The Wizard Of The Nile (Victor Herbert) NEW from The Comic Opera Guild of Ann Arbor, Michigan

Description

THE WIZARD OF THE NILE, produced in 1895, was Victor Herbert’s second show and his first big hit. His first show, Prince Ananias, had been a failure, so the reception given the “Wizard” was a welcome jumpstart to his career. It became perhaps, with performances not only in New York but England and Germany as well, Herbert’s longest running show. Frank Daniels, who starred as the wizard Kibosh, ultimately reprised his role for the 350th and 500th performances. The book and lyrics were written by the prolific Harry B. Smith, who went on to collaborate with Herbert on 20 of his shows. The success of this show may have kept Herbert and his producers from seeking out other librettists with a more subtle sense of theater, but at least in the exuberant farce that is the “Wizard,” he is in top form.