The evening world., 1904-02-26
M|SSOUR|ANS Do
THE SHOWING NOW
Henry M. Blossom, Jr., and A.
fred G. Robyn, Young ST.
Leuisans, Reverse the Old.
Saying, "You Must Show Me-"

I'm from MlSSouI1, ana youu nave
TO show me-"
That saying has basn r~evised-it's
TIN from Missouri and Tn going 10
show YOU" now-and Henry NJ. Bios
com, ST., and Alfred @. Robyn, two
young st. Loulsans. are responsible for
the new version.
Mr.. Blossom and Mr.. Robyn have
lust come out OF the West with The
Yankee Consul the comic opera which
u being produced at the Broadway
iTheatre by Henry W. Savage. The
success of the piece WAS instantaneous.
This seasonal specially unfortunate
one for the theatres, plays and play
makere-hRs been an unusual one for
Mr.. Blossom. A few months ago he was
unknown to New York audiences, but
to-day he has two productions-hir first
t~wo-before metropolitan theatreSoers'
and both may be nnked among the best
of the few successes OF the year.
Wrote "Checkcrs" Too.
..Checkers." made into a play from Mr..
blossoms own book, is just finishing
sup a tfteen-weeks run. and '"rhc Yankee
lConsul" bids fair to make its headquar-
tiers at the Broadway FOR a much longer
period.
Mr.. Robyn, who furnished the music
for the opera. has "done things before.
His Answer and 'Manzencila" are
known from Harlem to the Clln House.
Since he nrst began to make his
rounds of the managers offices with
IBIS rolls of manuscripts Mr.. BLOSSOM
has made his home In New York. MIR.
iRobyn, who Is one OF the shining lights
in the musical world centred in ST.
Louis, continued TO shine out in the
western city
Mr.. Blossoms bachelor apartment,
ION Thirtieth street. Is the headquar-
tiers for many st. Louisars who are
scoring successes in New FORK. Al
most n time one can find Macklyn
Arbuclsle, Gus" Thomas and a host OF
other Western men there.
Diossom Is Practical.
Il don't know that l have anything
interesting to say WAS Mr., blossoms
reply to the query OF how the evil
dent success of THE Yankee Consul"
I'm New York affected him. 1T In. Of
course, gratifying to fnd that the press
and the public In a general way com-
mend ones work. This qualification Is,
however. always tinged with no incon-
adorable regret that the work is not
Ia great deal better. 1 suppose there
are few writers with anything like ar
Susuc aspirations. who are Anything like
las practical as / am.
Tho writing / have done so far has
been for revenue only The successes
nave made with my poems and short
sssories, my 'Checkers.' both book II
play. are gratifying to me. they
have proved substantial successes. The
sYankee Consul bids fair to outstrip
them all as a producer and in just
that far 1 am pleased. but l confess
to having dreams OF what | may some
day do. IL ] am ever able to afford
10. both in the way OF dramatic and
musical production.
May Need Money.
DOUBTLESS I shall need the accrued
royalties OF many weeks from practical
successes to pay for my indulgence in
shall at least have had the satisfaction
OF proving myself wrong. which to some
Is worth all II costs" tSydney ROscn-
pray do not understand me to even
suggest that 1 am in my way dissatis-
fed with the ~produc:lon, the cast II lie
stage management of Tie Yankee Con-
SUI said Mr.. Blossom, earnestly. On
the contrary, I wish very decidedly to
aay that but for Mr.. Savage's more
man adequate production and Mr..
tMarion's masterful staging NJ our ope-a
we should have made but a sorry show
ing. What every one who does things
seems TO lack. apparently. Is practical
tty' In his ideas Of what VIII get the
money Art hasn't half the drawing
power of nature and atmosphere
seems but a species OF unsunitsry ven
tilation.
Concerning Opera Cooks"
'.No musical piece has been produced.
to my knowledge, within tho last five
years tffnt hasn't been criticised more
or less tunfavOrdbly for its book. No
doubt the criticisms worthy the nam"
were. Just. That old stock phrase. or
coherent plot there is scarcely a SEM
blanc but then, no one looks for plot
in musical comedy these days has
( lone It's duty nobly and Is doubtless still
set up in most compOsing-rooms await
ing the next production.
Possibly there Is Il phase Of the diff
1 nculty met by a librettist which some Of
the critics have not entirely allowed for.
II, for example, in II drama there were
an interruption or eight minutes during
which music, movement. color and other
I and attention OF the audience. causing
them to forget the situation in mind at
The time OF the interruption. would 1t
not be hard at the end OF this eight
minutes to again pick up the story and
centre the interest? l think so. Moro
than ell. when these Interruptions OF
music, movement and color are ex-
plotted by a contingent of very young
: and pretty girls, is not the distraction