The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-05-24
"THE GAY MUSICIAN
PLEASES BLASE
NEW YORK
- q. - 3.

New York. May q.
- wEET melodies. a pretty pro-
duction, an agreeable il not
- thrilling story. a fitting flavor OF
bOuffe, Onenbachian bits with
up-t0-date enbroideries, a satisfying
cast, few shining principals - and
there you have the sslient features of
THE Gay Musician. a belated comic
opera which was put on By John p.
Slocum this week at Wallack's theater.
First, yoar ears tell you that the
music, by Julian Edwards. is far and
away the reigniug element Of merit.
Among the songs Ohey come as fast
as the succeeding crackIes II a Calling
gum which abound throughout the
piece. you readily perceive that the
lines are not up 10 the musical themes.
That is 10 say, that the themes are
on a plane Of exquisiCeness, and the
Tbyming and veTsillcauon and word
Juggling are commonplace. You miss
that fine parity that pieases so con-
sunmately. sly in a light opera where
IN Sullivan wrote the music 70 Gil
bert's clever IDEAS and quips.
But the lovely harmonies, the per-
fectIy balanced orchestradon, the fin
ished. rnusicianly tone OF the entire
presentation, in so far as the music
went. made UP and to spare for all
other deficiencies. Not 10 say that
there are any laInentable shortcomings.
The opera was pretentious only IN its
gorgeous setting and cOstuming. The
plot was one that anyone OF the late
french school would have used. II Is
TO q degree nOnsensical and strained.
but Affords the necessary complications
where two or three women may Try 70
Get away with the same man. We
cannot seem 10 get along nowadays
without many reminders. semi-sugges-
tons and covert innuendOs or ne
Merry Widow" and this piece Is guilty
of A Ioy OF this sort OF thing Man
aFers will continue to allow companies
to break out ln this way so long as the
slightest reminder of the Widow"
gains a giggle and hand
Music Carries It.
A crowded house greeted the first per
Torrance. and It has caught the fancy
Of many. The music carries It. for the
most part. Now. this couldn't be so if
the principals were bad. The leading
male Of the cast, Walter Perciyal, who
plays Eugene Dubois, (who Is the gay
musician Of the title), is a fair tenor.
q hard worker. but not at all a star
comedian. The role would lift the piece
up several pegs If a comedian OF dis
tlnction we're intrusted with 1t, Some
very fine songs are included I'm the list
Of the duties Of this role, and they
made but a slight impression. instead
OF distinct hits. Olga Won Hatfield.
one Of the most graceful and best
dressed dancers Of the day, was prom
inent IN singing, pirouetting and CO
quoting Sophie Brandt. who scored
favorabiy all winter IN "Fhe Waltz
Dream" at the Broadway. also lined
up her appreciators and admirers. Par
ticulagly chic was her ditty. The
Saucy Sparrow"
This gay musician fellow, you know,
had a wife, and she had a mother. ard
the husband achieves the requisite COM
phcations by arranging with a stage
fayorite TO bring out the great opera
that he has composed. This brings on
stage angels. JOhunies, producers, man
ayers, theatrical companies, and a meas
ure Of trouble sufficient TO go well
around. wife gets a divorce. and. IN the
end, when the gay musician is about
90 marry the actress, and the actress
father IS about TO marry the musicians
eX-wife, Eugene suddenly discovers that
Continued on Fifth Page.)