The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-07
MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.
wFou.t,, by the RichinGs Troupe.


pertinent, for they had previously confined tRem-
selves almost exclusively TO works of much less
exactng character but to the surprise OF themselves
apparently no less than of the public, they made q
decided hit, and the enthusiasm manifested by the
audience on the occasion was something to be re-
membered. Thereafter, Faust continued to be
one of the most popular works in the
Richings repertoire. The opera itself
is remarkable composition. Unlike most attem pts
OF the Kind It fairly illustrates the theme, and
Goethes Faust, like Shakespeares Hamlet would
seem TO be subject particularly III adapted for
musical treatment No one familiar with Fd68t
however, can fail TO perceive that by some rare I'm.
stinct OF genius the composer has succeeded in
catching the spirit of the great poem, and yha5 is
equally remarkable his work combines all the ele-
ments OF popularity while it satisfies the highest
critical demands. Faust is an opera that is toleraby
sure to please If but reasonably
well rendered If it is given in
nrst-class style throughout, there is scarcely a
more impressive work upon the stage. Popular as
Faust is, however, it is scarcely wei adapted as
some others for the opening night of new season,
and Tor introducing new and untred company to
the public. The leading roles are exceedingly diffl-
Cult while they do not enable the artists TO display
the full extent OF their vocal abilities as well as some
Others This was shown last night by many imprr-
fections that the general merits of the performance
induce us TO attribute to nervousness on the part
OF some of the singers, and to the feeling
OF uncertainty and novelty that must necessarily
prevail on such an occasion.
All the artists the new comers as well as lhe es-
tablished favOrtes well received by the audi
ence on their appearance, and generous encourage
ment was given throughout the whole performance
The hit OF the evening was made by Mr.. Henry
Drayton, who gave most mastery personation of
"MephistOpheles." AS piece of acting it was much
superior to Mr. Campbell's rendition Of the same
role and it may fairly be put in comparison with the
great effort of Hermanns. Mr.. Drayton has evil
a rN,gtfn gt,d, 90
part and his conception Of the disguised fiend diff
fers essentially in many particulars from that of
Hermanns. 1t is less devsh and 1t has more OF the
subtle tempter about it, The "Mephistopheles" of
Hermanns will always he most impressive per-
formance, but the conception of Mr.. Drayton ap-
pears to have more of the elements of greatness
about 1t. There a certain stiffness and awk-
wardness in some Of Mr. DraytOn's attitudes and
gestures which might be objected to, but these
might easily be the Inequalities Of an embarrassing
occasion and not inherent defects, and they de-
tracted but little from the real merits Of the
performance. Mr. Drayton has bass voice OF fine
mnsical quality and he produced the deep notes Of
his role without difficulty, while the clearness and
emphasis with which he enuncated every word was
a matter for special admiration Mr.. DraytOn will
be remembered by many OF our citizens on account
OF the series OF pleasant paror operas which he and
his wife gave here some ten years ago. He esta-
blished himself then as a superior artist, and Mrs.
he promises to be one OF the most valuable members
OF her troupe
Mr.. Henry Haigh made very favorable impression
in the early of the OPERA but either his voice
or his confidence failed him the performance pro-
gressed.
In the garden scene and subsequently he was eX-
tremey weak, both as regards his acting and sing
ing. Mr.. Haighs voice is tenor of good quality,
but for some reason he seemed unable to control it
last evening and while not disposed to pass hasty
judgment the strength Of first performance in
country, and before strange audience, we
scarcely imagine that he will supersede Mr.. Castle
in the regards Of the public.
Mrs Annie Kemp Bowler who sustained the part
OF Siebel" has good ntezZo soprano voice, and she
gave credtable rendition of the role entrusted to
her. 1t was as good the average OF ''Siebes"
that we are accustomed to, while it was far below
the personaton of Mrs. Seguin. But then Mrs.
Seguin is very superior artist, for whom it would
erhaps be impossible to find substitute of equal
gifts. Mrs. Bowler sang the flower song very nicely
and obtained an encore
Mrs. Bernard sustained the part OF "Marguerte"
and as the public familiar with her representa-
tion Of this character, is not necessary to dwell
upon it Last evening Mrs. Bernard did not act or
sing with as much spirit and animation as usual,
until the church-yard scene, when she seemed to
warm up to her work, and she rendered the dim
cult passages where the lost girl struggles with the
temptations Of the hend, with real dramatic power.
Mr. James Arnold who has good baritone voice,
which he does not always use with as much skill as
he might, appeared to much advantage as "valen-
tine" and made better impression than he has
done hitherto in anything that he has undertaken.
Making all due allowance for the difficulties Of the
occasion, the performance last night was success.
The new combination will compare favoraby with
the old one, and when gets thoroughly into train
lng 1t will doubtless be able to render most OF the
peras in creditable and satisfactory manner
Mrs. ID. p. Bowers In ''Reaping the Tempest"
Despite the disagreeabe sputter of rain last even
ing, large audience greeted Mrs d, P, Bowers on
her first appearance during the present season, at
the Walnut Street Theatre The play presented
was new one, from the French-Frenchy. II is a
sensational piece, entitled Redping the Tempest; or
marguerite the Wanderer. Although moulded on
the French idea, and thoroughly characterized by
the French spirit the scene is laid in
Germany in preference TO Paris doubtless for the
sake OF the effective contrast in coors which the
provincial German costume Affords 'Marguertte "
the heroine, is married to industrious blacksmith
"Jean Paul Bergen" to whom and to her child she
proves faithless sowing the wind throughout the
first act in company with the graceess" Count de Rem
dorf" The second act brings retrlbuton according TO
the immemoral custom both and OFF the stage
the 'Count' casting off the miserable woman to
make room for his lawful wife, In the third aci
figures the avenger, "Jean Paul" having the pool
satisfaction of thrusting sword through the bod,
of the "Count" while "Margueritte" is smitten witt
blindness through the agency of dash OF lightning
as she catches passing vision OF her child. In tn
fourth act comes the atonement, with "Jean Paul
in grief through the abduction OF his child
and in prison by reason of that hasty sword thrust
while "Marguertte" floats about the world /
poverty and blindness. In the fifth and last act a
hands reap the tempest, but the curtain descend