National Republican., 1883-02-22

given In these columns on Tuesday, and It
now remains to speak Of the company per-
forming IL. IL Is rarely that a more even
performance is witnessed than Is seen this
week at the opera house, and yet IL would be
strange if 1t were otherwise, for Mr.. Ford
has made very few changes in his company,
either as to principals or chorus, dur
ing the past three years; and the
different performers have become thor
oughly. used to each other, which enables
the action Of the piece to go smoothly and
without break. AS to the vocal capacity of
the troupe there are no bad voices, while
there are some that are Of moro than average
excellence. The Phyllis Of Miss Blanche
Chapman Is far better, both in singing and
acting, than was her Josephine, the music be-
| ing within her range and her action being
less touched with burlesque. In fact this part
Is decidedly the best in which Miss Chapman
has been seen during q long time. In Miss
Marie Bockel Iolanthe finds an excellent rep
resontation, her mezzo soprano voice fulfilling
all the requirements of the score, while her
acting is faithful to the authors idea.
Miss Geneveve Reynolds, as the Fairy
Queen, carries the part with skill
and fidelity The contralto Of this
lady is both pure and well managed, and
within somewhat narrow range, is highly
effective. Mr.. Charles W. DUNCAN makes
good Strephon, singing and acting the part
very creditably. His baritone is considera-
bly, above the ordinary value Of that voice.
Mr.. Charles Ii. Drew's Lord Mount Ararat is
well acted and fairly sung. Lord Tolloller
finds spirited impersonator in Mr.. Philip
Branson, who acts well, and whose tenor voice
is very sweet and pleasant. Mr. George w.
Dcnham either carelessly or willfully misrep-
resents the character of the Lord Chancellor.
As written, and obviously as intended, the
Lord Chancellor is the essence Of dignity,
statue of stately stupidity, a fountain freezing
over with formality. Any presentation of the
character, therefore, which lowers the Lord
Chancellor from the pedestal of patrician pre-
cedent is q departure from the sense Of the
author not to be tolerated. Mr.. Denham turns
the part into burlesque, proceeding 80 inap-
propriate as to spoil the effect Of the action,
no matter how clever the burlesque might be.
The rest of the cast is creditably rendered,
and the chorus do some excellent work, de-
serving the applause 1t receives.
LAWRENCE BARRETT.
Next Monday Mr.. Lawrence Barrett will
begin an engagement at the National theater
in George II. Boxers tragedy, Francesca da
Rimini." This play, which illustrates the
peculiar condition Of italian society just be-
fore the dawn of the renaissance, is said to
possess an interest independent Of the accos-
sories of acting and scenery. Mr.. Barrett has
been very successful in it the present season.
The manager Of the theater announces his in
tention to put the play forward with every
scenic advantage possible. The sale of seats
will begin to-day.
"EsMERALDA."
The sale of seats for the " Esmeralda" per-
formances at Ford's next week will COM
mence this morning at o'clock. The name
of the Madison Square theater has already
become such a trademark that anything bear
ing 1t nowadays may be fairly esteemed a
success. "Esmeralda" ran an entire year,
winter and summer, and its road sue
cess has been very positive. The com.
pany is almost the same that played II
in the home theater. John i. Owens,
who (as the phrase goes) created the
, part of Ebert Rogers, is in it, and SO ore
nearly all the original performers.
..7. ..a MANAGER ABBEY's PLANS.
Chicago Tribune.
"1 shall bring Langtry back here" said Man
nger Abbey last evening"" for an extra matinee II
lie given March T. That will be her last appear
ance here under my management. As to my
operate venture, my salary list will amount tc
about S22,OO q week, and perhaps more. am
not Mapeson. Igeneraly give to the public what
agree to give them, and never send out advance
agents to lie to the press have engaged Cam
panini and Valeria, and have virtually engaged
Nine. Nilsson. have three agents now In Eu-
rope looking after singers. shall probably have
Nine. Scalchi. She Is the greatest Of living con-
traltos. Trebbelli Is greater artist, but Scalchi
, has the most marvellous voice. The Metropolitan
Opera house will lie finished In August. Maplesor
has a large number Of cheap artists, but II cam
getnlong with very few ofthese and give oomplet,
aud istclass entertainment. better In all appoint
mens than any ever before given, Ishall close m!
: house shall give opera In Chicago sometime II
) January. shall probably have Gerster. My agen
Is due in Odessa to-day, where she is singing Sh,
r sings through Russia, and then she goes to Vienna
, My other contralto will be Nine. La Blaohe, VIII,
Is now in Italy, and who is well known In thi
country Henry Irving opens in Wallack's olI
theater, Thirteenth street and Broadway, on Oct
0 20, and he will appear in Haverlys, in Chicago
} Jan. o. Messrs. Abbey & Schoeffel purchased tn
4 International hotel aud Park theater, Boston, 70
O 100000, and we shall continue to run them a
4 they are, having owned the interior appointment
. of the theater previous TO the purchase. The Met
u Iopoitan Opera house. in New York, will seat
= when completed, 9,2l0 persons. and 1t will be
o totally hreproof house, with five exits for ever
o part Of tile house. In point Of completeness an
detail 1t will be the finest in the world, and 1t vii
. be larger than the famous La Scala of Milan"
y Magazines,
u No. of the Modern Age, new magazine fc
4 public favor has Just made Its appearance fc