Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-02-22
THE OPERA.
So Pirates OF Penzance" Last Evening.

"Pirares OF Pen13nco" Last Evening.
An audience that nearly filled Fulton
opera house assembled there last evening
to hear Gilbert and Sullivau's Pirates OF
Penzance' by company under the man
agementiOf X. D'Oyly Carte. the accredited
representative Of the celebrated author
and composer on this side Of the Atlantic.
The performance was one of the most
completely enjoyable that has been given
here during the present season. Our read
ers and amusement-lOving people general
" are familiar with the theme of this
work which was produced here about year
ago, at which time an extended review oi
it appeared in these columns; so that it is
unnecessary to treat anything in last
nights performance. save the method OF
presentation, and that may be done briefly.
The company is an exceptionally good
one, it having been recruited, as is given
out, from among half dozen troupes
that had previously been OH the road.
The leading soprano role of -Wttel was
sung by Miss Minnie Walsh, and the
introduction of this lady to the
audience. which is marked by that
wonderfully beautiful waltz song. ''POOr
Wandering One" was greeted by round
| of applause that indicated plainly enough
l llC ldSoI LII ShO In AS'a A'>AS. ~
course the audience encored her, and in
deed the people were not at all backward
about demanding repetition of the favoritc
airs throughout the evening. The year OF
extra training that Miss Walsh, has enjoyed
since her former appearance here in the
same role has developed i marked improve
ment in her voice and action,
and her Interpretation Of the
part last evening left nothing to be de-
sired. She has one Of those full. rich
voices that it is rcstful to listen to, its bell
like purity of tone dwelling most pleasant
" on the car, and its large compass con-
veyins the impression Of unlimited re
sources. 1t is in her upper register that
Miss Walsh's voice is heard to the very
best advantage. albeit her chest tones are
not wanting in breadth and rOuDaness, and
there is that in her singing, such thorough
control of the vocal organs and manifest
strength, that the audience is emboiGenet
to ask for more without fear of fatiynins
her. The young lady has learned the secret
of expression in her singing and her work il
distinctively marked by an intelligent ap
probation of the spirit of the part. Th'
contralto solos of Nine. Mott. in the role
of Ruth, a piratical maid -OEall work, oidl!
enough failed to arouse the enthusiasm
of the audience rs they shoult
have done. This lady is gifted with n,
uncOmmonly fine voice thoroughly cult
vated. and sang her part in admirable
style, though to scant applause. lie
first solo, in which she explains the eyre
gious error she committed III Frederic s in
fancy, by apprenticing him tOa pirate in
. stead of to pilot, mistaking the wore
Through being hard of hearing wa
one of the notably good things OF the even
ing. but the audience permitted it to go b.
without so much as 4 clap of the hands
| Miss Irene Perry's pretty face and piquan
! manner captivated the audience, and sh
sang and acted the part OF hate, one q
.Mjor General !Stanley's nurr erous famll
of daughters, in clever style. SiGnor BRO
colini sang the part of Richard, the pirat
king. in splendid manner. IL
has q bass voice that combines NOR
than ordinary sweetness with strength
and volume, and the tremendous encor
evoked by his initial solo, 81 an Pirate
King" was eminently well deserved. Mr
J. Z. Nash filed the bill as Samuel, hi
lieutenant, very acccptably, his voic
being good baritone, and MIR. NJ. }. Don
, avan asreeably disappointed early expec
tations by his singing of Frederics role
} his voice developing manifest improve
ment as the evening progressed. AS M1/o
General Stanley, Mr.. 5. L. Norman
) scored hit in his rendition OF the pat
ter song, in which he cnumcrates tn
/ attributes OF Il modern ma jor general il
the enjoyment whereof lie prides himself
, but he failed to bring out the full beaut
= Of the solo in the second act, where
> with candle in hand, he strolls into tn
/ ILL.,. II k<1 1:.,%p {l,n IrvN n
. the breeze" This, with the refrain b
5 pirates and police, is one Of the pretties
numbers of the opera and deserved bette
+ treatment. The chorus effects ma
Q be spoken of in terms Of unqus.
flied praise. They we're all full
D rich, and evinced the most careful trainin
and every member of the company slOwe'
himself or herself en- rapport with tn
spirit of humOr of the cOmpOsitiO
; throughout The " weather chorus " b
$ the girls, and that intensely funny "pt
licemen's chant" and half a score o
: others that might be mentioned, scored tn
customary hit. One of the finest thing
r of the evening was the I" paradox
f trio by Ruth, Frederic and tn
Pirate hing, and the parting duet by Nab
and Frederic, where the latter, actuate'
by his {. sense of duty" is about leavin
to rcjoin his former pirate associate
f whom he had but recently renOunccd, wa
q clarmingly sung. The orchestration wa
, an altogether meritoriOus feature. an
/. this notice although it has already far es
cecded the limits prescribed at the outset
would be incomplete did it fail to mcntio
favOrably the scenic effects which wei
distinguished for their picturesque beaut
D and Appropriateness.