The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-07


charms Of music and Of comic art. II
Is necessary TO drive them out Of the system
by driving in something more powerful.
1t Is not fair OF course, TO judge Of our
musical comedy as . whole by what is
oonfessedly and obviously an OKAmplo
Of its most primitive form. At its best
II has very distinct quality far higher
quality, am inclined 70 think than IL has
been given credit for. Certain OF our
hbrettists have given great promise.
Harry B. smith has. like his brother OF
the legitimate field, Clyde Fitch, suffered
from the reputation Of writing too much,
and likewise from the fact that he has pro-
duced little or nothing that is indisputably
OF the frst order. But a careful and inn
partial observation will, | think. convince
any one that he has a genius all his own
aud one that is capable Of better things
than he has done. Some months ago,
happening In at a performance Of 'Fati-
nitza," / was struck with the brilliance
and hunlor Of many Of the lines. The name
OF the adapter was not on the program
but was convinced that the sparks were
from the familiar anvil Of Smith, and my
guess was right
IL Is not easy to define the quality Of q
jest. the soul Of which Is evanesconce; but
two OF Mr.. Smiths traits are nmtstakabls,
dizziness Of verbal play-more OF the
quip than Of the pun-aEd a shrewd and
/ familiar satire Of minor human frailttes.
II is the first quality that gives character
and sparkle 70 his lyrics, which are I'M
| rvaled on this side Of the water They
| are. in fact. ar perfect and varied in their
rhythms and lines as the lyrics Of Gilbert,
! and possess also a warmth OF humor which
the great English librettist singularly
| lacked His limitations thus far have been
I Of the kind which, for the want Of a less
/ pretentious word, shall have to call in
| telleotual Coldly surgical as Gilbert's
satire is, il cuts inerrenty, at its best, TO
| the seat Of some gene ally recognized foible.
No better records Of the aksurdites Of
! Victorian ideas exist than -Pinafore,
Patience" aud 'Iolanthe' MIR. Smiths
stories are seldom more than fantastic
romances OF Which Robin Hood is still
the best: and his foOlinR, when 1t passes
beyond quips and quirks, il mainly gro
tesaue. He has never qualified In the
character Of social or political saunst.
At the time Of the production Of The
. sultan oil Sllu u betiileu Us II george
AIDE we're destined to lift musical comedy
to a plane Of greater intelligence. Undis-
tinguished in its lyrics and incidental wit.
the central idea Of the play revealed keen
ness Of satire and a breadth Of character
and humor which have never been equaled
in this country, and have certainly not been
surpassed-even II equaled-by Gilbert
himself As a record Of the moment in
which we became conscious Of imperial
expansion, Il Is as complete and as satir-
ically illuminating as such play could well
he Many years will pass before talk Of
the flag and the Constitution fail to suggest
also tic cocktail which works seven days
in the week and imperial laws which work
only Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
But Mr.. Ads has never hit the same pace
since, and now comes the announcement
that he has said good-by to the musical
stage.
A. - 49,. - A.. IL -