The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-07-05

given in the school hall on Friday and Satur-
day evenings Of last week, by a party Of
young ladies and gentlemen of Lehighton
and Mauch Chunk, agreeebly surprised, in
point Of artistic excellence, almost everyone
who witnessed the performance. On Friday
evening there was a slim attendance, but
the following evening brought a comfortably
filled house, there being between four and
five hundred people in the auditorium.
Several weeks ago, when the prelilninaries
for rendering the pieee here were inaugu-
ated, il was contemplated TO be an enter
tainment for the benefit OF the Reformed
church choirj and it was so generally un-
derstood, With such a conception, as we
always have done in cooperation with all
the churches and other humane and benev-
olent causes, we published in the ADVOCATE,
| from week to week, current extracts from
the press, and other articles, in regard to
Pnafore, calculated to call it TO the popular
attention and 10 create for the entertainment
demand among our people.
At the last we learned that the church
choir had Withdrawn from the original ar
rangement, for reasons not important to the
public, and that the entertainment had
become an individual enterprise Hence
forward we dealt with the manager on busi-
ness principles-just as we do, in self-de-
fense, with all other business speculations,
the purposes Of which are to make money.
This seems to have astonished some Of those
interested; but the man Of sense finds moth
ing mysterious in the matter. We had al
ready done very liberal amount Of free
advertising under the impression that it was
a contribution in favor Of the Reformed
church choir.
Pinaforc has several popular features, and
on account Of the simplicity of its compost
ton, is well adapted to talented amateurs;
and if the business had been managed less
clumsily here, so as to Larmonize the local
feeling in the vicinity, there is reason 10
believe that it would have been greeted each
evening with a crowded house, and have
been financial success.
The subjoined crtique refers to the piece
as given Saturday evening, and from an
amateur standpoint. A number of young
ladies and gentlemen of talent even, with q
director but little more experienced than
themselves and with less innate ability than
some of them, with an lily appointed stage
paraphernalia, were not expected to give an
entertainment Of professional excellence
but in this case they more than met the ex-
pectations ef their patrons. An orchestra or
good piano would have been pleasing ad-
dition, and some of the exits and entrances
were iuexcusably ill-timed. The plot of the
piece was marred by cutting.
Mr.. Harry Taylor, as Sir Joseph Porter
X. C. B., Lord of the Admiralty, had a per-
feet conception of the character, and sus-
tained 1t well throughout. His singing was
fair and his acting fine. Had he "made up"
a few years older, and been well supported,
his rendition of the character would have
stood professional criticism.
DR.. Charles T. Horn, as Capt. Corcoran,
made good personal appearance, and sang
a fair I'd tenor, but hurried too much in his
dialogue, without action, and totally failed
in impressing his individuality as captain of
Her Majesty's Ship Pinafore. In the de-
nouement he partially reclaimed himself
Messrs. A. W. Vananda, as Ralph Rack
straw; Robert A. Kline, as Dick Deadeye; !;
Oscar Swartz, as Bill Bobstay Frank Obert,
as Midshipman, and Charles 0bert, as Boat
swain, each sustained his character with
much credit.
The chorus, composed Of Messrs. Daniel
Weand, lst tenor; Chas. Yenser, I'd tenor !;
Daniel Acker, lst bass Frank Kershner, I'd
bass; Misses Emma Dolenmeyer, Ella Rex,
Louisa DeTschirschsky, sopranos; Agnes
Hauk, Lizzie Mantz aud Jane Greenawald,
altos, was a redeeming feature of the whole
entertainment.
Miss Emma L. Hauk, leading lady, as
Josephine, was too stiff in her dialogue,
and evinced too little emotion, neccessitated
in part by these qualities in Capt. Corcoran,
her principal support She has a sweet, flex
ible voice, and in every case where the
power of her song became the principal
feature she triumphed, winning much ap-
\ plause and an encore.
4 Miss Emma 0bert, as Hebe, sang sweet
r soprano, and sustained the character admir-
ably.
Miss Clara Hibbler, as Little Buttercup,
had a fair conception of her part, and
rendered 1t well She sang fine alto, and
her acting was good. She "made up" too
young and comely, by far, for a Ports
f mouth bumboat woman who had been
"baby farming" generation or more since.
= In the grouping, at the close, she impresses
the thought that she has become the afii-
b. anced of Capt. COrcoran-bad taste, even
: though it may be suggested by some Ameri-
}. can version of Pinafore. The part she had
o is one in which genius shows to poor advan-
tage, and only the judge ofthe histronic art
i will appreciate the talent required to give
!. life to such drdmatis persona. A gentleman
+. who admiringly witnessed her rendering oi
n the character dashed off the following poetic
e elTusion, with a moral, which we publish BY
his request, and inscribe to Miss Hibbler:
y THE LITTLE BUTrERCUP.
h When balmy Spring its children bring,
ii From woodland, dell and bow'r;
n Then peepeh up the Buttercup,
An humble little fOw'r.
If II struggles on mid hedge aud thorn,
IL And blooms a golden hue;
No hands caress, no lovers bless
=, 1t sips the midnight dew.
D. No artists touch can fashion such
A brilliant piece Of art;
Nor music sweet . chord repeat
To reach the tender heart.
i. 1t poisOns not, 1t stinReth not,
IL 1t speaks no evil thingi
1t yaunteth not, It envys not
This humble child Of Spring.
L It never errs, nor sheddeth tears,
\, And lives In Virtues causei
Its secrets keep, in silence deep