Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-02-15
"hARTHA."

The singer and her company made their
appearance last night in Flotow's Martha, a
pert little opera that never grows older. The
music of the opera is like bright, wayward
child that has the heart of the lark and
always dances in the sunshine. There is not
a singl4 shadow in it. Mirth ripples through
it az water over the pebbles; and under its
CHEEKY guidance we are led far away from the
prosaic monotony OF life into the enchanted
places where fact has fed to fancy and SOL
emnity has been dethrOned by that merry
fellow, winsome Folly. The spell of 1iartha
begins when the curtain goes up Tor the first
time, and then no man has to look about for
his interest. And the music Is not
without touch of the deeper
feelings. The glad life OF the rustics, the
iollity Of the country fair, the coquetry of
the two girls Martha" and Nancy" the
fresh-favored love of "Lionel" and Plum
kett" are all somehow pictured by the music.
The opera does something more than excite
mirth; it touches the tender sensibilities; it
makes US feel that life is full of rich Thoughts
and splendid hope.
THE SUBJECT OF THE OPERA
is enlivening. "Lady Henrietta Durham"
and her companion, Nancy" learning OF a
rustic tair, where the peasants OF the village
present themselves for hire, resolve to attend
in servants guise. At the fair they engage
themselves in spirit; of sport to Lionel"
and "Plunkett," two young and handsome
farmers. To their sorrow and dismay, they
find that they must go home with them as
servants really. They eventually fall in
love with their masters, and all ter
inmates happily. The opera teens with
a variety Of comic incident, and offers
facilities for good acting. The Abbott Com
pany presented it last night adequately
acted and capitally sung. 1t would be hard
to find 4 more satisfactory quartette than
Miss Abbott as "Martha," Miss Annandale
as Nancy" Mr.. Comfy rs "Plunkett," and
Mr.. Fabrini as Lionel"
THE CHORUS,
TOO, is better trained than any Miss Abbott
has ever had with her There is a strength,
a unanimity about ii that has never Feen
attained previously. Miss Abbotts "Mar-
tina" il one OF the best roles she essays The
character demanding both pensiveness and
sprightliness, Miss Abbott's peculiar abilities
carry it well. She lends it iuat that air OF
coquetry that it needs, and at the same time
she touches the heart by the earnestness of
her singing. There are few persons ON the
stage who can sing a simple ballad like ''The
singing is always enjoyable, because it seems
that her heart and her art are on terms of
good fellowship, and neither is sacrificed for
the sake of the other.
The principal fault OF Miss Abbott lies in
her acting, and yet che Is much better than
the ordinary lyric actress. II is often said
that she is very natural because she acts by
impulse rather than art. 1t is an undoubted
fact that the most natural actress or actor is
the one who has paid the most attention to
art. Think how long it must have taken
Mr.. Jefferson TO mature and vivivy his con-
ce ption of the part of bob Acres" one OF
the most natural characters on the
stagel Miss Abbott has warm sensibil-
tiles and good intentions, but her
very disregard for art makes her acting
explosive and snappish at times. This is
not said by way of faultGnding, because the
APPEAL comedies that she has unusual his
trionic ability for singer. Miss Annandale
was good Nancy" She did not lend the
character that animation which Mrs. Seguin
impaired to it, but she sang it splendidly and
did some good acting. Mr.. Comfy sang the
role of "Plunkett" in a style that will be
memorable. He is one of the very best
bassos in the country. There is flexible re-
sonance and a thrilling profundity in his
voice which render his singing e,xquisitely |
grand. He has, perhaps, all things con-
sidered, the most satisfactory bass voice
on our stage; though not so deep that of
Myron w. Whitney, it is wider ranged and |
is not so ponderous Mr.. FabriDi aroused
great enthusiasm as 'Lionel," and he de- |
served all the plaudits he got The tone of
his singing is inspiring, and his voice SYM
pathetic. He displayed skill in the handling
Of it, and altogether was one OF the best
q Lionels" the APPEAL has ever seen. Mr..
Tams made fair "Sir Tristam," and Mr..
Broderick was unobjectionable as the
Sheriff
"oLIvErTE" THIS AFTERNOON.
This afternoon the Abbott Company will |
present OliUeie, with Miss AnnandaIe as the |
Countess" and Miss Rosewald as 'Olivette." |
Olmi, Tams and Fabrini are in
The cast also. The Abbott company, it is |
said, present this opera as it should be, pay
ing attention primarily to the music, instead |
Of burlesquiDg the opera. 1t promises to be |
he best rendition OF the opera yet heard in |
Memphis.
"rHE CHIMES TONIGHT
Tonight PIanquette's Chimes of Normandy |
will be the opera Miss Abbott will appear |
Is "Serpolette, Miss AnnandaIe as Ger |
maine" Mr. Comfy as "Gaspard," Mr. Stod- !
lard as the marquis" and Mr.. Castle as /
Robin Moore" This is the most delightful |
If all comic operas, and there is no question |
out that it win be charmipgly presented by !
he company.
EMMA ABBOTT AS patience"
By request Emma Abbott will tomorrow
light sing the role OF "Patience" in the new |
musical craze of that name, and Julie Rose
valid will also sing the mad scene from the .
,pera of Hamlet. On Saturday evening EN-
ma Abbott will appear in her great role of i
Juliet" in Gounod's opera of Romeo and
TtIiet. With Emma Abbott, Annandale, Comfy
the grand basso), Stoddard, Olmi and VIM.
jastle, the performance cannot fsil 10 be
,reat success.