New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-01

waterfall, are standing sentinel band Of owls.
SO costumed to suggest the bird. rather than
20 initiate IL closely. Swaying Lanterns. they
sing q night chorus, followed by an air By the
leader. which Is tunefuI and charming, and n
the woodland spirit Then. as the day breaks,
al the other birds OF the forest-thAt Is. ell the
other female birds Of the forest, for Woodland"
IS like New-England in its preponderance OF
feula1es-come upon the scene. al clad in gar
u1ents OF feathers, with symbolic headgears
which suggest the birds they represent without
becoming grotesQue limitations, and sing q merry
and delightful chorus. Then enter the bird
characters most Intimately concerned In the plot,
and the story progresses with frequent songs,
more frequent than in the ordinary musical
comedy, 70 the end. After the opening air and
choruses. these songs do not maintain g BOD
lano AaFoi llsy DSCOLAS slilp4g ptSasa44t4! tu-4S
ful. as most Of MI Luders's music is to the not
too fastidious ear OF the average theatregoeri
but on the other hand they DO not fall into the
drum and cymbal habit: they maintain q uni.
form level OF pretty melody, and serve TO en-
nance the bright pictures Of oddly clad bird girls
on the suGge. moving and singing in forest dell
and wonderful sunny lane between two groves
OF Ehimmertng birch trees. One might almost
say that Mr. Luders and the stage manager tell
ar. Pixley's story.
But this would be hardly a fair thing to say
none the less. for Woodland" is so radical de-
parture from the beaten paths Of musical COM
edy that without question much doubt existed
IN the minds Of the producers just what ultimate
shape to give II. A musical comedy is not like
play; It Is flexible IN the hands Of a good stage
sort OF an entertainment he chooses Should
woodland" be told as a fairy story for chill
oren, as an extravaganza? Or should Il be told
IS romantic little operetta, with naVor OF
pretty music and forest pictures, rather than Of
conedy3 Or should II be told as an everyday
comedy plot set IN odd surroundings? Still
fourth possibility suggests itself that the story
be told as q satire various notions Of bird
lore, on various follies Of humanity What fun
90 have the lark late riser, the nightingale
happy bird, the owl q foolish fellow, and TO take
through their eyes a "bird's-eye view Of the
MotLo4 DuI 80. MS Lou -, ~ P07sio-4ts "tl
never be realized IN woodland. nor IN any
otter musical comedy now 10 be thought OF, IN
les J. "a Barrie takes it into his head 70 write
one. The public viii be Wen content II one OF
me other three is realized.
And "a Woodland" there Is the opportunity
for any one Of the three or even for combina-
ti6n OF them. At present there Is nothing that
can be called extravaganza in the piece, but
there are the operetta atmosphere and the ordi-
nary broad comedy in about equal proportions.
waiting 70 see whether the public cares 10 have
The one or the other predominant. Offering OF
suggestions is not IN place here But II will be
most interesting 70 watch the maj outcome, TOT
50 novel 90 hopefully conceived and so charm
fngly mounted g musical comedy has not been
produced for a long tine, and departure from
the beaten tracks. always welcome when II
leads from the Tenderloin to tha deep wood
lands. should cause the heart 70 bound. There
is not local ellusion." not Tenderloin gag"
81 the entire comedy. There is no topical song
dragged in by the heels Broadway, in fact. Is
I'VE thousand miles away And that is none too
Gar sometimes. surely.
Alexander clark is at present playing the lead
frF part, that OF the Blue Jay. Dore Davidson
does an effective BIT as old King Eagle, and
new voice that OF Miss Ida Brooks Hunt. is
heard as the Nightingale. 10 the delight Of those
strange beings who Ike to hear song sung
with some musical skill. even IN a musical COM
edy. Miss Helen Hale. late With Peggy from
Pals" as Jenny Wren. dashing soubrette Of
Tho forest, Is however. the real leader IN the
cart She has more OF the birdlfke hgatness
about her than ell the rest put together and
should indicate to the others by her success
how TIA piece ought 20 be played
An English nnelodrama at the Academy. called
s-ryvo Little Sailor Boys" and two new musical
comedies are the new offerings at the New-York
theatres tomorrow. The Nan from China
with Charles A Bigelow as the star, which VIII
be shown at the Majestic. Is one OF the musical
pieces. The book and lyrics are BY Paul West.
and ths music e. By John ". Bratton- Tho drst
act is laid e. Palm Beach. Fla. and the second
an the deck OF q steam yacht Mr. Bigelow e
known n the play as The Human Band and
BE WIN appear covered quite over with musical
instruments. The cast:
Fsfar Fueea . WnndsTinG musician. '@Ihs EunlaA
sang Charles A bigel0w
4ociety hsekar Atehiao1-hY
EuEtaguH ontetea. a multi-miIlionare. he Peach
A1H 'sssssssFEg tleeEs