New-York tribune., 1905-11-26

dance 1t was OF bad rubbish for they lived happily
with their father forever after.
Thus in outline runs the tale German nurses
tell it to. their little charges The author Of the
book of Mr. Humperdnck's opera. his sister Frau
Wette. made changes in the story. but with
seriously disturbing its essentials. She has
changed the stepmother who leads such wicked
life In the nursery tales of all countries, into
real mother who does not plan the death of her
children. but in a fit of Ill humor Furnishes them
for their Incidence by driving them into the wood
to gather Strawberries The children take their
punishment lightly. wander about under the trees
until they reach the Ilsenstein Ga spot which fig
ures as the haunt of witches in Goethes ''Faust).
There night overtakes them, and they are put to
sleep by the Sandman (the sleep fairy who puts
sand into the eyes of German children and makes
their eyelids heavy. But before they go to sleep
they say their evening prayer which tells how
fourteen guardian angels sent watch over
good children during their sleep The angels come
described though of course II is all a dream
and in the morning the children awakened by
the Dewman Ghe dawn fairy who shakes dew into
the eyes of the sleeping children out OF a bell
flower when it is time for them to wake up). Now
they happen upon the hut Of the Crust Witch.
whose gingerbread house is surrounded by fence
OF gingerbread children 1t is the practice of this
witch to bake her victims in gingerbread dough
and eat them in this form. She meets the fate of
the witch in the original story, and is herself
transformed into monstrous gingerbread While
she is baking there is explosion in the magic
N.
covering falls off the figures which form the fence
around the witchs house. and. the spell being re-
moved from them the children all return to Ire
and the opera ends with their chorus of thanks
giving, and the rejocings of the broommaker mot
woodcutter) and his wife at the recovery of their
children.
For his representative of Hansel, whose name ap-
pears first in the title of the fairy tale, but who
has been subordnated to his sister by hbretust as
well as composer. Mr. Conried brought Miss
bar1 7oIT h Irx-DC
she has been his chief attraction from the open
ing OF the seasonal sprightly, winsome' re-
sourceful soubrette according to all accounts, VINO
obliged to make the discovery that there are
vast differences between operetta and even 1alry
opera. especially when one is given in theatre
proper TO comedy and the other in a gigantic room
At only for the pomp and circumstances of spectacu-
lar grand opera. Her piquancy and archness OF ex-
preston visible only to artifcialy aided sight
and her voice was thin and nasal Her acting,
too. with much graceful movement, was still con-
ventional in design and wanting m spontanety
compared with the varied gestures, attitudes and
movements of Miss Bella Alien. who sang with
than art, but carried her message
home. A large need of praise is due to Nine
Homer. who spared nothing infuse the part OF
the witch with its proper picturesque grewsome-
ness, Disgusting not only her comely face, but
also her voice. and singing and acting with splen-
did variety and force. Miss Marion Weed was
somewhat infexible in voice and action, usual
yet she succeeded in presenting the character OF
the mother; but the complete rounded out
finished piece Of character acting and singing was
that OF Herr Goritz the broommaker. The opera
was heard with delight which found expression
that would have been extravagant ordinarily, but
seemed justifiabe under the unusual circumstances
At the first performance at popular prices last
night 'Tannhauser" presented with familiar
people IN all the principal parts except that OF
Elizabeth. In this Nine. Jeanne JomelH who is
described of Dutch BIRTH German education and
a pretty general European experience, effected her
American debut. Dramatically and muscaly a
conventional performance, but the ladys voice is
Just in intonation and of agreeable quality. Com
PARSONS are not invited under the circumstances
Unusual strenuousness marked the experienced
performances of Miss Fremstad, Herr Knote and
Herr Van Rooy. Miss Mulford sang the music OF
the shepherd Mr.. Blass the usually orotund
Landgraf, and Mr.. Bars. Mr.. Bayer. Mr.. Mhhl-
mann and Mr.. FRANKIE the other minstrels who
participated in the Sangerfest auf Warburg.
The cast of ''Hansel and GreteI":
Hanse Lima Abarbane
GIer first appearance at this theatre.)
GTeteI. Miss Bella AIten
CSertrId Miss Marion Weed
The Witch Nine Louise Homer
The Little sand Man Miss Mulford
Little Dew Man Miss GanNille
Peter Otto GOritz
Conductor Alfred Her.z. Stage manager Jacques