Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-04
A RETURN TO the legitimate school
~ of comic opera.
"a Rash promise,
Dignifed and creditable. but
distinctly rash.

result with complacency. nasmuch as ho
theatrical entertainment can be held 10
strict accounting for the enthusiasm o1
the press agent
And in addition to being a composer
ard a compiler of musical works OF REFER
cnce and a critic, MIR. de koven IS COIL
retcut press agent. The only question
that can be raised concerning his actlv-
tiles in this respect is as to the proprlety
of his overweening Partially TO Inc
earlier Ibretti of Harry +. Smith. so
strong is Mr.. de Koven's approval OF MI
Smi h that he secured his services for the
latest creation. The Golden Butterfly -
and there could be no greater compliment
1t is many years since the collaboration
of these two men, whose names are no"
so familiar to playgoers. resulted IN the
unexpected and complete success, ROBIN
Hood" In announcing the hope OF re-
turn 10 the Robin Hood style of COM
position they set high standard-as high
perhaps as it would be possible to sug-
gest-in the history of America lyric
stage II is worthy of note that the au-
thor and the composer themselves should
have set the high standard which II is
their present aspiration to reach.
prediction that The Golden Butter
fly" will never fill the same place in popu-
lar esteem that Robin Hood" so long
occupied is most natural. The laws OF
chance are entirely against such con-
summation however 6evoutly to be
wished But this fact by no means inter-
diets The right to cherish goodly expecta-
tions for the new opera on its own ac-
count The Golden Butterfly has an
interesting and consecu i've story. and fine
opportunities both for players and sing
ers But 1t lacks the traditional interest
that the other piece held for English
speaking people. Robin Hood was. for
centuries a character VINO charmed rus.1
audiences. He was as we'll known as
Santa Claus. The revival of the story
away over here in modern America struck
d chord in the inner CONSCIOUSNESS OF the
public that thrilled in immediate and mar
monious response. 1t came like some
long forgotten folk song, as sweet for the
recol!ections il brought forth as for itself.
Robin Hood" was study in heredlty as
well as in poetry and music; no less an
atavism than a work of art.
With The Golden Butterfly 1t is diff
ferent.
1t is impossible to cut loose, in a single
struggle, from the dominating influence
which musical farce has SO long exercised
over the stage. The new opera Is admir-
able for being to some extent. oio
defiance to the tyranny of King Non
sense But the defiance is by no means
complete There is an evident discreet
recognition OF the fact that he has a
host of loyal subjects among playgoers
and the bid for chance to be the fash
ion of the hour is more apparent than
the ambition to win Endorsement for a
classic.
1t becomes apparent that the actor s
art of itself does not satisfy. Mr.. Thorn
as Wise. whose creation of the title role
in The Gentleman from Mississippi.
ranks as one of the most successful
achievements of the season in New York.
is mentioned on the program as one or
the authors OF the play. And William
Collier has lately declared himself
partner in. the responsibility tor the
pieces in which he appears. The latest
Collier comedy, the Patriot is so
much of "A kind with this stars other pro-
auctions that there can be no doubt OF
acteristic quality. 1t is dialogue COM
edy. The plot is a secondary consld-
Grafton. but the conversation snaps and
sparkles like d hickory fire. 1t is as
necessarily jocose as minstrel first
part. The disposition of Mr.. Collier to
measure his success by the number OF
audible laughs he can score to the min
ute-and in this respect he can come
h. lac
Is in great danger of distracting atten-
ton from the really fine character por-
-trayal. os which he is capable His field
Is strictly that of light comedy. His
deIinea tons of the mettlesome, well
eroomed young man of today are In
variably truthful and fascinating. MIR.
Collier is. despite his somewhat frollc-
some personality. a genuinely good actor
The Wolf" reappeared in Washington
after a season of success in New York
It's reception here on the occasion of its
first performance last season was not
encouraging, and the hit 1t made In
New York was a surprise, possibly, even
to it's own management. But a hit 1t
was and entitled to some show of in
tereSt for that, if for no other reason
1t appears to indicate a demand for
melodrama of the uncompromising sort
which has heretofore been regarded as
sacred to popular prices And now and
then the drama needs an infusion of stall
wart red corpuscles from the melodrama
to keep it from getting anaemic.
PHILANDER JOHNSON.
FREDERIC THOMPSON'S NEW PLAY
Via Wireless which comes to the
National Theater October 10 for its initia.
performance, is the newest production by
Frederic Thompson, who is famous as the
producer of "Brewster's Millions Polly
of the Circus and ''Ticey.'' Mr. Thomp-
son is also the man who controls Luna
Park. Coney Island, n. Y. the greatest
amusement resort in the world. and the
designer and builder and first successful
manager of the New York Hippodrome,