The Portland daily press., 1880-04-05
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
PIRATES OF PENZANCE.

PIRATES OF PENzANCE.
Tonight the long expected opera of "Pirates
OF Penzance' will be produced at City Hall
by DOyley Carte's A company, under the d.
rection of Hathaway & Pond. The sale of
seats has been very large and there will be a
brilliant and musical audience in attendance.
We have no doubt that, in its main features,
the opera will be we'll presented; that the cho-
rus will be we'll adapted to their work, the Or
chestra good, and the principals fully equal to
the requirements of the occasion, but we must
protest against the glowing advertisements
that will not be fulfilled
Mr.. Perry, the, musical critic of the Boston
Herald, says truly that if Manager Maple
son should announce his company the same in
Boston as that of the last winter, Hwitw the ex-
ception Of two people, and those two people
should prove to be Marimon and Campanini,
his lot would not be happy one, and the fact
that the two substitutes were 5better than the
originals would be begging the question at is
sue, which is the announcement that the
opera would be given with the original cast,
people who had rehearsed and acted in the
piece for months
AS far as Miss Roosevelt is concerned, if the
lady is sick that is a misfortune that cannot
be helped. But if the same superb orches-
ira" is promised, and instead of the thirty mu-
sicians, only eight and piano are offered,
then palpable fraud is perpetrated, for the
original coloring, given by all the appropriate
Instruments is lost Perhaps the whole thir-
ty vii! appear here. We hope they will. So
with the chorus. They should all come, no
matter whether there are enough present, in
the eye OF the manager, to properly interpret
the work or not. The fact is that when COM
pany visit Portland, on their merits alone,
then the public cannot find fault if the enter
tainment does not come up to those given by
the management in Boston or New York. But
when great flourish of trumpets presages
their coming, then, if the prospectus is not
does not end with that performance, but Gre
ates distrust towards all subsequent managers
who visit the city, and destroys interest in ev-
erything of dramatic and musical character.
Half-fare on trains over the Maine Central
and Grand Trunk to see the Pirates.
THE VERY MERRY MARINER.
1t was exceedingly unfortunate, as far as
French's Opera Company was concerned, that
the weather was SO unpropitious Saturday.
Nevertheless the audiences that gathered at
Portland Theatre composed many of our most
musical people who spoke in unqualified terms
of approval of Genee's opera. Many who had
attended Friday night purchased tickets for
both of Saturday S performances. 1t was de-
lightful to simply listen oaSignor Operti's or
chestra and when, to their excellence, were
added Miss Ellis, Mr.. Archer's and Mr., Van
Houten's admirable acting, Mr. Clarke's Miss
Sennach's and Miss Barnard's singing the.
beautiful costumes, the choruses, and tie
many features that go to mako up pleasing
representation, the success of the Every Mer-
ry Mariner" was of course assured.
The management have decided to give one
more performance tonight and all who have
not yet heard the opera should attend. Opportu-
nifty will be afforded people from out of town
to attend and return home by the trains on the
Maine Central.
RENTZ-SANTLEY.
The Rentz-Santley Novelty Company gave
an excellent entertainment at Music Hall,
Saturday night Miss Kent's skipping rope
act, Sanford and Wilson, Mabel Santley, Miss
Whitney's and Charles Whitney's trombone
duets were all capital. The burlesoue of
"Penn's Aunts Among the Pirates" intro
duced a number of welcomed women who
sang the music far better than is usual with
burlesque companies.
TICKELIcK.
The Saturday performances of "Tickelick"
would have drawn better houses if the rain
had not prevented. Still thes..saaiionoos- ,7s;s
OF fair proportions and all were evidently
much pleased with the entertainment afforded.
NOTES.
Buffalo Bill will of course draw great au-
dience to Music Hall tomorrow night
Annie Louise Gary will sail for Europe May
20, under contract with Mapleson.
Manager G. 81. Smith of Fall River has en-
gagged the Chanfrau combination for four
weeks, and will play it from Albany, N. Y, to
Bangor, Me-, and then at Montreal for the
week opening Mays Mr.. Smith takes the
princess Toto" company, Rlce's Surprise
Party and John T. Raymond over the New
England circuit.
George B. Waldron and Isabel Waldron sail
ed for Europe Saturday with the Danites COM
pany.