National Republican., 1883-12-04
ADJUSTMENTS.
FoRD's-"HEARr AND HAND"

FoRD's-"HEART AND HAND"
At Ford's opera house last night was pro.
duced Heart and Hand' Lccocq's new
opera. OF this opera il was predicted. when
first produced in Now York by the McCaull
company, that its existence would bo brief
one. Musicians and critics combined to give
it very low place in the scale of modern
light opera, and boldly foretold its failure
Despite them NIL IL ran on and proved If not
an artistic, certainly financial success
Last evening witnessed its first presentation
here. 1t is a recognized fact, among lyric
artists especially, that Washington audiences
arc more critical and moro difficult to satisfy
than any other to which they are called upon
to play, and it would be rs we'll IL managers
would recognize this, too, and act upon It,
With weak libretto and q score of littlo or
no merit, Heart and Hand relies entirely
upon the people who have IL in hand to make
it thorough success ssand, with few excep-
tions, the present company is not equal to the
task. With his best talent in the cast, Mr..
Duff might have presented a much more
pleasurable, certainly more artistic, per-
formance Of tho opera. With Miss Juch,
Miss Barton, and Mr.. Harvey available, the
Upon Mr.. George Sweet as .the Prince
the burden of the performance fell, and was
we'll sustained While faulty in his acting,
his voice and style of singing are very
pleasing, and he is heard to great advantage
in the Hermit Song" in the second act,
which is undoubtedly the gem of tho work,
and one of the very few really meritorious
numbers in it.
Mr.. J. II. Rylcy as the King was amusing
as he always Is, and made all that il was pos
siblo to make of very commonplace role.
Mr.. Dixon, always reliable in whatever he
undertakes made the most of Don Mosquitoes,
while Mr.. McCrccry as Morales appeared to
much better advantage than usual. OF the
female portion of the cast, unfortunately, as
good an account cannot be given Miss Marie
Conron as the Princess is decidedly outcast.
Sho is not equal to the role, and while possess
ing Il voice very pleasing at times, is unequal
to the task of sustaining the leading part,
either vocally or dramatically.
Miss Marie Hunter, while not possessing as
pleasing voice. acts better than Miss Conron,
and is more Mt case in her part. If she would
but abstain from too-evidcnt imitation OF
the Oates school of posing and gesture, she
would find her performing much improved.
The remainder of tho cast was good, the
chorus very fair, and the opera better mounted
than is usual with travelling organizations
While the perform ance was by no means as
satisfactory as it would have been had the
full strength of the company been allowed tC
appear, still it was poasurablo and worth
seeing. Heart and Hand " will be repeated
tonight.
| NATIONAL THEATER.
Miss Maggie Mitchell commenced an en-
gagement at tho National theater last night
appearing as Marie in the pearl of Savoy
The same careful attention that years age
gained for Miss Mitchell the reputation that she
has retained for so long period was manifest
in her acting last night, and she seems to havo q
mortgage on time, for she was as youthful in
voice, manner, and appearance as when sh c
first presented this play, 10, these many years
ago. There is sincerity, gcnuineness
about Miss Mitchells acting which appeals
strongly to her audience, and this earnestnes'
is what constitutes the foundation oi
her popularity. Tho high regard which
is felt for Miss Mitchell as woman
on account of the purity of her private life
has also much to do with tho hold she ha
upon public favor, and year after year sht
appears in the same round Of characters ant
always to excellent business, and orpopularitS
is as great now as when she first presented hel
plays to the public. The company supporting
Miss Mitchell includes Misses Eva Byron
Lizzie Goode, Annie Locke, Minnie Gallo
way, and Messrs Jas. Il. Galloway. II. +
McClannin, viii A. Paul, b. II. Graham, ant
Sidney II, Ellis, all of whom effectively sus
tanned the characters assigned them.
"rho Pearl of Savoy" will be repeated to-
night, tomorrow, and Thursday. Fan
chon" will be given Friday, and Saturday
night Little Barefoot and at the Saturday
matinee the Little Savage"