Life — October 20, 1904 — page 12: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Decadent Days of Comic Opera. HE main thought suggested by ‘The Sho-Gun" is that “The Mikado” was a work of art. Angels might well fear to tread on the territory made sacred by the genius of Gilbert and Sullivan, but Messrs, Ade and Luders have rushed into an almost unavoidable comparison, which is very much to their disadvantage. With ail that lavish costuming, elaborate stage Setting, and modern invention could do to make * The Sho-Gun” rival ** The Mikado,” the artistic simplicity of the latter makes the former seem like poor paste trying to outshine the purest diamond. To make the comparison in a general way might seem unfair to the two young Americans; to go into detail would be cruel; so, although they themselves have invited it, ‘The Sho- Gun” must be judged simply by the standard of contemporary musical comedy, which every one knows has sunk to a_ pretty low level. It can truly be said of this piece that it is very elaborately and very gorgeously mounted, Any number of liberties have been taken with Japanese costume, which, although the programme states that the surroundings are purely fanciful, is attempted to be reproduced with more or less accuracy. The same attempted fidelity and gross in- lity is shown in certain manners and customs which are aped. No dramatic license and no programme explanations can give reason for the curious jumble of adherence to, and departure from, reality. However, seriously to discuss what is called comic opera to-day, and to attempt to analyze it in detail, is eflort wasted. It is a form of entertainment which has given up any appeal to serious considera- tion, It is enough to chronicle whether or no the essentials are present. These are pretty women in tights, lines which appeal to a very elementary sense of humor, music which can be hummed or whistled, brilliant colors in the scenery and costumes, and effects in lighting which stun the eye. These are all to be found in“ The Sho- Gun” and generously supplied. As between score and book, the former shows considerably more successful effort, as some of Mr. Luders's numbers are effective, while Mr, Ade’s lines and lyrics arouse very little laughter or enthusiasm, “The Sho-Gun"” is not remarkable even as contemporary comic opera goes. It is not pre-eminent in a class of entertainment of which the public is evidently beginning to tire. ELIEVE us, dear reader, there is more joy in LiFe office over one theatrical manager who repents and turns from the error of his ways, than over ninety and nine who go on regarding the public as easy prey, and who care nothing for their patrons’ comfort and safety, if they can only succeed in get- ting the money of the public, and as much of it as it is possible to extort by fair means or foul. Live's readers will recall that for some time LIFE has expressed disapproval of the way Weber and Fields have treated the public, always lavish in its patronage of the little music-hall at Broadway and Twenty-ninth Street. Last spring Weber and Fields dissolved partnership, and the house is now under the management of Weber SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH PROFESSOR BUZZPUZZ (THE LEARNED ARCHAOLOGIST) MAKES A DISCOVERY OY MIRROGLYPHICS. and Ziegfeld. ‘The new firm has made such a radical departure from the ways of the old, that Lire is glad to record the change and point out wherein the old grasping policy has been changed to give the pub- lic more generous treatment, The most material sacrifice on the part of Messrs. Weber and Ziegfeld is the removal of something over a hundred down-stairs seats from the body of the house. This increases safety by widening the aisles, and permits of the substitution of comfortable chairs for the old cramped seats, which were places of torment for every one who wasn'ta living skeleton, A store on Broadway has been added to the main entrance, making it a far more commodious exit in case of panic. ‘The galleries have been made safer by an increase in the number and size of the fire-escapes. Weber and Fields were notorious for the use of the ticket-speculator device for the purpose of wringing the last possible penny from their patrons: Weber and Ziegfeld announce that they not only will discourage the speculators in every way in their power, but they have adopted a very simple device which, if used fairly and with a little assistance from the public, will make the speculator an impossibility at this theatre. Spccially to commend the proprietors of a theatre for treating their patrons with ordinary fairness seems a curious thing to do, but such treatment is so exceptional that it certainly deserves special com- mendation, If the stage performance is anything like what it used to be in the early days of this house, Messrs. Weber and Ziegfeld will deserve, and doubtless will receive the hearty support of the public. comicbooks.com