Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1872-10-02
Rendition of the Drama OF William Tell
the Hero of Switzerland.

Rendition Of the Drama OF William Tell
the Hero Of Switzerland.
Not many months ago, when Mr.. Staub con-
ceived the idea of erecting an Opera House in
this city, his friends smiled and thought it
would result in nothing but talk, and when the
plans were drawn and the work of building
actually commenced, the doubters, though con-
vinced that it would be fact, prophesied the
projectors financial ruin, saying that the under
taking was too large for the size of the
city and that it would be an elephant on
his hands But unmindful of this
croakings, Mr. Staub pursued the even tenor
of his way and has completed the Opera House
proper and the exterior work of the block of
which it forms the prominent part, and last
night witnessed the ,~.r.
GRAND OPENING
of this temple Of Thespis and the MUSES., which
will be monument of his taste while one brick
remains upon another. oa-.R ,f2,E
The Opera House is 51x127 feet and the stage
34x48, and will comfortably seat rabout fifteen
hundred persons. The walls and ceiling are
beautifully frescoed and the father of the stage,
Shakespeare, looks serenely down on those who
assemble in the shrine thatperpetuates his men,
ory.
The decoration of the house and the stage ar
rangements have been done by and under the
supervision ofjMr. Eugene Cramer, of whose
skill and taste too much cannot be said, though
the work itself speaks for Hmm eloquently
than anything we could say.
ADDRESS OF DEDICATION.
The dedcatory address by Judge T.A.R.Nel-
son was both an able and an eloquent one. AZ
ter highly complimenting Mr.. Staub for erect
ing the beautiful edifce, which he now through
him dedicated to art, the Judge gave a short
sketch Of the drama, from its origin among the
ancients up to the present time. He trusted that
as the legitimate drama was an acknowledged
means of cultivating the public mind, that only
those plays would be enacted upon the stage
which would tend to ennoble and purify thepub
lie heart. The opening play, William Tell,
was admirably fitted for the occasion, and it was
natural for Mr.. Staub, being Swis, thus to re-
enact the scenes of his childhood by presenting
on the stage the scenery Of his native hills AT
ter closing by an appropriate quotation, he
descended from the stage among great applause.
The play was success, every part being well
sustained. Mr.. Cramer as William Tell was
loudly applauGed and did himself much credit
by his faithful personation of the Swiss Patriot.
Mrs. Cramer, as Albert, acted her part to per-
fection, and received much well deserved praise.
The dance around the May pole was well done,
charming Terpsichore herself with her train of
attendants could not have executed it better.
The winding process bewildered us consider
ably. The dancers got badly mixed up and we
thought that they were .confused, but as they
unmixed without any trouble VIC concluded it
was all right
The final combat between. .Gesler and Tell was
rendered with great dramatic effect, the clashing
and flashing of the swords carrying an electric
thrill into the hearts of the audience, and VIII
the relentless tyrant met his just dues by
falling pierced ito .the heart. by the sword of
Liberty shout.of applause wentup for the tri-
umph Of Freedom over Tyranny.
THE AFTER PIECE.
IciS on Parle Francais kept the audience in a
perfect roar of merriment Mr.. Fox, as Sprig-
gins, with his ludicrous attempts at speaking
the French language and his absurd mistakes,
added much to the success of the farce. Be-
tween the drama and the face, Mr.. Staub being
loudly called for responded in a neat and ap-
propriate speech, which we give entere:
Gentlemen and Ladies-I can build house
or make coat, but cannot make a speech"
And with bow he retured to his seat.
The audience was large and enthusiastic and
if numbers are any sign of appreciation, the
proprietor should rest assured that the magni-
tude of his understanding meets with the ap-
proval of those of cultured taste who love art in
all its forms and recognize the moral drama as
potent purifier of society at large.