Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1872-05-18
ffsm the New Yofs Star.
gue uoLf at Rehearsal with n lsson

con shos the groatcst woman
cto,' come ~ this counlrcc,'
"Ncs, she II u Rnc Nclresn,'
"Do yoa Know sho plays dc Ico
dIcy
So Docs she -
Oh ! why she used TO play de
feeble aboat the streets yes
AID Mons. Slrakcsch crossed his
legs and gnzcd stc0dlnstly ut Tile
Nilsson.
It was Thursday night, and the
fair Swcdo was rchcnrsing the part
Of Ophclia in the opera Of "llam-
let. ~
Tho A,adcry looked gloomy
enough, A conservatory isa dull
place without flowers, and so il II
thcatcr without gaslight, and pref.
Is women and diamonds, and all
tha, sort Of thing. The place look e..
ed like n hugo tomb, and the gal,
l,rics of the gods We're rs dark
~ pitch the seats in the balcony
and boxes covered with brown llol-
land and tho orchestra illumina-
ted by cxtcmporizcd jets, Scatter
cd here and there through the or
chcstra and circle were II few Of the
friends Of the performers or Of the
management,
On the stage, q beautiful scene OF
river with reeds and flowers on
the near bank, and in the distance
a castle and forest. The "wings"
were full Of sceno.shiftcrs and cho-
rus singers, looking frowsy and
rough in red flannel shirts, with
matted hair, unbuttoncd vests and
dirty boots. Nearer the foot-lights
arc four Of the dancers that former.
ly shook their legs in the "Black
Crook They are dressed in stage
attire, with less tullc undcrskirts
than usual because they cost so
much to wash,) and there is Van
Uamme, the dancer, in suit Of
blue lincn,attending his pretty wife.
1T is the last scene in "Hamlet,"
and the maid Ophclia near her
death.
Mile Nilsson wore short walk
ing dress of scarlet silk and black
ovorskirt, while her head was en-,
veloped in q shroud. She looked a
very ordinary little woman, but
exhibited II great vivacity and Il
thorough knowledge Of her "part,"
and Of tho orchestra's part as well,
She stands close to the leader,
Maretzek, who is excited and wears
n high hat and thick ovcrcoat.
Now all is ready. The soft swell
Of the music is heard. Nilsson, in
IL careless, easy way, trills few
notes, rushos forward, and, like n
startled frown, gazcs into the de-
serted gallcric But tho spell is
broken by the fddlers; they are
"out," and her face changes. She
stamped her foot, and casts n look
of terrible scorn at tho second fd
die.
Marotzck rises in his seat points
at Tho man with tho trombone, and
says
"4od d--n sooch muscck ~
Now they commence again, and
Nilsson sings and boats time with
tho back Of one hand upon the
palm of the other, now conducting
tho bass, and continuously exciting
tho leader. Nilsson scOlds him,
and he in turn scolds the man near
est him, and 80 it works all round.
Tho 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 car Opholia leaves them
to wander on toward the river
She parts the rnshcs, reclincs, and
in II few moments floating out upon
the waters like the Christian mar
tyr, is the body Of the mad and
lovely Opho'ia.
1t was beautiful; but when we
wont to make II closer examination,
we found that only Il "supo," upon
an old sofa, had been drawn across
the stage.