Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-12-08


Tho voters of the village should bear in
mind the fact that the meeting on the 18th
Is called to meet at sir o'clock, the reason
for the change in the hour being that the
charter seems 10 provide that the annual
meeting shall be held at six o'clock, and
majority of the baliffs felt, as many have
felt heretofore, that the proceedings of the
meeting could not be strictly legal unless
called at that hour.
THE RuDoLPHsEN ENGLISH OPERA COM
PANY.
That this excellent combination of mu-
steal talent should have hit upon Thanks
giving evening for their visit to our town,
seems nothing less than providential; for
IL appears that sundry lovers Of good cheer,
in view Of the peculiarly prosperous con-
dition of public, as welkas individual af-
fairs, had given vent 10 their long.sup-
pressed emotions by such unprecedented
attacks upon the national turkey and Its
traditional accessories, as to fill the hearts
of more than one anxious friend with the
most gloomy forebodings in regard to the
result of such an uuwonted manifestation
OF patriotic zeal. At such a moment, moth
ing could be more opportune than repre-
sentation Of a comic opera like Balfe's one
act operetta of the Sleeping Queen, ospe-
cially when followed by such a farce as
Boz and Cor proved to be, arranged in its
new musical dress by Arthur Sullivan.
The ascent from quiet mirth TO the most
violent commissions OF laughter was SO
gradual and 50 entirely suited to the needs
of Thanksgiving diners out, that one could
have sworn RudOphsen to have been in
conspiracy with some secret enemy of our
local doctors for the purpose oil cheating
them out of their just spoils. Balle's charm
ing little opera is particularly adapted TO
such organizations as Rudolphsen's, as on
| ly four singers of ordinary ability and Gull
.ture arc required TO bring IL out. The roles
were filed on this occasion by Miss Anna
| Starbird, prima donna, Miss X. Florence
Holmes, contralto, Mr.. w. c. Tower, ten
or, Mr.. j. Il. Rudolphsen, baritone. Miss
| Starbird possesses an agreeable soprano
voice, and rendered her part very pleasing
| ly. The air, "On Bonded knee etc., was
very smoothly and perfectly given, as was
also the finale. Miss Holmes found as much
favor with the audience on account Of her
prepossessing appearance and comparative
ease of manner, as by the careful manner
in which she sang all her numbers. Her
voice is particularly fine in its lower regis
ter, but like many voices of this class, in
clined to be a little thick and husky on The
first medium tones. This fault Miss
Holmes will undoubtedly correct by care
full and patient study. 1t is a pity that
singer of Mr.. Towers ability should be so
| hopeessly tame as an actor. When sing
ing, however, he warns up TO his subject
| and occasionally astonishes one with the
fire he throws into his voice and action;
but tEis over, he relapses into his former
state, from which nothing short ola change
from dialogue TO singing seems capable of
drawing him. OF Mr.. Rudolphsen, 1t is
needless to add that he has magnificent
baritone voice under the most absolute con-
troll, and that he is admirably adapted 10
such roles as that OF the Regent in the
| Sleeping Queen. Mr.. 5. l.. Sludley was
capital as musical director, and sustained
the voices admirably throughout the eve
ming by his skilfully executed accompani-
| ments.
By the time the opera was finished, the
audience was so thoroughly warmed up
and SO completely en- rapport with the per-
formers, that, in spite of slme last de-
termined efforts on the part of a few Of our
diguified citizens to preserve becoming
gravity during the scenes which followed,
there were such demonstrations of delight
manifested as should forever exonerate
Brattleboro audiences from the imputation
of GOODNESS resting upon them. Indeed,
so decided was the encouragement of the
audience that Rudolphsen was led to intro
duce several new tricks into his role, while
even Mr. Tower, as the immortal Bor, rose
to the sublime heights of the occasion and
made several decided "hits" in his acting,
besides Of course rendering the music 10
his usually happy style. In this adapta-
tion of the play, Mr.. Bouncer is changed
into Sergeant Bouucer, which role Mr.. j..
A. Gilbert fills admirably, both looking
and acting as becomes a perplexed land
lord filled with military "reminiscences.
His "Rataplan" was executed in very
spirited manner and elected the most
hearty applause. That this farce was fire.
quenuy overdone, no one in his sober
senses would attempt, to deny; but it was
| Iu'ohSSiJ auiusluSi anu WIS - uhlucS'loH-
ably what we demand OF farces.
THE FUTURE OF THE REPUBLIC.
Rev. NJ. Ii. Harris, pastor of the Uni
versalist church, opened his seventh Win
ter's course of Sunday evening lectures,
on the third instant under very flattering
auspices. Although the evening was dark
and cherries the church was entirely filled