Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-04-01
in K%H0RAsSAN, A
NEWARK PRODUCT.
WINS APPLAUSE
Clever Comic Opera by Local
Newspaperman Scores Hit at
Initial Performance.
BY ADELINr STANLEY cARRIcK.

BY ADELINE STANLEY CARRIcK.
A good-sized audience waxed enthusi-
astie over the initial production of the
two-act comic opera, I'm Khorassan.''
given in the New Auditorium last night
in he interest of the Home for Crippled
Children. Particular interest was at
tached to the opera because it was the
men.
Malcolm F. Mcclure is responsible
for the book, and the dainty, catchy
music was created by Harry s..
Cyphers. The former has an excellent
plot which reveals itself in a series
of clever situations, n though there
are new jokes a%-plenty, mingled with
them we occasionally FIND one at which
we smiled sometime. ago. The dialogue
is crisp and merry, promising to get
over the footlights in fine style when
the young amateurs become a little
more accustomed to their work. Many
a good line was lost last night be-
cause of the stilted delivery of n
whose surroundings were strange At
| such times the voice of the prompter
was heard in the land" with startling
| distinctness.
Mr.. Maclure possesses ability OF no
mean order. I'm Khorassan,' as 1t
stands today, ranks ahead of many OF
the operas written, staged and played
by professionals OF Broadway. With a
| little bolstering up of the weak spots
1t should be able to enjoy a long. sue
cessful run. The lines in the hands,
or rather the mouths, of professionals
would scintillate whereas, as given by
amateurs. they only twinkle.
Nothing but good a be said of the
music. Several of the umbers are of
the sort one wants to whistle when
leaving. and that. I believe, is con-
sidered a sure test of comic operate
worth. Through the overture ran an
oriental strain that stirred ones ex-
pectations. Needless to say. these we're
not disappointed. The climaxes of both
acts were reached with splendid sue
cess, both as to grouping and music.
All through the performance n could
tell of long hours of patient drilling
under capable directors.
The plot is woven round the vicissi-
tudes Of one Oscar u. Stringer, a book
agent, who is endeavoring to carry out
his long-cherished idea of selling a
souvenir edition de luxe of Omar
Khayyam TO the people of Omar's own
country. Finding his pockets minus
the jingle that tells of coins therein,
Stringer attaches himself to a party of
travelling Americans. volunteering to
act as their guide and glibly drawing
upon his Imagination for descriptions.
About this time Uzal-Hash. the vizier,
dreams of his own assassination, and
commands his three valiant sleuths to
scour the country for said slayer, lest
his dream come true. During the ex-
element Stringer wanders into the
courtyard palace, where he is asked by
three charming young Persian girls,
daughters of the vizier, If by n
chance he be their tutor. Being a
young man Of infinite resource and I'M
limited self-confidence, Stringer de-
clares that he is. Not many hours
later he discovers in dismay that,
! through his unfamiliarity with Per-
sian customs, he has married them all
and laid himself open to the death
penalty which attends such an offense.
The three ardent sleuths camp on his
trail and arrest him, but while they
are devoutly salaaming before their
fearsome vizier Stringer tiptoes away
to safety, and takes refuge in the
ancient tomb of Omar Khayyam. En-
ragged at his escape, the vizier com
mands that the entire American party
be held on suspicion and have their
heads chopped off before their inno-
cence can be proven. The execution
is to take place in front of the tomb,
but is interrupted by the appearance
of Stringer as Omar ghost. When the
badly scared vizier and his attendants
flee he reveals himself Difficulty piles
upon difficulty, until the inevitable
American consul. with his troop of gall
liant khaki men, appears and saves
each and every one of their respective
necks, and all, as good comic-opera
folk should, live happy ever after.
Warren c. Biggin scored a hit as the
voluble plausible Stringer. He sang
his songs with a ~nonchalance that was
Irresistible and exhibited an infinite
variety OF facial expression that would
serve him well should his ambitions
lead him stageward. Nevertheless,
Mr.. Biggin deserves TO be scolded for
displaying so much ability to forget
his lines when they were most needed.
Frank w. Stucky, was adequate as
the vizier, and Sal-e-mander. adviser to
the vizier. was excellently characterized
by Walter II. Higbie. James NJ. Gould
ELECTED merriment by his antics as
Al-a-Doze, the vizier's sleepy slave OF
the smelling salts. and Edward II.
Boyle disclosed a pleasing, w~ell-placeG
voice as Ralph Radcliffe. aid to the
American consul, who was portrayed by
Philip Blumenheim. who was featured
in a military drill accompanied by a
swinging soldiers chorus.
The three dainty daughters OF the
vizier were charming, both as to looks
and voices. as played by Miss Edna G..
STICKY. Miss Caroline F. Schaller and
Miss Anna A. Dervin, Miss Mabel