Life, 1890-04-10 · page 12 of 18
Life — April 10, 1890 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis: Life Magazine Page 216 This page contains two distinct pieces of theatrical criticism from what appears to be the late 19th century. **"Haroun Al Raschid and His Mother-in-Law" at Daly's Theatre**: A favorable review of a farce starring John Drew as "Arthur Hummintop," with supporting cast including Isabel Irving and Mrs. Gilbert. The reviewer praises Drew's comedic timing and the play's "ludicrous surprises." **The Italian Opera Satire**: A sarcastic commentary on Wagner's dominance in American musical taste. The writer mocks the prevailing snobbery that considered preferring Italian opera to Wagner's work as philistine or unpatriotic—"a pitiable imbecile" viewpoint. The satire suggests German cultural nationalism had made Wagner's music sacrosanct, making the writer's actual enjoyment of Italian opera's "good singing and graceful melodies" something to hide. The small illustration shows a domestic quarrel over milk, likely comic relief accompanying the reviews.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
AT DALY'S. ss |S larceray AL RASCHID AND HIS MOTHER- IN-LAW,” Mr. Daly’s latest production, is a mirth- ful piece. It is almost pure farce from the beginning to the end, and is rich in ludicrous surprises which follow fast in each other's footsteps. Mr. John Drew as Arthur Hum- mingtop, the modern caliph, bears the burden of the piece. and he does it with a grace and finish that are of vital impor- tince in a play of this character, In fact, a less finished actor would find it very difficult to keep an audience in such excel- lent humor, with the material at his command. He is not only exquisitely funny in the various dilemmas which per- petually overwhelm him, but his native dignity and refine- ment add much to a character, which, in other hands might suffer seriously from the absence of those qualities. Miss Isabel Irving as Daésy Maétland, leaves little to be de- sired. And, as usual, she is natural and unaffected, and causes a general feeling of regret that she is on the stage so little. In the role of Humming top's mother-in-law, Mrs. Gilbert is, of course, at home, and the manner in which her ambitious dreams for her son, Joshua, are cruelly thwarted in the end, is very amusing. Mr. Bond, an actor, by the way, of unusual versatility » makes an excellent Joshua. Miss Kitty Cheatham makes the mos: of Rosa Coloméier, late of the circus; and the same may be said of Miss Chalmers, who appears as Humméngtop's wile. TALIAN music at the Metropolitan Opera House! It is bearding the Wagner in his den. And the astounding feature of it all is that the audiences are enthusiastic and honestly enjoy it. Can it be, after all, that there is room in this world for any operas save those of Wagner? The very thought 1s sacrilege. Is it possible that we have sunk to such an abyss of degradation that the being is allowed to go unpunished who prefers other music to that of Germany ? Perish the thought! The prise-fighter’s youngest > PERMAPS YOU'LL PUT WATER IN MY MILK AGAIN, YOU THIEF! i has been aggressively maintained in this community during the last few years, and with justice, that he or she who failed to enjoy this composer's efforts was not only a pitiable imbecile but an offensive crank. This, of course, is perfectly right and proper. Everything is fun for those who enjoy it. We have no excuse to offer for the frivolous wretch who finds in Italian opera a pleasure that Wagner fails to give. There is no good reason why he should derive enjoyment from a style of music which no patriotic German respects. The writer of this article has been deeply mortified more than once of late at tinding a real pleasure in listening to the good singing and graceful melodies of this Italian school. comicbooks.com