New-York tribune., 1912-01-07

auditor devotee. Tor instance, of the
I.ow Fields style of entertainment. VINO
pight h.. enticed 10 a performance OF
"TEo Mcistersiuger" because il is called
comic orerl. would naturally be very
much disappointed. not 10 say dismayed;
Vet this ract would not necessarily de-
tract FROM the artistic value Of Wasners
grcat masterpiece for the purposes Tor
which It's composer intended II
am inclined 10 believe that American
audiences, generally speaking. are NOS M
lIrad-at first. a. any r9te-to appreciate
the humorous qualities Of satire, / nave
seen. for instance. people whose appear
ancc Indicated both cultivation and intei-
ligencc ST through a performance OF dH-
bert's "EnsaScd," one OF the most senu-
lnely funny plays from a Satiric stano-
point eyer written. without cracking
arun, and leave the theatre cNclalmsnS'
What a silly play" ! quite remember
too, that at the III 81 production IN inns
country of Bernard Shaws eNquisit" sat-
ire. Arms and the Man which aftef-
ward as Tile Chocolate Soldier amused
many AN auditor people sat IN 'open-
,nouthpd astonishment unamus Il and won-
dcring what il was all about.
About Eve years ago Lew Fields assured
me that [. mic opera in this country was
az dead as mutton. and within few
months along came both The Merry Wid-
ow" and The Chocolate Soldier. genuine
comic opera. and made their striking popu-
lar successes Broadway managers,
wrapped IN in The SURROUNDINGS of the
Ralto. are too likely 70 forget the TACT
that there is large population in this
country who know not the Tenderloiu ana
it's ways, AID dislike and reprehcnd II wh,h
thov do. to whom :by Ordinary musical
show, with it, girls and logs chorus "vo-
lutiGus and musical inanites. Naud'NlHo
spcciIltcs and interpretations, - a bore aud
70 rc rcprcheudod rather thal To be ad-
mircd: that there Is public which when
i; goes To a light musical show, prefers
n EoCd song Caplbly sung to music haA
dittv squcaked ly some slrl win an
hrcviatcd skirts nmhlc toes ami no voice.
I cannot believe that the intelligent ana
music LOVING public which has kept an
opera like Robin Hood" alive or twenty
two years. has disappeared on the face q
the earth; ana II was In this belief that
Nine De GresaC. Mr. Smith ard myself,
with deliberate intent TO thy ana provide
better class of light musical eEt6rtdlnmtnt'
wrote The Wedding Trip" and the way
that the piece 50 far has been accepted ey
IN, puhlL. has convinced rs with JOY that
our belief was not wrong
Yes. indeed. there Is everything In the
roInt of view. Audiences going 10 see a
Legitimate musical piece OF the lighter or
der. where definite emphasis is laid ON tho
music and the way II is sunS. ana where
4 legitimate story oi humorous intent -
consrouenty developed. need not expect to
,Igg,, Al every line any more Ihan they re-
,nIre that every musical number should
have. comic rords. Managers aud people
generally often lose sight Of the fact that
| an audience may be genuinely Interested
and amused without giving vent constantly
! >, pprcarous laughter Some critics have
/ informed me that the book Of THE we'd
/ linz Trim" is msunny. | must contend
In,t il is decidedly more continuously
n,nbv aud amusing ia legitimate way
| th,n the average piece Of It's class WIN
! Continued on seventh page.