The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-13

sale Of herself in the service OF the god
and determines to steal some of his
Jewels to give to her lover who Ia in
want.
The temple guard surprises her and
shc dances to fascinate him. He falls
victim to her wiles. and when at her
request he brings her cup OF water
she poisons It and induces him to drink
lie dies curslng her. As she goes to
take the Jewels from the idol lightning
strikes her, and tho ever faithful chorus
enters to find two dead bodies over
which to sing dirge
Here Is melodramatic material which
mas certain element of theatrical value
ana which might he impressive IL skill
fully developed. The libretto. however
Is not always as clear as the recital of
ITS content The same obstacle to the
comprehension OF 1t by an audience OBJ
trudes Itself as In the case of THE
Legend" The text is rarely Ineligible
Sad Minutes In store.
The eloquent advocates of opera in
EngiiBh must have some sad minutes
II they listen honestly to such produce
tons as these two, for they must per-
ceive that the use of the English tongue
does not help matters in the least. one
catches a sentence here. half sem
tence there, but a whole dialogue never.
50 In the end in order to know what
II In all about one must read the IL
oretto. And that is not the English
opera Idea at all.
Meanwhile let us pass on TO the stage
features OF THE Temple Dancer" II
Affords opportunity for a good Indian
temple scene. for some ballet evolutlons
and some choral singing. The principal
role, that OF the temple dancer, is one
of almost unattalnable requirements
The impersonator ought to be brilliant
pentonimio dancer as we'll as singer.
Unfortunately only Mary Garden has
thus far succeeded in terpschorean opera
and II was inevitable that In the midst
OF the snake dance of this temple we
should behold Miss Garden In the dag
ger dance of ''Natoma" The memory was
not to the beneht OF Nine Easton's
we'll meant efforts
Mr.. Hugo'B music Is at least consls-
tent. 1t belongs to the scene and II
movee spontaneously with the story. 1t
never reaches any high level of beauty
or eioquence, but II Is well conceived
appropriate and generally in good taste
Altogether The Temple Dancer" may
perhaps gain favor.
Scenery Is Admirable.
The presentation OF these two short
operas had all the characteristics OF con-
temporaneous Metropolitan Opera House
productions. The scenery was admir-
able. especially In 1.-The Legend" On
this the artist had expended the wealth
OF his fancy and devised a setting fully
| in harmony with the incidents Of the tale
A better piece OF stage setting 1t would
be hard to imagine. The costumes were
! also well planned
As for the performance, II was suf-
| fciently good though perhaps IL Miss
Ponselle had infused a little more mel
| lowness into the quality OF her tones and
Mr.. Althouse had been enriched with OPP
portunfty to sing something in the best
part OF his voice the musical effect would
have been better
In THE Temple Dancer Miss Easton
sang much better than she danced, and
| she was rood to see. Mr.. Kingston dis
| charged his duties oonscientiousiy, but II
did seem as II such prolonged seduction
was more than he deserved. Mr.. Moran
| Eoni conducted both works.
After the novelties Charles Wakefield
Cadman's 'Shanewis" was performed
thus gaining the unique distinction OF
being the flrst native opera to live more
than one season. The cast was prac-
tically the same as last winter.
In the Audience.
Major-Gen. F. A. Tauffiieb of the
French army and Nine. Tauffiieb were
with Mrs. Charles B. Alexander, as were
also Count and Countess Andre de
Limur and w. Rhinslander Stewart.
With Mr.. and Mrs Henry Clews were
DR. and Mrs. Percy Turnure and Mr..
and Mrs. W. Adams Delano
Mr.. and Mrs. f. Reeve Merritt's
guests were Fir. and Mrs. Frederic r
Coudert Mr. and Mrs. Ansel Phelps and
FREDERICK Phillips.
Major Theron r. Strong, L. $. A,
and Mrs. Strong Miss Charlotte Pell.
Gen. Horace Porter and Shipley Jones
were with Mrs. Louis 7. Hoyt.
Mrs. Cyril Hatch was with Mr.. and
Mrs. William X Vanderbilt.
Mr.. and Mrs Harris Fahnestocks
guests were Mr.. and Mrs. T. Tileston
Wells Mr.. and Mrs. w. E. s. Grlswold
and William Fahnestock.
There were also in the audience Mrs
Harry Payne Whitney. Mrs. Howard
CuHhing, Alfonso de Navarro, Mrs. WILL
lam A NJ. Burden, Miss Pauline Robin
son. Miss Edith Wetmore Miss Jane
BarGer Wallach, Mr. and Mrs. w. Ross
Proctor. Mr.. and Mrs. Oren Root, Mrs.
Tracy Dows, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Jen-
nings, Mr.. and Mrs. william Bristow.
Mr.. and Mrs. e. s. Hardness. Mr.. and
To