The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-24
A Note of ImnroYement.


form Of theatrical entertainment and as
an accompaniment OF civilization. and in
the former respect both are susceptible
of about the same forms Of degeneration.
particularly In that tendency toward en-
deavOring 90 keep up the supply of new
vehicle after the fountain head OF in
spiratiOn has become exhausted, and the
mercenary expedient Of collecting a lot
Of half forgotten material from various
sources and exploiting the mongrel mix
ture under a new title The production
OF old plays and operas. of recognized
artistic merit. would be far preferable to
the presentation Of a ceaseless run Of re-
hash under novel titles. or a line OF vul-
gar mediocrity under any title whatever.
From the beginning certain philoso-
pliers and critics. although recog-
nizing the drama as a legitimate form
OF expression, have deprecated the use
Of music. regarding it as frivolous in
some respects and vague in others. Such
stand IS untenable, coming perhaps
from the fact that music as means of
| expression either falls below or goes
above their understanding What IS in
comprehensive 10 them IS readily COM
pretended by others The mind OF
dyspeptic Scotch Reviewer" while
grasping thoroughly all the fine points
OF politics. economies. or sociology, may
be sadly deficient in a musical sense.
but nevertheless, grand opera. comic
opera, and even musical comedy. are just
/
sion as tragedy. comedy. and farce
There must be diversion in form in order
20 stimulate interest. and the proper aim
OF producers. writer's. and auditors should
be 10 keep them all Up TO the highest
! possible standard
The important place attained IN the
! traditions OF the stage by comic or
Tomantic light opera. as created by Of
fenbach, Won Suppe Millocker. and 9TH
ers, must always appeal TO the intelligent
| observer as the highest form OF lighter
musical vehicles, and It must be equally
as palpable 10 all that a large contingent
OF the public would have their entertain
ment diversified by a reasonable assert
/ ment OF plays musically expressed. With
memories or The Black Hussar." THE
/ Queens Lace Handkerchief" "The Nj
kado" and "Erminie'' stfll lingering I'm the
mind, they go TO see the baser make
shifts. prompted by musical taste and
perhaps with the hope that something
| delectable may turn up.
II II possible that we will have 10 con-
tinue TO look to foreign sources for this
class Of material for certain Il IS that
most Of them which have created any
favorable Impressions lately have been
adapted from productions Of the Euro
pean continent, and, by the way. I'm this
regard the less our adapters do TO these
things the better; a free translation IS
all that IS necessary. and the services
Of the stage manager who asplres 20
"Americanize" should especially be
eschewed. for 10 attempt this dangerous
trick very often means to dlsfigure the
intentions Of the original author. The
intelligent American can understand and
! appreciate very well the romanticisn
Of the Rhine and Danube. and 10 a con-
siderable degree is familiar with the &C.
centricIdes OF Latin or Teutonic char
these places. Topical songs do not have
TO be adjusted 20 the limitations OF lower
Broadway, nor sentiment altered to nj
any difference supposed 10 exist between
our minds and theirs As a matter ol
fact. IL Is the same the world over. We
often read In foreign newspapers OF the
production Of grand operas with title.
and authors totally unfamiliar 10 us. fol
lowed by news Of popular success and
pages Of favorable reviews. but we arc
treated to the ceaseless repetition OF that
series by Verdi and Wagner which Ia,
been whistled by the street arabs fol
fifty years Likewise there Is in exist
ence the scores OF light operas. ever
by Offenbach and Won Suppe, which
have never been heard in this country
II the employment OF modern production.
is not feasible. by all means let US hav,
the old ones although we believe. tudR
ing from some late instances. that clever
, examples OF this class are now being ere
ated in Europe. and would be as artistic
ally successful here. provided they wer,
not too much mutilated.
The efforts Of Col Savage and other
along these lines deserve the commenda
. ton Of both critics and public. notabl
attempt being the formers presentation
OF The Gay Hussars." It is. in ele
ments, Il good specimen OF the romanti
opera splendidly presented and agreeabI,
d inter -eted, and while we do not aspire Z
b be listed with the carpers we canno
e forbear to call attention to a falling on
e a sop TO the Cerberus Of popular idea. Tn
I character OF the caddish militia Office
S should never have been intrusted to
comedian Of such methods. much less Z
e one OF such marked Hebraic procIlvities
. These roles are for the most part in
Q tended 70 be effective from the standpoln
e OF subtle caricature. and to invest Their
n with the aspect Of SILLY asininity'' make
e them ridiculous and homogeneous espe
e cially when such pains is taken in an IA
l. troductory note to make apparent n
e strict conditions which govern such thing
i in European countries. i'm the face a
{ which It would be absurd to suppose the
r such fellow would be permitted to bol
> commission in any arm Of the servic,
However. considering the artistic natur
! Of nearly everything else. this slight IN
S consistency can be freely forgiven. eve
e though 1t may produce a momentaril
Il Earring note.
y VIII Return to washington.
: "A Gentleman from Mississippi" orig