularity over the country.
1t enjoyed a run of fourteen weeks
in Philadelphia and then, after
highly successful tour Of the country.
returned to lis Quaker home and was
again presented dulng period OF
seven weeks at The Chestnut Street
Theatef.
It is net unlikely that Mr.. Sponser
looks upon the merit Of a so-called
New York Endorsement with nc small