National Republican., 1883-01-17
ADJUSTMENTS.
"THE MtsKETEERs" AT roRD's..


Last evening borrowed its most important
interest from Mr.. Morsells first appearance in
this city, which is and for several years has
been his home. 1t was as much to give him
welcome MS TO otherwise enjoy the entertain
mcnt that so large an audience gathered. The
/ supcrabundant applause which followed him
/ through the opera, though not always judi
cious, was very pleasant evidence of
strong goodwill toward him in his
new relation; and he received it all
with very much more modesty than
might under the exceptionally fattering cir
cumstances have been expected.
Mr.. Morsell is in no need of any enthusias-
tic backing from his friends. If his perform
ancc in The Musieteers" fairly indicates his
strength, he will make his own way without
any great difficulty, and as rapidly as his most
ardent admirers might wish. What his voice
is every one hereabout knows well enough.
! 1t is not great voice, but it is good
one, of most agreeable quality, and quite
| sufficient in power to meet any demand
| light opera is likely to put upon it.
In fact, it was noticeable 20 careful listeners
| last evening that Mr.. Morscll has yet to sing
his best. He can sing better than at this date
he knows how to sing, and next season or sea-
| son after will find him much beyond his
/ present stage of vocal development. by con-
/ tinucd professional association with artists
! whose methods are so accurate as are those of
Macdonald and Karl and Whitney, he will in
sensbly acquire finish under which his voice
will show beauties that as yet are merely in
! diCated. The experience he is getting will
serve him better than n schooling many times
as long. What his future may be will depend
wholly upon the spirit in which he may
choose to treat his opportunities, That he
will govern himself carefully and well there is
good reason to believe, and every disposition
to hope. He has already accomplished much.
He has learned to act. There was little or
nothing amatcurish about his Gantron. lie
has case, confidence, and trick of wearing
his costumes as though they were his daily
dress; and withal he is unaffected and is
blessed with faculty of humorous expression
that fits him well. His talent in these mat
tcrs has counted equally with his voice in
commencing him to the favor of audiences
that had never seen nor heard of him before,
and promises as much for his popularity as
his voice does.
"The Muskctecrs" is comparatively a new
opcra-this being its second American sea-
son. This, and the omission of the irrepress-
ible Mr. Banabee from the cast, may be held
TO account for the comparative closeness with
which the text is adhered to. The Ideal ar
lists have not had time to idealize it up
to their standard by knocking holes in it
and having fun with the lines, which is less n
matter to bc thankful for than it might be
thought, for the lines are so shabbily trans
lated that almost any departure from them
would be for the better The music is a sort
of elaborated and prolonged sublimation of
the song and dance sort of thing that came
into vogue few years ago. There are but three
or four touches of earnest work in the whole
affair, and these are less dignifed than agree
able. The greeting to the monks and the
sextet toward the end of the first act, the
song of the Marie, and concerted passage
(the scrmon) in the second act, and one or two
bits in the last act, are well devised and skill
fully wrought. The rest is sparkle,
jingle, and DASH Several Of the airs
are OF the kind which finds favor with that
peculiarly detestable class of idiots who w!hs-
tic on the streets. There Is pretty bit of a
waltz in the first act that will certainly be
sCrceded whenever the opera is repeated u
few times. A recurrent march and the "pat-
ter song" of Smore are likewise foredoomed
to become tortures upon n few more hearings
The most ambitious efforts in the score are
nearly all allotted to Gantron-and nearly all
of questionable value.
More even and careful justice could moi
have been done any of the music than was
done it in this performance. Principals
chorus, and orchestra wcrO in perfect accord
and in no essential particular could an i'm,
provement have been asked.
,, Mr. Macdonald, as CAPTAIN de Brissac, com
passed Il piece of comedy that would hay,
been crediable to any actor. He CAV,
, the part all it required of dash and higl
spirits, and favored it with that rare, dry vii
. of look and tone which so few men know how
! to use. This and Mr.. Frothingham's Able
with Mr., Mossel's Gantron were tho sallen
! features of the entertainment. Miss Stone
Miss Ulmar, and Miss Burton gracefully anC
successfully carried the parts assignee
them; and Mr.. Loughren, and tn,
Q Misses Davis, Brown and Reed wol
, credit lor themselves by doing with ear
. and good Judgment four Of the smaller parts
NOTES.
This evening "The Marriage Of Figaro" vii
be sung at Ford's.
The Comedy Of Errors will be given to'nigh
at the National, with Messrs, Robson and Gran
as the Dromios.
There will be no matinee at Ford's to-day.
r BARLEY Campbell's "Whitc Slave will succec,
= Robson and Crane at the National,
!. Mr. Morsell and the Boston Ideal Opera com
~ pany were handsomely entertained at lunch las
# evening, after the opera, at the National hotel b.
= everal of Mr. Morsells Washington friends.
y Mr.. James w, Morissey, business manager 70
= the Wyndham Comedy company is in the city
= Mr. Wyndham ranked as major during the ciyi
ID war, and did good service as surgeon In this cit,
y when the country needed men of nerve. Nh
n Wyndham is regarded the best comedian Il
d England, He and his entire company viii folio,
the Boston Ideals at FOrd's