The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1880-03-09
THE "SORCERRR. /"

as given on Friday night-so marked
~ was the improvement. For some
" unaccountable reason it las become
~ decidedly unpopular to speak G
~ good word for the "Sorcerer." 1t ii
rk not the intention to make compari.
en- sons to any great extent, but so much
We is said about ''Pinafore" in this COZ
y nection, tina. some notice may be
x taken. In the fret place, "Pinafore'
y is a lively, rollioEing piece, and IN
ie whatever Wsy It is acted. so long as
N the singing is good, will take. The
y pubic knows that there was no plot
lie to 'Pinaiore," and very little oppor-
Z tunity for acting - Dick Deadeye
.e5 being the best character in this par
= ucular. 1t was not a hard piece to
' get up. The airs were taking, and
{ 1t is safe to state that every person in
d 'PinaiOre," even to the choruses,
o had musical culture, 10 some extent.
"Pinafore" was liked; the Phllhar.
! monte was a popular society; the
> members were popular, and the piece
! was a grand success, as it deserved 10
D be, aad the HERALD was not behind
hand in proclaiming that success.
The "Sorcerer," however, is alto
gether different. 1t is a comic opera
with plot, which can hardly be said
of "Pinafore;" it admits of good act
ing by several characters, which can
hardly be said OF 'Pinaiore;' the
music is varied, and not of rollicking
character, which was the case in
"Pinafore; and ths "Sorcerer" is a
serio-comiC production, which is not
the case with "Pinaiore. 1t is a |
conceded fact that seriC-comic acting |
is among the most difficult known
it requires that a serious thing be said |
iD funny or humorous manner. For
these reasons, with the one heretofore |
mentioned, that the members of
lions Musical Society were law, if
the expression may be allowed, as
compared with those Of the Philhar-
monte, the "Sorcerer" did not take so
well. In fact the 'Sorcerer" is by
far the more difficult piece, and
there have been greater obstacles in
the way Of ts production. 1t may be
urged that the society should not have
undertaken so difficult piece; with
out arguing this, it is sufficient to
etate thai these difficulties must be
weighed in measuring the ability OF
the performers. Again, ev,Ty en-
couragement was given the Pima
FORE" Even on its first production
1t was praised ID the skies, while no {
one with musical Or dramatic know
ledge will deny that it had very many {
drawbacks, which were
overlooked in a spirit of charity,
such as was decidedly proper. But 6
from the start there have been few q
words Of encouragement for the q
''S1rcerer." No one would say, who '
has judgment, that it was totally ]
ievoid of merit, that it had no t
features; yet the public, to t
use a vulgar expression, sat down
Oh it." a little encouragement in
such matters goes q remarkably long
distance, and if the members OF the
''Sorcerer" have improved, it has not g
been caused by the charity that was {
80 predominant and manifest to the U
'Pinaiore" performers. In fact, a a
good deal Of prejudice seems to have p
been displayed. This much has been
.aiG, not by way OF arguing the merits
II either the Philharmonic or lions
Musical Societies-for in point of cul- =
ure the former was uDquestionsbly e
.head-but in regard to the general 4
ais of some persons, who continually 7
make the cDmparisOus above men.
Toned.
The performance last night was
,ood; everything considered, 1t was
cry good. All the choruses were
.ndered with force and effect, and in o.
MY one was there any very il
noticeable defect, and that was
where the chorus was out Of n
ime for a few seconds. The y
acting was excellent; no! break, not u
4 hitch, not the slightest necessity
Tor prompting anywhere. Mr.. D. NJ. Il
McAllister, as the ''Sorcerer," filled
Up his pert with appropriate and {
graceful acting, making some local "
ats, which we're well appreciated, r
md in fact doing his part like pro- =
essiCpa'. Mr.. Oven created con- y
iderable merriment; Mr.. Spencer, :
acted exceedingly well, from bis coz q
,eption of the part; Mr.. Gardner y
jang well, but evidently d3es not q
understand stage business, while Mr. =
Morgan made the most Of his small -,
part. This gentleman has a good u
voice, which he displayed to better -
than any, even IN his =
small part. Mrs. Annie Midgley has y
. rem arkable voice; even for a contra T
,lto, it is seldom one can take the L
ow notes this lady did with such
,learness and strength, as shown last =
hight. It is sweet and musical.
Miss Sheets appears at disadvantage I
n solos, fear seems to prevent her :,
ioing Justice 10 herself, but where she j
,ings with another the natural eX-
,elleuce of her voice is brought out r
Culture, however, will obviats this.
Miss Edmunds as Dame Bartlett and r
Miss annie Macksy, as Constance, :
both surprised their friends, in their
acting and singing, especially IN the T.
former.
All have serious faults, however,
which are not mentioned because the
performers must appreciate them;
and will improve with practice, and q
there Is plenty of room for improve
nent, There should be more life in
80 large a chorus; the solos OF all
can be bettered materially, and II
good, square criticism we're entered
into, from a professional standpoint,
many severe things could be said.
In conclusion, the indefatigable
efforts OF Prof. Q. J. Thomas must be
mentioned, as on his shoulders the
whole musical part of the affair has
rested, aud he has undoubtedly
worked wonders.
COIN BROS announce that they
are now daily receiving novelties of