Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1881-03-24
THE PEI SEASON.
The Third Night With b Melville
Company.

NOAhhys
There were a few who vent away from
the Opera House on Monday evening dis
appointed. The fame OF the
much Of it published in these columns, had
been murmured down to their level, and
they m to the opera with a vague ex-
pectation Of being carried away with
establishment and delight. What they ex-
pected they nor no one else could tell. 1t
was to be marvellous, however-something
beyond ordinary conception. They saw
only a troupe of beautifully dressed ladies
and handsomely clad gentlemen, who sang
or played, according to their profession,
with an ease as if they were doing nothing
difficult. The disappointed ones did not
perceive that the absence Of apparent effort
was the result Of long years Of patient and
expensive drill, added to phenomenal nat
ural talents. In order to comprehend it
they would have to be built over again
from the ground up. On Tuesday evening
the croakers were either absent or in better
humor, for the Chimes Of Normandy"
pleased every one, and at 3 o'clock yester-
day morning the melodies were still being
WlisblCu W tic HAL III tut mOOu Dy
the night owls from every corner. This per-
Torrance gave the Pirates of Penzance"
a splendid send-off, and the Opera House
last evening was crowded TO its utmost
capacity. Every seat in the gallery was
taken by noon, and the chart was one blue
mass Of dots on the main floor. Standing
room was in demand, and every conven-
lent corner was occupied. But, we think,
the crowd struck the wrong evening to sec
the company at its best, as the "Pirates"
does not give the scope OF either the
Chimes, I" "Pinafore," "Bocaccio" or the
Bohemian Girl" Its music, nor busi-
ness, cannot be compared with that charm
ing composition "~Pinafore." While its
general effect is one OF brightness and
pleasantness, its plot is silly and the music
hardly contains a redeeming score. IT'S
intended satire is reduced to broad, ex-
travagant burlesque to save it from abso-
Lutte shelving. There is not an air in the
Pirates which will compare with the worst
in Pinafore. "Im Called Little Butter
cup, the Nightingale" :" Maiden Fair to
See" "Over the Bright Blue Sea-" Fair
Moon, To Thee / Sing" "Things are
Seldom, " the Bell Trio, 1.-THE Maiden and
The Tar" "He is an Englishman,"
Farewell, Ny Own" and a half dozen
others, find no counterpart in the
Pirates. Or in musical humor,
what is there in the Pirates to put along
side Of "My Gallant Crew." when | was
a Lad" the Sisters and the Cousins, or
the Baby Farming Song? The chorus Of
commonplace. though it was sung with
strength and force last evening, This is
succeeded by a rather ambitious song for
the Pirate Chief "a. Henderson,. 1t has
one strain that is taking when the soloist
dwells on a resounding high note, while
the chorus sings the refrain, but Mr.. Hen
derson hardly carried that point. The
song OF Ruth, the piratical maid Of all
work, is supposed TO be an imitation Of
Buttercup, but was not recalled as that
song is yet it was given with spirit by
Miss Title Valerga, in a rich contralto
voice. The entrance Of the chorus OF
daughters of General Stanley does not
compare favorably with the Lightly Trip
ping chorus, and the tenor solo which fol-
lows, by Mr.. Hatch, one would hardly sup
pose to be by the same man who wrote "a
Maiden Fair to See." The song for the
soprano. which comes just after, was rem
dered by Miss Melville with her best
powers. This and her duet with Mr..
that follows, with a sort Of running
chorus accompaniment, are the best
things in the opera. General Stanley's
Max Freeman's) opening song sounds like
the clatter Of playful goats on the roof of a
barn, and the respiratory organs OF Mr..
were taxed to their fullest extent
to bring out the score. In the second act
there is q love duet and a short trio, called
The Paradox, which is n of the most
things in il. On the other hand,
I.xnuoI HsanIo.ta a1Ia faI1auyfun 10 nth |
)ut pith, point or purpose, and no matter
well it is sung, it carries no music
With it. But for the policeman's chorus,
which is here introduced, the opera would
lot be worth the paper upon which it is
and would fall fat upon the most
ndulgent audience. This is the inspira-
ion and redeeming feature Of the compo-
'ition and lets the pirates" down easily.
Nothing further is wanted to show the
merit OF the company than the way they
this u~npromising n miscellane-
rus lot Of mental ohaff last evening. Every
situation was strained to make the opera
acceptable, and many Of the stupid lines
we're transformed into bright vocalism.
Miss Post and her numerous family of sis
,ers made the intended bathing scene a
parking diversion, and the music ac-
it was prettily sung. Miss
was again in a bright and cheerful
mood, and sang like . prima donns. Near
he close Of the last act the charm
.ng little cantatrice was presented
with q pretty bouquet, which, owing to
The extreme rarely of flowers in this latl-
tude, provoked an envious smile from the
Mr.. Hatch was also in excellent
voice, and was accorded an encore for his
solo in the second act after parting with
Mil &ho ana1nI that haa az far haan |
demanded. Mr.. Casselli, as the police
was again immense, and invested
the part with all the broad humor it was !
Of bearing. The chorus being d.
vided after the first act could not do itself
full Justice, but performed their task as
we'll as the circumstances would allow.
This evening the company will sing
% Pinafore," and the music-loving public
will be able to compare its pleasant and
enduring melodies with the commonplace
score Of the Pirates" Miss Melville
will sing the part Of Josephine Oracle
Plaisted cher second appearance) that OF
Lille Post, Hebe; Alonzo
Hatch, Ralph, played by him for over 100
nights at Daley's Theater, New York
Max Freeman, Sir Joseph Porter Tom
Casselli, Dick Deadeye; A. Henderson,
Captain Corcoran and E. N. knight, the
Boatswain. This is a remarkable cast, and
will give the popular opera in its best
possible form. The ships deck scene has
been painted expressly for this piece by
Billy Cole, late assistant of Mr.. Laycock,
and now the scenic artist Of the Opera
House. The work is well done, and re-
fleets great credit upon Mr.. Coles genius.
The Boom Coming.