A DALY DREAM.
Allan à Daly, Robin Hood's Chief Forester.
If it be true that "a thing of beauty is a joy for ever," then The Foresters at Daly's Theatre ought to have a good run, instead of being limited to a certain number of representations. Rarely has a scene of more fairy-like beauty been placed on the stage than Maid Marian's dream in Sherwood Forest. The peculiar light in which the fairies appear gives a marvellous elfinesque effect to the woodland surroundings. Sir Arthur Sullivan's music, too, may be reckoned as among some of his happiest efforts, and the gay Savoyard (who has only one rival, and he is at the Savoy) is fortunate in such principals as the First Fairy, Miss Gaston Murray, and Miss Haswell as Titania. The Fairy Chorus and the Forester Chorus are remarkably efficient. Mr. Lloyd Daubigny as Young Scarlet the Outlaw, is bright both as tenor and actor. Mr. Bourchier is an easy-going representative of the Earl of Huntingdon, with just enough suggestion of "divilment" in his face to account for his so readily and naturally taking to robbery as a profession.
The Villain of the Piece.
As Maid Marian, Miss Ada Rehan is at once dignified yet playful, and as Tennysonianly captivating in her boy's clothes (there were ready-made tailors to hand in the days of Isaac of York), which is of course "a suit of male," as she is when, as Rosalind, she delights us in her doublet and hose. Fortunate is Tailor-Maid Marian to obtain a situation in the country where so many "followers are allowed"! Little John, Will Scarlet, Old Much who does little, but that little well, with many others, make up the aforesaid "followers," who are of course very fond of chasing every little dear they see among the greenwood trees. Miss Catherine Lewis as Kate, with a song, one of Sir Arthur's extra good ones, about a Bee (is it in the key of "B," for Sir Arthur dearly loves a merrie jest?), obtained a hearty encore on the first night. Not only her singing of the bee song is good, but her stage-buzzyness is excellent.
Mr. Hann's ('Arry thinks there's a "lady scene-painter 'ere, and her name is Hann") and Mr. Ryan's scenery is first-rate; and if the business of the fighting were more realistic, if the three Friars were a trifle less pantomimic, and the three grotesquely-got-up beggars (worthy of Callot's pencil) would aim at being less actively funny, with one or two other "ifs," including Friar Tuck's general make-up which might be vastly improved, and if the last Act were shortened, and the Abbot and the Sheriff and the Justiciary were compressed into one, or abolished,—any of which alterations may have been effected by now, seeing the piece was produced just a week ago,—then the attractions of Maid Marian and the fairy scene and the music are of themselves sufficient to draw all lovers of the poetic musical drama to Daly's for some weeks to come, unless Mr. Daly clips the run with the scissors of managerial fate,
"For be it understood
It would have lived much longer if it could,"
and so banishes his own outlaws from the elegant and commodious theatre in Leicester Square.
New Novel.—"The Mackerel of the Dean," by the author of "The Soul of the Bishop."