Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-06-04
pinafOre.

ntSoA Nohlp"hS Va eoAo H'~' "~N> WV
must concedc that it was worthy of
this mark of appreciation when We
consider the care bestowed upon its
preparation. Some of the charac-
tiers were exceedingly we'll sustained,
aud would have received recognition
on q much more pretentious stage,
where scenic and orchestral effects
and adequate support would have
rendered individual excellence less
noted by the general observer.
Mr.. H. T. Mayo, asSirJoseph Por-
ter, was the personification OF that
cool assurance so eminently fit
ting the >" Ruler of the Queens
Navee." His part was we'll sustained
throughout, which is probably ow-
ing more to the fact that he did not
fall into the fatal error of 80 many
amateur performers of attempting
too much. The Ralph Rackstraw
of Mr.. r. e. OBrien was, as is eve.
rything he attempts, we'll done.
Combining with fine voice, IL pleas
ing address and enough familiarity
with the stage to dissipate oil stiff
ness, he was as nearly perfect as the
generality of professional performers
in similar roles. Mr.. Ranke, as
Capt. Corcoran, was not remark
able success, but it is just 10 him to
state that no had but short time to
commit his part, and less opportun-
ity for rehearsal than any other of
the leading performers. His aiticu-
la,ion was faulty and his attitudes
somewhat " stacy" but these are de-
fects which would doubtless wear off
before the piece had attained run Of
100 nights9 Mr.. Samuel Woodruff
appeared TO excellent advantage in
the role of Dick Deadeye. We must
reserve for Josephine, however,
Miss Alice Warbass) the principal
need of praise. She was wanting
only in volume of voice to have nade
her rendition of the most difficult
part of the piece the browning glory
OF the whole play. She was fire.
ouently greeted with applause. The
Little Buttercnp of Miss Anna Knish-
ton was scarcely less pleasing, and
she too carried away due share of
the bopors of the evening, and Mrs.
Ford, as Hebe. sang in perfect time
and measure.
<But sometimes, to the power be-
hind the scenes piece owes more
for the privilege of n continued ex-
istence than to those who approach
the footlights, and this is no excep-
ton to the ruleA 10 Miss Stella
Galliler we believe the chief credit is
due for the excellent presentation OF
this piece. She filled alone, as plan
list, tho place of orchestra, and some.
times of leader, frequently helping
out dilatory singer, giving for cue
the keynote, orif necessary playing
difficult strains to sustain the voice
when faulty.
In abiding TO amateurs, we have
invariably adopted the rule of
saying but little, unless it be in
praise. We shall merely refer, there
fore, to the chorus by stating that at
times it appeared to be in almost per-
feet harmony. We doubt not that
every individual member rendered his
lines we'll, and if any discord crept
in it was due to an incongruity of the
parts for which no individual wac
alone responsible.
When we consider the absurdity
of comic opera, to begin with, and
the many difficulties encountered by
our local company in their efforts to
place Pinafore before the public, we
are filled with admiration ut the re-
suit. In performance like it,
where there is but n short step from
the sublime to the ridiculous, it must
be exceedingly difficult for mex
perienced performers to keep from
falling off the narrow ledge which
divides the bounds. Fortunate it is
for the actor, if at times like these,
the music possesses sufficient merit
to divert attention from the whimsi-
cal requirement of stage rules. As
an instance: Capt. Corcoran, even
though he lays aside his dignity and
handles compliments with Dick Dead