El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-05-11
Robin Hood" and PA
tience' Among Produc-
ti0ns to Be Put On.
CBy Emory B. Calvert)

New York, y y. May Along
about the time dame nature sprouts
a few leaves and calls the dickey birds
around 10 make things cheerful. theater
going New York is treated to a week Of
revivals- OF course. there are revivaIs
throughout the winter months and re-
TlNals during the summer and early
autumn, bun these Ie-uvenGJiOns of
more or less historic masterpieces
rarely assume the interesting proper
ions or those of Che Verual season.
As a matter of fact. there is a we'll
defined psychological law governing
the production OF old plays and Oper-
ettas. in the fan the producers if
they nave time to give the matter 4
thought at all, inevitably turn their at
uention to staging war plays of ancient
vintage, probably Symbolizing their in
tent-on OF marching on the unwary
public with particularly atrOciOus
crop Of new renditions of old themes
When the snow flies. plays OF probe
matte complexion. wherein the hero
doth philOsOphize at length upon unap-
preclative mankind, are apt 10 take the
place OF some Imaginative creation by a
Harlan playwright that has Just failed
TOT thousand or two But in the
spring, when the season is over and
everyone has cold or suubUrned
nose, the genus producer flOCks back to
the scenes Of past commercial and ar
ustlc trtumphs and jOyfully seizeS
upon some past success with which 10
turn a last and always honest penny
before the sun shines forth with such
warmth and YlgOr that the chorus is
Obliged TO fOregO any but the very
gauziest garments, and the public seeks
the sea shore
Two Light Opera RevivsIs.
Thus IL happens that this week sees
the revival Of two light operas. Robin
Hood" and Patience both Of which is
justly FAMED and equally welcome after
some Of the alleged operettas with
which the metropolis has been bur-
oened during a long, hard winter
''ROhin Hood"
It might as well he stated at the
very start that Robin Hood. De E0ven-s
masterpiece is a tremendous success as
revival and daily packs the New Am
sterdam rheater to its capacity In
fact, II has started with a vim that
VIII carry il far into the summer
months and perhaps. 10 the tank circuits
where the thousands VINO are famiI-
lar with its lifting melodies and pretty
story viii again have chance to pay
homage to the old favorite
The revival is staged by the De Ko-
ven Opera company, and a theater go
ing public may well feel a debt Of graf
uuue to this aggregation, for not in
many years has such gathering OF
singing stars raised its voice to herald
sucn popular success In addition.
the production is graced and a fit and
artistic scenic setting
There is little use of recountiug the
story Of this De kOVen-Harry B. Smith
opera 1t was born p years ago. when
the BOstOnians held the center of the
American opera stage. and IL has beon
performed some thousands Of times.
before some millions of people IT. is
loUDlIhi. however, If it has ever had
Il more effective cast. or hearty well
come as that accorded IL by New York
eIs at its present rejuVenatfon
ne east includes Carl Gantvoort
- n ..Fence Wickham. Ann Swinnbrrre
Ilella Alten and many other stars. But
Desl OF all, perhaps, is It's demonstra-
t-oH on a well known and little Needed
act lowit, that light opera does not
IoHslsI Of bevy Of pretty .,frIs ffe-
1 lies and bunny hug. but is an art as
80 innate and as sincere, in ITS own
80 80, as It's more pretentious sister,
Patience" Another Revival.
si,f-e al star revival of Gilbert and
,,-Llt. ans Patience" at the Lyric
i.rTotSu 70 De as great a success as
-tooln HOOD at the New Amsterdam
lld olds fair to make a close rival in
80 80 inevitable race OF these two operas
summer honOrs.
of work. anu pl71e
ne feature Of the performance is a
c-,,-t-lIIy selected and adequate cast
1 9f-iip0se ed Of musical comedy stars Of
-4I wide fame. Among these We're
iiiI'sI-Dered Miss Marie Doro De Wolf
-,1TG.pper; Eva Davenport Cyril Scott and
' '-.SS brady, all and each of whom
.G prove an attraction. without the
a+.-'-5e eained by the famous old oper-
go To revive with such cast is
sli ely ample testimony TO the genius
~ ~ me authors and the popularity OF
Patience" has had many revivaIs
Slhce It's first production in New
AoI OK al the Standard theater iu 1881.
anu with each recrOppinC it has re-
CslF ca a royal welcome Yet I'm spite
OF ITS long history of triUmphs. its
Pheasant music. wit and general bright
ness IL is an uErateful little opera.
NheIe IN IL is there q word OF
thanks TO the aesthetics for their sub
lime destruction of inch deep tea CUPS
hoisehalr settees, wax figUrines and
antimacassars.