The Portland daily press., 1880-12-14


song, the refrain of which is:
"Always in twos,
Or in threeS,
Or in fours,
But never alone" ga
Lotteringhi, the cooper, who has scolding
wife Qsabela), silences her tongue with his
"Battle Song:''
81 have scolding wife,
The torment of my life;
Her voice is always ringing,
l silence it with singing
The chorus of this song, "Bumpti, rapata,' -
is sung by the journeymen coopers as they keep
time with their hammers upon the barrels, and
it cannot fail to become exceedingly popular
Isabella Pietro and Lotteringhi have most
anusing scene, Pietro concealing himself in a
until he cries out, when the cooper draws him
out and discovers that he is the prince. Pietro,
who is anxious to live his romances and then
to write them, has several interesting but
harmless frtations. Boccaccio, in order to
meet Fiametta, lets himself to Lambertuccio,
disguised as simpleton, when he sings the
following song;
''When foolish questions you ask me-
Of course silly answers gi re;
So take it not as an offence
If Pm not gifted with good sense.
Whene'er go along the way,
And hang my head for very shame,
There goes simpleton,' they say,
But the poor fellows not to blame
Boccaccio also has another song, as follows:
sIm called the poet, Boccaccio,
Writing of stories from life, you know,
Taking all my subjects from homely ranks,
get no thanks.
Stories DID, stories new,
Stories false, stories true.
Christian tales, tales of Jew,
write with greatest ease.
In diction elegant;
language Whichever you please,
And battle me yon can't.
When in romano long,
oft get crossed and vexed,
introduce the wellknown words,
Continued in our next"
There is very amusing scene in the second
act, where Boccaccio climbs upon an olive
tree in the garden of Lambertuccio and pre-
tends that he sees the grocer embracing his
adopted daughter. Fiametta. He tells the
grocer that he has witnessed the affectionate
proceedings, which the grocer stoutly denies.
Boccaccio then claims that the tree is en-
chanted, and, to test the truth of the matter,
Lambertuccio goes up into the tree, when he
is willing to admit that Boccaccio's statement
was true, as several couples, to carry out the
ruse, embrace. The third act is the shortest
of the three, and contains much fine music.
In this act Lambertuccio, who has been one
of Boccaccio most bitter opponents, becomes
honored by the duke, and, as Boccaccio is pro-
tected at court, does not continue his resent
ment further. He also, by limiting to Scala
and Lotteringhi that Boccaccio is able to give
them the patronage of his highness, by making
them court barber and court cooper respective
ly, abates their anger Boccaccio being de-
sired to arrange a play for the entertain
ment of the guests at the betrothal
festival of Pietro and Fiametta, is
when the prince requests HIM to show him the
manuscript of the play. Boccaccio does SO,
when the prince, who sees that the piece has
been written to expose his hirtations with the
need not proceed with the performance of the
play. Boccacio complies The prince, know
ing that Fiametta does not love him, and that
she reciprocates Boccaceio's affection, ,magnani-
mously relinquishes her hand to the novelist.
The opera closes with most elaborate CON
certed number The music throughout isre
markably brilliant and effective, and many of
those who have heard it consider it "a second
'Pinafore A comic trio. by tenor and two
basses, is one Of the features Of the work. The
vein, and rollicking enough, with sparkle and
dash, to make them fayorites with the youth
to whistle on the streets
The New York Sun. speaking Of the compa-
ny who will appear in Boccaccio, says: :
Miss Jennie Winston repeated her triumphs.
AS Boccaccio she shone with undimmed luster-
Her lovely voice, graceful acting, and pic
turesque costumes charmed all. Her solos
were as brilliant as ever. The company has
been considerably strengthened and includes
Miss Francesca Guthrie as Fiametta, Mr.
Harry Allen as Pietro, W. A. Morgan as Leo
netto, Miss Rose Leighton as Peronella, Mr.
Ellis Ryse as Lotteringhi, Miss Janet Edmond
son as Beatrice, Mr.. Vincent Hogan as Scalza
The chorus was large and well trained, the
costumes pretty and scenic effects excellent.
PHOTOS.
Tonight the Harrisons, with their company
will appear in Woolf's extravaganza of
"Photos or fun in a photograph gallery
Speaking of the company the Herald says:
The first act introduces the entire family
and offers scope for the display of fine drama
tic talent. in which the leading members of
the company. Miss Alice Harrison, Mr. Louis
Harrison and Mr.. r. e. Graham, especially
appear. The second act introduces the
specialties: songs, dances, limitations, etc.
but the fun begins with the beginning and
only ceases when the curtain drops at the
close. Miss Harrison is Clara Morris, Maggie
NJ tchell and Aimee, by turns. and her clever
impersonationS never fail to convuse the au-
dience. Her imitation of Aimee in
"Perichole" is especially meritorious and is
invariably rapturously encored. To Mr..
Louis Harrson's versatility there seems to be
no limit, and whether he sings, dances, or acts,
he does it admirably. Mr., Graham is equally
versatile, and is so successful in his limitations
that he needs no interpreter. Joe Emmett
would doubt the evidence of his own senses if
he were presenv, and Lawrence Barrett would
hear his own voice and intonation faithfully
copied. Miss Carrie Daniels, with her rich
contralto voice, renders some beautiful ballads,
and Miss Theresa Wood entertains the au.
dience with medley of Dances
PLANO RECITAL.
The recital by Prof. Saucier at Rossini Hall
this afternoon will attract all our musical
people. It is Prof Saucer's first appearance
in concert in Portland The programme has
been published.
SAMSON.
HandePs Samson will he given to the sub
scribers to the Haydn Association at Union
Hall tomorrow evening. In the oratorio the
| thrilling pathos of Milton's poem is softened
| while the effect is heightened by the addition
| of Handels music, the whole representing a
| work OF art which will survive all changes Of
| time and fashion.