The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-11-07
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
THE NORMANDY CHIMES.

IHE NORMANDY CHIMES.
Ii Planquette's opera of Les Cloches de
CornectUe had been given Wednesday even
ing there is no doubt City Hall would have
been crowded last night, The music is not
only bright and sparkling but it contains
many beautiful melodies. The plot is simple
but we'll carried out out, and gives opportunity
for some fine dramatic action on the part of
Gas2ard, the old miser. Then again the
opera was fortunate in having such interpre-
tiers as the cast provided. From the beginning to
the end of the evening the applause was con-
slant, and the interest closely maintained.
We have already given the story and its repe-
ttion is unnecessary.
Last night those who were present were
fortunate in having priina donna who posses
sed voice and J1ho knew how to sing. Miss
Stone never appeared to better advantage.
She has improved greatly in her acting, and
she acted and sang the part of Mignonette
with great spirit. She was as saucy and viva
cious as possible and gave her opening 'Scan-
dial Song with great chic. In her aria after
the discovery of the WILL she not only render
ed tie music most admirably but she put on
the airs of the 9fdnde dame with lightness
and airiness very taking. This was repeated
in the boufe song and dance known as the
Solder Song But it was reserved for her to
show what is meant by fexibility OF voice and
forid execution in her song in the third act
"What Rapture" which brought down as en-
thusiastic applause as has ever been heard in
City Hall She was several times encored
both IN her solos and concerted music.
Mrs. Seguin fairly divided the honors of the
evening with Miss Stone. Her Germaine was
charming. And how gloriously she sang. Her
aria "When am by thy side" in the second
act was delivered exquisitely and with true
dramatic feeling and displayed the depth and
richness of her contralto to the best advant-
age She was compelled to repeat the song.
Her rendering of the Legend of the Chimes
was beautiful. The duet, "My heart to love-"
in the same act, between Mrs. Seguin and Mr..
Stoddard, was very sweet.
We might mention many numbers in which
all the participants deserved great praise, but
we have not space.
Mr. Castle acted the part of Robin More well,
but that beautiful tenor voice that has charm
ed 50 often is almost memory. Mr.. Stoddard
was excellent as the NJ arquis and rendered his
music with taste and feeling. Mr.. Ryse had
music better fitted to his voice as Gaspard, the
old miser, and sang very well, while his acting,
in the scene where he is discovered in the cas-
tie, was so good he was called before the cur
tain. Mr.. TamS was comical sheriff and his
expression OF countenance at times was very
funny. The chorus and orchestra were both eX-
cellent. A splendid specimen of drill was the
scene where Mignonette and the servant girls
dance down the stage and return nodding and
dancing in unison. The chorus knights of
Old was sung with fire and expression, and
the ensemble Hail to Robin was very fine.
OF course the chimes chorus "Ding Dong" won
hearty applause. and all the choruses were well
worked up to a climax.
We hope the company will give this bright
and beautiful opera again soon.
HOE IEFEERsON
Tomorrow evening Joe Jefferson will APP
pear at City Hall in Rip Van Wrinkle and all
who have failed to secure their seats should
be about it at once. There have been many
imitators of the great actors world famous
creation, many of them excellent, but no one
has been able as yet to invest it with the
charm and poesy of the original The matinee
affords an opportunity for many to attend who
cannot witness the evening performance. The
tickets are for sale at Stockbridge's. The
following will be the cast