Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-04-01
One Hour at Rehearsal with nilsson

"Oh, she's the greatest woman ever
come to this countree.' gHT ga
Eyes, she is very fine actress. "
Do you know she plays de feeder
mol Does sheY ,-is .,..,.,.,
"Ohl why she used to play de feeble
about the streets; yes 49, and Mons
Strakosch crossed his legs and gazed
steadfastly at Mile Nilsson.
1t was Thursday night, and the fail
Swede was rehearsing the part of "0phe'
liza" in the opera of Hamlet.
The Academy looked gloomy enough
A conservatory is dull place without
flowers, and SO is theater without gas
light and pretty women and diamonds
and all that sort of thing The place
looked like huge tomb, and the gale
ries of the gods were as dark as
pitch; the seats in the balcony and
boxes covered with brown Holland; and
the orchestra illuminated by extempo-
rized Jets. Scattered here and there
through the orchestra and circle were a
few Of the friends of the performers or
Of the management.
Q On the stage, a beautiful scene OF a
river, with reeds and flowers on the near
bank, and in the distance castle and
forest The wings" were full of scene
shifters and .chorus-singers, looking
ffowsy and rough In red flannel shirts,
with matted hair, unbuttoned vests and
dirty boots. Nearer the foot-lights are
four of the dancers that formerly shook
their legs in the Black Crook. They
are dressed in stage attire, with less tulle
underskirts than usual because they
cost so much to wash and there is Van
Hamme, the dancer, in suit Of blue
linen, attending his pretty wife. 1t is
the last scene in Hamlet, and the mad
0phelia is near her death.
Mile Nilsson wore a short walking
dress of scarlet silk and black overskirt,
while her head was enveloped in a
shroud. She looked very ordinary lit
tie woman, but exhibited great vivacity
and thorough knowledge of her part,
and Of the orchestra's part as well.
She stands close to the leader, Maret-
EEK, who is excited, and wears high
hat and thick overcoat.
Now all is ready. The soft swell Of
the music is heard. Nilsson, in a care
less, easy way, trillsa few notes, rushes
forward, and like a startled fawn gazes
into the deserted galleries. But the
spell is broken by the fddlers; they are
out" and her face changes. She
stamps her foot, and casts look Of ter
rible .scorn at the second fiddle.
Maretzek rises in his seat, points at
the man with the trombone, and says:
"God d-n sooch museek?
Now they commence again, and Nils
son sings and beats time with the back
of one hand upon the palm of the other,
now conducting the bass, and continu-
ously exciting the leader. Nilsson seolds
him, and he in turn scolds the man
nearest to him, and SO it works all round.
The opera is near its close, and part of
the orchestra is sent upon the stage.
Then low, sweet strains, as though from
some distant Land, reach the ear.
Ophelis leaves them to wander on to-
ward the river. She parts the rushes,
reclines, and in few moments, floating
out upon the waters like the Christian
martyr is the body of the mad and lovely
0phelia. frAE t.hesel.
1t was beautiful; but when we went to
make closer examination, We found
that only "supe," upon an old sofa,
had been drawn across the stage.