National Republican., 1881-04-26
ADJUSTMENTS THIS WEEK,
The BilIee Taylor Troop at the National
Other Attractions.

|
The immense audience at the National
Theatre last night showed how deep an interest
had been excited in the appearance of the New
York company under the management Of D'Oyly
Carte and E. E. Rice, which has made so great q
success of the latest operate absurdity, Billee
Taylor" The term "operatic absurdty" is used
| because its scenes and incidents could not
possibly have happened, and the combination
| of characters and situations are laughingly
| extravagant and amusingly absurd The princi-
palmusical numbers have already been mentioned
and the plot has already been told so it only re-
| mains to speak of the performance. The company
is large, the chorus full and well trained; the
scenery is fresh and appropriate and the costumes
and appointments are new, bright, and elaborate.
Of the principals, Miss Francesca Guthrie
and Signor Brocolini, in the respective
roles of Phoebe and Christopher Crab, were
the most successful in an artistic point of view,
both being cultivated singers, and perfectly fin
ished in their acting. The ArGbeld of Miss Rachel
Sanger was also good. The "An ON Account of
Eliza" by Mr.. W. O. Wilkerson, as Ben BdrRdcle,
B0suR, was encored again and again, and yet again,
and was the popular success of the evening. Mr..
Wilkerson has musical voice and is good singer
but is actor and SO fails utterly to give the part
the prominence which George Denham impaired
to it. The Sailors Hornpipe" was most
gracefully and effectively danced by Miss
Lizzie Simms, and was obliged to be re-
peated. The full cast was as follows ::
Christopher Grab, a villainous schoolmaster,
Signor Brocolini; Sir MtaGng Lane, a selfmade
man, Mr.. C. ]. Groves Ben Barnacle, "Bosun" of
H N. S. Thunderbomb, Mr.. W. o. Wilkerson Billee
Taylor, a virtuous gardener, Mr.. ]. Nichols; Cap
tain, the Hon. Felir Fldpper, r. NJ, of H. NJ. S.
Thunderbomb, Mr. George Thorne Ardbelld Lane
Sir MipciRg Lane daughter, Miss Rachel Sanger:
Susan, village maiden, Miss Emma Guthrie; Eiiza
Ddbsey, Pb96es aunt, Miss Jennie Hughes; PhGbe
Fdirleigh, another village maiden, Miss Francesca
Guthrie charity girls, peasants sailors, soldiers,
and villagers.
THE ATHENEUM CLUB CONCERT.
The last concert of the season under the auspices
of the Athenaum Club took place at Lincoln Hall
last evening The attendance, though not so large
at some of the previous concerts of the club,
good, and the character of the audience was no.
ticeable, as nearly all of our prominent musicians
were present to enjoy the finest class of music
which has been given. The entertainment
last night was without orchestra, and was
what is commonly called a chamber con-
cert. The performers were all artists, and
the selections upon the programme were the
compositions of such eminent musicians as Edward
Grieg, Mozart, Weber, Hugot, Rubinstein, and Th.
Coury The Athenaum Club deserve the thanks
of all lovers of the highest order of music for their
efforts to cater to the most cultivated tastes during
the past winter, and it is to be hoped that the
terprise has been a success financially.
THEATRE coNIoUE.
The crowd at the Comique last night filling
every portion of the audience room, testified in
the most emphatic manner their satisfaction and
delight at the entertainment presented. The spe-
cialty artists wers all good and nearly every act
was encored. The new sketch by Jake Budd,
called Sim Dipseys joke was greeted with roars
of laughter, and Jake himself was simply immense
NOTES.
Manager Ford has secured the Juvenile Pirate
Troop under control of Professor George Sheldon,
and they will play on next Monday night at the
Opera House.
The sale of seats for Salyims engagement
has been very large and there is every indication
of full houses at both performances
Mr.. II. A. Foresman's complimentary benefit
which will take place at Lincoln Hall on Thurs
day evening, should not be forgotten. The sale of
tickets only commenced yesterday, and already q
large number of seats have been secured.
"Billee Taylor" was repeated at Ford's Opera
House last night. The cast was changed from that
on Saturday night, but Miss Eva Mills and Annie
Shaeffer remain.