Robin Hood

I just listened to the recording(s) or Robin Hood, written by Reginald deKoven (music) and Harry Smith (words).  This production premiered in New York on September 22, 1891 at the Standard Theater.  Yes, you read it right: 1891.  I actually found this music easy to listen to and fairly entertaining.  The CD has recordings of many different productions of the operetta over the first 20 years of its existance.  Members of the original cast sang two numbers (these songs also were on the Music of the New York Stage cd below), songs from the 1919 revival (yes, revival), and a medley of songs the Victor Light Opera Company around 1909.  Best of all, the first half of the cd comes from a 50's radio production of the operetta.  All of the songs have cheesy rhyming dialogue in between them which I didn't mind at all.  I like understanding the setup of a song, and why (or not) it has dramatic importance.  Surprisingly, most of the songs in this piece actually can be derived from some sort of plot.  I sound surprised because most other shows(operettas) of the time did not necessarily follow those rules.  

The plot is that same as the movie.  You know, the one with Kevin Costner and the bad accent.  Robin steals money and gives to the poor.  He loves the girl.  Mean ruler also loves girl.  He steals girl.  Captures Robin.  Robin saves the day in the end and finds true love with the girl.  All sung with catchy Gibert and Sullivan-esque songs that bounce and roll right on by.  The best known love song is "O Promise Me", which according to the liner notes wasn't even in the production in the beginning.  

If only all the songs on the Music from the New York Stage CD had radio versions from the 50's so I could actually make out and understand all the words and music.  Only then can I go back, as I did with this CD, and listen to the originals and be able to fully appreciate their worth.