The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-10-02
GOOD OLD ROBIN HOOD
CHARMS AS OF YORE

! Not only did Reginald de Koven
reach the zenith of his career as a
composer of light opera in Robin
/ Hood" SURPRISING all OF his previous
and subsequent efforts, but he set a
mark to which none of his contem-
| pora ries have attained. Since it's first
production operas innumerable have
come and gone. yet today 1t would re-
ceive ninety-nine votes out of every
/ hundred as the prett.est. most funeral.
most enduring comic opera of the past
quarter of a century Its solos. duets
| trtos. quartet and ensemble numbers
are as enhancing To the ear as they
ever were. and its ever verdant gen.
timely witty book as funny today as it
was fifteen years ago. The production
| Of the work that was seen last night
| at the Academy was by what was un-
doubleday the best singing cast that
has sung the opera in Richmond and
there have been in the past some
mighty good ones The singers were
said to have been personally selected
by Mr.. de koven. and even If they
were not. they could individually and
collectively have had his unqualified
stamp of approval, From Robin Hood
himself to Annahel the voices were
notable, and the chorus sang with
! splendid volume and precision Ivy
SSotts one Oh ME pest KNOWN OF anne T-
lean sopranos, formerly with one of
the Mime. Butterfly" compa MES, and
leading soprano of The Girl Of the
Golden West" when that opera was
sung here. is the Maid Marian. she
was in excellent voice and the bird
/ like tones of her upper register were
as clear IA a bell. Ralph Brainard
makes a picturesque Robin Hood, and
disclosed a beautiful voice uhat is
| rather high baritone than it is u
/ pure tenor, which somewhat handI-
capped him at times. Cora Tracy. is
not only stunning Alan-a- Dale in
appearance. but has wonderful pure,
limp contralto that Is surprisingly
sweet and her singing OF 20, Promise
Me. alone Is worth trip to the
theater. She is the most attractive
Interpreter OF the role that has ever
sung here. Herbert Waterous repeat
/, ed the fine impression OF three years
tago. Formerly with the metropolitan,
/ Company, he is hle posscssor OF a
powerful. rangy, musical bass that
made one want &c near ut Takes
Nine Tailors to Maze q MAN. or the
"Armorer's Song dozen times over.
James Stevens splendid baritone made
the rafters ring with Brown October
Ale" Phil Branson, as the unctuous
sheriff OF Nottingham, carried on able
shoulders the burden Of U,e comedy,
and was AZ successful az Henry Clay
Barnabee ever dared to be. In the
| drunken scene OF the second act he
WAS immense. and the Tinker's chorus
was greatly enlivcned by his .nimita BILE
droilery. Sol Solomon was an able
second lieutenant to Branson, as Guy,
rot stsisbourncs iAfYsA ar befssre r1erl-
/ toned not only the principals. hut 4
large and comedy chorus sang with
nne effect In the concerted numbers.
| The orchestratson was tho only disap-
pointing feature. evidently displeasing
the singers on one or two occasions
hut considered from every Important
standpoint. the good old favoritc was
never. In our opinion. 20 clfarmingiy
and ably rendered as 1t Was last night.
1t Will be long remem bored BY ali who
heard It and there 10 no reason why
II should not pack the house AZ today,s
performances II ID interesting to note
that tfe nrat Robin Hood was a Rich
imonder. Ned Hon, who has recently
returned to his native heath TO impart
70 othsfS his knpWiedss ~ vocal ART.
| ~ sss sss G. G. v r.