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Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill at 1 Madison Ave.,New York, March 5,1910
"BRIGHT EYES"_WINS QUICK FAVOR.
New Musical Production by Creators of "Three
Twins" Has Successful New York Opening
—Music by Karl Hoschna Given the Prin-
cipal Honors—Witmark & Sons the Pub-
lishers of This Great Success.
To a season already rich in musical offerings
which have made long runs seem quite in the
ordinary course, "Bright Eyes," a musical comedy
presented to New Yorkers as the successor of
"Three Twins." opened at the New York Theater
last Monday night. Previous and present musical
productions at the local theaters may be said to
have set a standard or pace which precludes any
but a piece of unusual merit lasting more than a
fortnight or so in the race for supremacy.
"Bright Eyes" will undoubtedly remain with the
leaders, if it does not actually outstrip them.
To the composer, Karl Hoschna, belong the chief
honors which were bestowed upon the produc-
tion at the New York opening. The book, by
Charles Dickson', is well enough, and abounds
with humor and laughable situations, but the plot
is rather thin and, besides, is taken from a farce
once known .as "Mistakes Will Happen." The
lyrics, by Otto A. Hauerbach, are clever or appeal
ing, as occasion requires, but the music is even
better than either book or lyrics demand.
"Bright Eyes" is the work of the composer of
"Three Twins." The latter production has been
unusually successful, but is excelled by "Bright
Eyes." The new piece is now a finished produc-
tion, having been presented for some weeks past
in Philadelphia, Boston and other cities.
Just as the music stands out in quality from
the rest of the production, so does one song num-
ber separate itself from the rest and become pre-
eminent. It is "For You, Bright Eyes." This
number is the center of the piece, the entire
production having practically been written
around it. The song is played in the overture,
is sung in solo and ensemble, then with a
soprano oblig-ato; is whistled by one of the prin-
cipals, played again between the acts, gives its
characteristics to much of the score, and, finally,
"plays the audience out." Few songs have been
more deeply woven into a production, but, even
so, Monday night's audience seemed to want more
of it. That this air will have a wide vogue and
will be heard wherever orchestras play popular,
catchy music there is little doubt. Its melody
and rhythm, strongly marked, are remarkable in
view of the few transitions.
The score and numbers are of a new and re-
freshing quality of music and, unlike many in-
stances nowadays, do not remind one of some-
thing else. Hearing them one remembers Robin
Hood, perhaps, although in this case there is no
suggestion of abstractions from other sources.
The music, too, has more vim and color than the
production which the Bostonians made famous.
The dynamics are more distinct and the con-
trasts in movement more pronounced. It holds
attention by its variety. There is no sameness,
but something new every minute. Unlike most
musical comedies it does not depend on scenery
and costumes, and, as already suggested, need
not fall back on the book. Fascination of melody
is perhaps the best word to describe Mr. Hoschna's
latest work. Modulations are beautiful through*
out, and the climaxes are especially telling.
After a tedious wait for the first curtain and
an opening chorus that did not give fair promise
of the average excellence that finally developed,
the audience was rather swept from its seats, so
to speak, by the dashing attack of the first num-
ber, "Tom Boy, Tom Boy," sung by part of the
chorus. This numter took three encores, only a
few minutes after the opening. After a dragging
SINGLE COPIES, 10 CENTS.
$2.00 PER YEAR.
LIZA LEHMANN SAILS FOR ENGLAND.
Famous English Composer Achieves So Great
Success on Concert Tour That She Will Re-
turn to This Country Next Fall.
Liza Lehmann, the famous English composer,
left this country last Wednesday, sailing on the
Mauretania for England. She recently com-
pleted a concert tour of the principal American
cities, presenting her own compositions to en-
thusiastic audiences. So great was the success
of her tour that not only did she give concerts
at return engagements but, it is now officially
announced, she will come back to the United
States next fall to undertake another and simi-
lar concert tour. On that occasion she will have
with her a quartet of singers who will present
her songs at the concerts, as was done on her
recently completed tour. Mme. Lehmann is now
under contract, as composer, with Chappell &
Co., Ltd., who publish her new works, many of
her former successes having been brought out
by Boosey & Co.
Chappell & Co. have received word from Lon-
don that the new musical production, "The
Balkan Princess," has been given in London
with great success and seems destined for a long
run there. Although nothing definite is an-
nounced as to its future presentation in this
country it is presumed that such -will eventu-
ally be the case. The most recent importation
of this sort is "The Arcadians," which is hav-
ing a phenomenally successful run in this city,
and of which Chappe!! & Co. are the publishers.
'A SKYLARK" TO OPEN IN WASHINGTON.
scene showing some incidents "behind the
scenes," the piece proceeded at a sparkling clip
and held this to the end, save for an occasional
hiatus in the action when one or another of the
principals displayed some pet proof of versatility.
An example of this was given in "The Mood You
Are In," when a fussy male "blue stocking" left
his part to become frivolous in his share of the
song. Aside from this, the number was a success.
Converted into a hymn for the four principals it
"brought down the house." "Cheer Up My
Honey" was admittedly the best number next to
"For You, Bright Eyes." It was chic and tuneful
as sung by Florence Holbrook. As an encore her
opposite, Cecil Lean, cleverly imitated a violin-
cello obligate "Mrs. Casey" and "He"s a Fan,
Fan, Fan," in the third act were the other at-
tractive numbers, the former being a novelty
song which took repeated encores. The music of
both was written by Miss Holbrook, and the
words by Cecil Lean, assisted in the former song
by Collin Davis. "Mrs. Casey" is a good song for
the stage. Most of it requires a brogue, so that
its "outside" success is problematical.
M. Witmark & Sons, publishers of the score
and numbers, have undoubtedly added a distinct
success to their list of winning musical produc-
t) ons.
THE MAN ON THE STREET.
Henry B. Harris' initial musical produetion,
"A Skylark," is scheduled to open in Washing-
ton, D. C, on Monday, March 14. In the prin-
cipal roles will be May De Sousa, who was re-
cently seen in New York in "The Goddess of
Liberty"; John C. Slavin, Clarice Vance and
Anna Boyd. It is understood that on this pro-
duction a sum has already been spent even
larger than the many thousands which have
been expended on big musical shows of the past.
Its eventual appearance in New York will be
awaited with keen interest. The publishing
rights of "A Skylark" are controlled by Leo
Feist.
NEW STRAUSS OPERA.
Richard Strauss has disposed of the printing
and selling rights of his new opera, "Sylvia and
the Star," on which he collaborated with Hugo
von Hofmannsthal to the Furstnerschen Musical
Co., of Berlin, for $62,500. The authors retain
the royalty rights.
DEATH OF JACKSON G0URAUD.
Jackson Gouraud, well known to music pub-
lishers and to the theatrical profession in New
York and Chicago, died at his home In this
city last week. He was a writer of "ragtime"
and other popular music, one of his best known
compositions being "Waldorf Hyphen ABtpria."