New-York tribune., 1920-12-30
''Beggar's Opera"
Carries Its Years
With Light Heart
Gays Famous Ballad Oper-
eta Revived by Arthur
Hopkins in Spirited Way
at Greenwich Village
By Haywood Broun

The production of John Gays "The
Beggar's OPERA" at the Greenwich
Village Theater last night served to
show that musical comedy is the one
fixed point IN dramatic entertainment.
When Captain Macheath cried out in
the second act Il must have women
and q bevy was imm ediately produced
to join him in q song about the doings
of the barnyard, time seemed but a
trife. Mr.. Gay might have been writ
ing for the Follies. Indeed Irving Ber-
lin, from the row in front, was heard
TO exclaim in awe, "And this show was
done in 1921" as if the revelation that
the folk Of such distant day went in
for goings on was news to him.
Probably each generation in turn be-
lieves that it was the first to rhyme,
kiss and miss and set its couplets to
roIlieking airs. There WAS every evi-
dence last night that neither Gay, nor
anybody else of his day, spent much
time in realizing that centuries full of
subways, and steamboats, and wars and
W. taxes were presently to pass over
them. Even an ultimate production by
Arthur Hopkins, in all probability, lay
without Gays intention. Still, it seems
hard to believe that he had no dim
notion OF the future or he would hard
y have crammed his musical piece
with so many drinking songs, with
which 10 cheer by proxy an arid age.
In many respects Cay was modern :
ist, for whenever he heard. anywhere
a good tune such as nm audience might
be expected to whistle as it went out
he promptly seized upon it and made it
ing new set Of lyrics The same
practice, we are told, is not unknown
to-day. To be sure, Gays lyrics are
good deal better than we exnect ia
ind in musical shows to-day, but that
cid not serve TO disturb the air of
modeTnity. TOR as they were sung last
night nobody could catch the words
very we'll. anyhow
Still 1t is only fuir to say that the
original company of Nigel Play
fairs production, which has been i'm
ported, is excellent vocaly in every
respect but enunciation. Much the be st
member Of the company is Percy Hem
ing, who sang delightfully."- and played
With unhounding humor and spirit
Tins is capital piece Of work Sylvia
pretty voice. 1t was pleasing work last
night and it will be still better to -day
and tomorrow, as it was evident that
the actress was In agonies OF nervous
ness. Dora koselli rs Lucy Lockit also
gave a good account OF hers eli, and
Nonhy Lock was an attractive Jcn =
Diver. Alfred Heather also deserves n
word Of praise. The chorus was ur-
usually good, and such numbers as "Be-
fore the Barn Door Growing" and "Let
Us lake to the Road went with a Stir
ring swing.
And speaking of modernity it is
Opera is an excellent burlcsquc upon
the happy ending, which is stili Win
US, for at the end just as the author
is intent upon sending Captain Mac
heath, the philandering hignwayn1an.
to the gallows one Of the players steps
out Of his part to implorc, But, honest
friend, I hope you don't intend that
Macheath shall be really executed"
Most certainly, sir" answers the
Beggsr. "To make the piece perfect |
was for doing strict poetical Justice
Macheath is to be hang'd; and for the
other Personages of the Drama, the
Audience must have supposed they
were all either hang'd or transported. i
"Why then, Friend" objects the
player, this is downright deep
Tragedy. The Catastrophe IS mani
ie;tly. wrong, for an opera must end
kaEpily."
your objection, Sir" replies the
Beggar YEARLY, "is very just, and is
easily removed. For you must allow,
that in this kind of Drama, It's no mat
ter how absurdy things are brought
about So you rabblo there
run and cry, A Rcpriovc. --- let the
Prisoner be brought back to his Wives
in Triumph
"All this we must do" says the
player. ITO comply with the Taste OF
the Town.
1t is impossible to-day to identify
a good deal Of the music which was
originally used in THE Beggar's OPERA"
and Frederic Austin has contributed
much which is new, but also tuneful
and generally in keeping with the
spirit Of the rest of the operetta.
There arc IN all some thirty songs in
the version used last night. c. Lovat
traser's scenery and costumes are
just right and always in close CO.
ordination, which may not be said for
the orchestra and singers at all times
last night.
The Pacpar'e Onoro1 :, .,..:1,,