National Republican., 1883-01-23
MUSIC AND DRAMA.

this same company. The audience was unex-
pectcdly largo and closely apprcciative. Ex-
cepting Ny Partner" the play is unques-
tionably the best Mr.. Campbell has yet putt out.
1t is not only well designed, and built with
growing interest to which the strongest effects
as well as the minor incidents all subscrve,
but it contains great deal Of very beautiful
writing. In this latter respect it far excels
any other of Mr.. Campbelrs works. The
language put into the mouth of the old man
in the first act, for example, will compare
with the best in almost any modern
English play, either in graceful choice of
word and phrase or in power and picturesque
simplicity And rs much might be said Of
most of the other parts But it is less this
quality than its vigorous, active story that
commends the drama to the general public.
Mr., Campbell has contrived to hit the popu-
lar fancy for broad and startling effects.
Some of the pictures on which the
curtain falls at the ends of acts are very
highly colored and full of excitement. The
progress of the story is marked no less by
these than by the rapid and natural alterna-
tions between laughter and the sentiment of
tears. Occasionally the pathos of it narrowly
escapes bathos but the lighter humor is very
honest and very wholesome
The company has more of individual merit
in 1t than is commonly found in like organi-
zations Mrs. Germon, Miss Stuart, Mr..
Roberts, Miss Wardcll, and half dozen others
in IL, arc cut above the average. Their per-
formancc is very finely finished.
"THE BOHEMIAN GIRL" AT FoRDs.
1t was pleasant last evening to sit and
listen to the pretty melodies that used to pass
for grand opera--a long time ago. The audi
enco that crowded Ford's theater to hear
"The Bohemian Girl" had some hundreds in
IL whose youth sang again in the voices Of tho
singers, and to each of whom some one of
the half dozen airs of the opera must have
brought associations full ofthat tender grace of
dead days whereof the poet lamented. For
the enthusiasm was beyond that which any of
the newer kickshaws clicits; and it was high
est whenever q salient number was touched.
All these were called for over again, and some
of them most earnestly-as for instance tho
old familiar "Marble Halls" which Miss
Stone sang admirably, with a parting
flourish at her. topmost pitch that excited
the most remote rows in the gallery
and that time-worn but never wearisomo
Heart Bowed Down." to which Mr. Whitney
gave the value of his magnificent voice. 1t
was an evening Of profound enjoyment to
many, as its like will probably be to many
more. "The Bohemian Girl " has so long lain
in disuse that to large proportion of the
younger public it is practically new.
1t has not been heard more than
three or four times since the
season Of 1878, just before tho French opera
boufe drove out ballad opera and the weaker
Italian things. Caroline Richings and her
company gave it during their last struggle
against the mercurially wicked invader. II
had already languished, as all Of its kind had
done and not even the decadence of O1en-
bach has helped it any, for Offenbach himself
had to give way to something lighter and
more wicked. Its permanent rehabilitation
need not be looked for. Tastes have changed
and while it will do for n night once in q
while, as this company uses it, there is nc
great desire to have it more than once OF
maybe twice n year.
Tastes have changed indeed, and rapidly
too. The day was not so very long ago when
"The Bohemian Girl - and the family tC
which she belonged were new and much
sought after. Tom Karl is still young man
with all the fire and freshness of youth in his
face and figure and voice. Yet Karl studied
Thaddeus under the direction of Balie
Balfc seems seems so very much q man of Q
long departed time that it is hard to realize
how recently he was in the world-that this
young artist knew him, was with him, forms
a link between the listeners of this hour and
the master of that old school, and has seer
the rise and fall of half dozen orders of opera
Tho cast of last evening, though strong
enough, might have been bettered, perhaps, by
a change of parts between Mr.. Whitney ant
Mr.. Macdonald. The reason why Mr.. Whit
ney was given the Count to sing lay no deepe,
than the pathos of the Heart Bowed Down ,
while Mr.. MacDonald's dramatic gifts got hin
Devilshoof to act-though the Count is for
baritone and Devilshoof for basso. Mis-
Stones Airline was better and more'scriou
performance than might have been expected
from q lady whose best faculties are comic
and Miss Burton acted the Queen well enougl
to equalze her lack of strength in the music
The chorus was satisfactory, and the orches
ira, though small and uncertain, staggere,
through, under Mr., studlcy's care, withou
any break of positively overt nature.
AMUSEMENT NOTES.
Charles Wyndhnm, with his London Criterion
company, the best that England has sent us 70
many years, begins his engagement in this cit
, next Monday at Fords Opera house, and from al
that has been written, it promises to be bot
phenomenal and interesting in n remunerativ
and artistic point Of view. First, he is famous O
an interpreter of light comedy characters; an
secondly, there is not n dun member in the cas-
which he has brought with him from the old coun
try. The plays Of the week will bo "Fourtee
Days" and "Brghton." Mr.. Wyndham is re
ported to be the wealthiest manager In England
and is said to be likeable man in social as we
ns dramatic sense, especially among the man
Americans who have enjoyed his hospitality.
is probable that a number OF our citizens will al
tend the professional matinee in Baltimore o
Wednesday as the guests OF Manager Ford.
The advance sale OF seats for tho salvini en-
gagement will begin at tho ticket Office Of the Ma
tional thoatcr next Thursday morning at CLOCK
/ The engagement is for week, beginning on III
twenty ninth, but salvini will play only three
the six nights and at the afternoon performanc
Saturday Monday evening he is to play " othe
10 :" Wednesday, Lear" Friday evening, 9Th
Outlaw and at the matinee he win reDel