New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-15
LONDON DRAMA.
Or. GiIbert's Fantastic Farce and
PGntomime IN FairylQnd.
London. May 4.

received with delight at the Garrick IheaIre
where Mr.. Bourchier's company has been in
sympathy with its fantastic spirit, and one OF
the most brilliant of London audiences fas-
cinated by its drollery and sparkling wit. The
Fairys Dilemma is blend of farce. fantasy
and pantomime, and it has undertone OF
playful irony. 1t is whimsical parody on every
recognized stage form OF the comic spirit; and
so light is the touch. so gay is the treatment,
so inextricable is the ENHANCEMENT that the
supernaturals are as bewdered as the unnatu-
rails, and, neither understanding what is going
on nor discerning who is who, are themselves
the victims Of case of mistaken identity and
end by laughing at themselves in a final series
OF transformations. There is topsy- turvydom in
fairyland well in the domestic circle; and
Mr.. Gilbert amuses himself by tricking every
body and playing pTanks at the expense OF &C
tors, critics and spectators. The sport lacks
simplicity. but not charm, and the irony is not
tinged with cyncism The two learned profess
sions, the church and the law. and also the
army. are geniaIly Knocked: society is playfully
satriZed; plGywrightS and dramatic critics
gently disciplined. and the audience is enter
tained with a farragO Of humor and intrigue
and travesty the light fantastic drama.
The chief snpernaturals Of this mirthsome
piece Demon Alcohol OIr. Robertshaw).
with mis- rhymIng dictionary. and Good Fairy
Rosebud Miss Jessie Bateman). and they are
attended by a large chorus OF fairies and imps.
Their principal employment is the old fashioned
function OF interference, helpful and msehev-
Gus, in the love affairs OF unnaturals and while
the good and evil forces are cooperating instead
Of acting IN anita onisrE there is general mis-
apprehension Of means and ends. and there is a
final exchange Of harlequinade costumes with
out anybody's having a clear understanding OF
motive or character. and when tka unnaturals
are themselves again theirs is a carnival Of
transformations. with a grand ballet. The fore
most unnaturals baronet in the Life
Guards who IS IN love with an earIs daughter.
and a clergyman who is equally attached 20 a
Judges daughter, and they have promised and
vowed that they will become the resCuers and
champions OF beauty in distress. The two cou-
pies secretly bethrothed. yet the Baronet Is
pretending to make love to the Judges daughter
and the parson is flirting desperately with the
earls daughter. who IS disguised nurse
When the parents deceived by this unnat-
ural diversion Of affection from the right to tho
wrong object, it is not strange that the super
naturals with the best intentions in fairyland
take girl for the other. The Demon Alco-
hol. at the instance OF the Good Fairy. makes
arrangements for carrying of the parsons az
1auced bride TO the Baronet's fat. where Rose
bud is 10 thwart the plot by a timely appear
ance; and in the second scene the two couples are
on the point OF being married at tho registrars
Office when topsy- turvydorn IS brought on by
supernatural mistakes Of unnatural Identity.
The Vicar OF St Parabola's IS attacked by imps
and the Demon disappears with the Judges
daughter through the aoor OF the Vicarage.
In the second act the scene is shifted from
the Demons abode and the vicarage 10 the
country house OF Justice whort!e. and subse-
quently there ar= passages frcn Cloudland and
the revolving realms OF rehabilitation be
fore the curtala finally falls upon the sacred
precincts OF 81 Parabola. AS the supernatu-
rails have stupidity abducted Clarssa for the
Baronet when he prefers Angela ard seek
ing TO console him with the romantic assurance
that he can and must take Angela when he Is
already married 70 Clarlssa. they under
obligations TO set things right by transporting
the two pairs OF lovers and the Judge 70 the
fairy realm Of transformation where they can
dispor4 Themselves in harlequinade. Tie spec
tators cans1t con- pain for they have The privi-
lege ~ seeing Miss NanbruEl who is Lady
Angela, I'm the unusual role of Coiumhine, and
Mr.. Bourch.er. the Buronc- OF the Guards.
the funnies. AMI mose ingenious Of clowns. They
have also In reserve the pleasure OF witnessing
the antics OF Mr.. Sidney Valentine. the Judge
as Pantaloon, and the ludicrous buGoonery Of
Mr.. Clarence. the simple minded Vicar. when
constrained 70 let himself go Harlequin Even
if the harlequnads does not satisfy them. they
cannot be naensibls TO the comic spirit. but
must laugh when Lady Angela is unexpectedly
exhibited IN the mysteries Of her toilet and they
have many celebrating surprises such the
reforna ton and redemption Of the Demon and
his engagement TO Fairy Rosebud
The Fairy Dilemma" IS virtually 4 new Bah
Ballad brilliantly staged and effectively enacted
in a spirit Of drouery and burlesqUe. II is Il
characteristic GiIbertian travesty. without
son. but with abundance of rhyme and absurd
ity. The old fashioned fairy pantomlme IS fam
tasticaHy applied humdrum domestic ro-
nance; and there IS an unceasing play or keen
wit bright epgram and drou fancy. The first
night audience enjoyed 1t with U1wonted Zest
but it hardly understood whether It laugh
ing at conventional sentiment the stage or
at "reminiscences OF a form Of holiday recrea-
ton whicE has virtually disappeared from the
Chris.rlas theatres. The modern pantomime
borrows its motives and methods from the music
halls. and the harequlnade has shrunk year by
year into an Insignificant episode. The comic
business Of sausage rolls. butter slides and
clownisn mischief is not so funny as It once
was; and possibly Mr.. Gilbert. with his brilliant
wit and grotesque fancy. may not succeed in
amusing new-t;me audiences. There are set
styles in ludicrous plsywritng. there in
painting. The harlequnade which pleased
older generation has disappeared like the story
telling picture OF the Middle Victorian Academy
A car;cuture OF that method OF painting would
not now be considered amusing. because Mr.
Marcus Stone and a few other veterans alone
survive 70 tell simple little stories in paint.
sparlfling travesty on the Middle Victorian pan
to,ninle with the harlequinade buffoonery may be
equally out OF date. The staged Bah Ballad
may not be permanently popular. even if Mr..
Gilbert be funny ever he was.