Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-05-12
WHAT LEGEND OF
MUSES. PORTRAYS

Here is the story of the Legend
of the Muses. an operatic spectacle
to be given all next week at the Shu-
bert Theatre in behalf of the Newark
| Anti tuberculosis Society:
Cleopatra, Queen Of Egypt, has fall
| len in love with Antony, the Roman
| Triumvir. Her younger brother,
! Dionysos. thoughtful young prince,
strolling toward nightfall through the
| streets of Alexandria, observing how
| the people, crowded as they were
| within the city's wall, are seeking
| diversion and amusement after the
days hard labor.
An earnest desire awakes n him
to help these men and women and
lead them on to q nohler life and
more orderly existence. While his
| thoughts are thus engaged, he finds
the famous poet, Homer. singing an
ode to the muses. with fervor and en-
| thusiasm to an eagerly listening
crowd in the market square
The prince is all the more inspired
for his ideal plan by what he hears,
as the nine muses. were Goddesses
representing music, art, etc. He re-
turns to the palace to ask his father
for permission to submit his heart
desire to a royal council before in.
vited guests poets and singers and
find the means for his idea to elevate
the people to a finer understanding
of living and take them off the
streets to their own homes.
The day for this council al the pal
ace has been set and the first act
shows q magnificent festival assem-
blage at the royal court and numer.
Gus guests of world wide fame.
Among those in the council are Sap
pho. the poetess; Antony the Trium-
vir Daphne, princess and friend of
the people; Sorates, a high priest and
tutor of Dionysos. Cleopatra, the
king and many others. The king,
in an aria, greets the guests, and
Dionysos addresses the illustrious
audience, relating his experience and
the thought which led him to invite
their suggestions how best to pro-
pose ways and means to instill poetry
within the hearts Of the masses
Homer the poet. who has also been
invited has not Yet arrived. and
Dionysos sends messengers to find
him, as Homer is blind. and perhaps
has lost his way. In the meanwhile
the guests express their suggestions
through their songs and arias, and
the dancers which they brought COM
plete their IDEAS through graceful
rhythm.
All offerings emphasize gentleness
and poetry. but Cleopatra is not salts
field. In her opinion, that art de-
serves the highest recognition which
imbues love and temperament in the
hearts of the people. Then she, her
self deeply in love with Antony. whose
heart she desires TO win, sings an
arv f.fT gr.ia nd 70 a l<n haf rori IL
ment more foreeful, brings on her
favorite dancer. Niadne, who, in the
fashion of those days, executes q. pas
sionate dance.
The guests become alarmed over the
turn OF affairs and as the excitement
increases during Madness dance, Ho
mer suddenly appears, singing his
Ode to the Muses. The effect IL
wOndrous. Niadne sinks to the feet
OF her mistress. the people and guests
listen with amazement and admira-
ton to his song, when suddenly the
heavens open, the nine MUSES. appear
in the clouds and, in response to Ho-
meT's appeal sing from the distance,
praising Homer for inspiring man
with love for art, wisdom and grace.
The curtain falls on the assembled
guests, who surround and crown the
poet in joyous song.
The second act IS a Ddllel ulN cruise
ment by one hundred graceful young
ladies' of Newark.
The third act is romantic opera
interviewer with extracts from Wag-
ner's "Tannhauser" and "Walkuere,
showing many delightful characters
in addition. such as Hansel and Gre
tel, SnoWWhite and the seven
Gnomes, Cinderella and the prince.
fairies. wood nymphs and many won
derful dancers of Newark's remark
able talent.
The cast is made up entirely of
Newark talent and is in splendid form.
The director. Emil Holman, found
the ready help of truly wonderful
voices, although the task in handling
so large a cast, mostly Inexperienced
on the stage and in SO preteutious
production, was very trying.