New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-07
ROBIN HOOD" REVIVED
Composers Own Company Gives
AII-Star Performance.

many at the present time a bevy OF pretty
girls, jig tunes and a bunny hug do not
constitute light opera. Light opera Is an
art as legitimate as sincere In its own way,
as Is the art Of It's more pretentlous sister
whose American throne is the Metropolitan
Opera House. and all who have been look
ing forward to It's too long delayed renais-
sance will do well to HE themselves i'm
medlately and enthusiastically 10 the New
Amsterdam Theatre.
There last night was revived before an
audience limited only by the capacity OF
the house Reginald De Koven's Robin
Hood" Let it be stated at the outset that
the revival was success to degree such
as few successes OF recent years have been
"a success both artistic and popular. From
the enthusiasm OF last nights greeting
there seems little danger in predicting that
Robin Hood" will run as far into the
summer as the projectors wish to hold IL
There Is little necessity to recount the
history Of the De koven-Harry b. smith
operetta. All know that II was first pro-
duced by the Bostonians twenty-five years
ago. and that since then IL has been per-
formed some four thousand times. II Is
exceedingly doubtful. however, whether 1t
has ever been presented as effectively as II
was last night. while it's music and even It's
llbretto seem as fresh as II they had been
born but yesterday. Robin Hood mas
long been regarded one OF the two or
three works that mark the height OF Ameri-
can achievement in operetta, and its re-
hearing after twenty-five years OF life
abundantly confirms that Judgment
The revival was made by tho De Koven
opera Company. and II It's personnel Is
kent at the standard set for il at It's out
set the American public may we'll feel
debt OF gratitude to Mr.. De koven and his
associates. Not for many years has New
York seen under one standard in any light
opera such a gathering OF singing artists
az the New Amsterdam Theatre saw last
night. while. in addition. the production
was on a scale that the Metropolitan Opera
Company itself would not hive been
ashamed 10 acknowledge. But frst as to
the artists themselves.
From the Metropolitan Opera Company
came three OF the principals-Miss Bella
Alien. Miss Florence Wickham and Basil
Ruysdael Miss Alien was Maid Marion.
and In voice, figure and action was prac-
tically ideal. All who have seen Miss Alten
I'm grand opera know that she IL the high
imp Of viyacity.
She has done nothing better in her career
than she did last night II Miss Alten
ebouId decide to forsake her Gretels and
her Musettas II she should henceforth swim
no more In the green depths OF the Wag-
merriam Rhine. the world OF operetta will ue
the richer.
Miss Wickham WAS most dashing figure
of an Alan-a-Dale besides being most
sweet voiced singer. indeed. To her was
intrusted "Oh, Promise Me-" and surely
Mr. DE Koveu never heard his best known
song sung more effectively. Mr. Ruysdael
was VIII Scarlct-every inch OF his six feet
five and sang with rousing effect 1T Takes
Nine Tailors To Make a Man" and the
"Armorers Song
The Robin Hood himself was Walter
Hyde who two years ago sang Siegmund AT
the Metropolitan, and to him perhaps above
all others went the honors of the evening.
America has long had "a dearth of light
opera tenors II Mr.. Hyde can be per-
suaGed to stay this side OF the Atlantic
enc at least will exist who Is almost Ideal.
He proved himself the possesor OF a true,
warm, rlCn lyric voice, n voice wen Cou-
,roIled and we'll produced vet. better than
all. he is also tenor VINO can act one
whose face is at once manly and express
sive. whose manner has distinction. whose
bearing possesses both grace and poise. Mr..
Hyde has brought back the romantic lover
to operetta land.
Good words too, should be said for Carl
Gantvoorts fine singing OF Brown Oc-
tober Ale" and for Miss Ann Swinburne.
whose Annabclc was vision OF youthful
Leauty and grace and whose sweet voice
gave charmingly her two chief numbers.
There were also three comedians In the
cast. three real comedians who, marvellous
TO relate. needed to raise a laugh, neither
stuffed clubs nor limitations OF the tree
tops OF the upper Amazon. Ii was dear
old George rockingham who played Friar
Tuck He played the part twenty-five
wears ago He has played ii ever since.
No one could play II but he
The other two We're the Sheriff Of Not
tlngham of Edwin Stevens and the Sir Guy
of Sidney Bracy. Both We're delicious and
as for the latters legs-Henry Dixey and
Francis Wilson must look to their laurels.
Those legs would we'll repay a Journey
across the continent, And the record would
not be complete without the mention OF
Miss Pauline Hall. whose was an admirable
bit OF character work.
The chorus was fine one. the men being