Morning journal and courier., 1883-01-20

correction it seems best to state facts The committee merely deferred appointment for the present, and have no reason, all things considered, to question the wisdom of that decision. Personal elements, intelligibIe to no third party, entered into the problem To be more explicit do not agree with the views of pr. Smyth. I cannot deprecate too heartily publicity given to the matter without my consent or knowledge by some self-con- stituted judge. ARTHUR D. RESELL.
 Entertn1nme
 THE WHITE SLAVE.
 The Boston theatre company will appear at Carll's Opera House on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, when they will produce ''The White Slave'' The company is a fine one and the play is one that will "draw." Seats are now on sale at Loomis'.
 TWO ORPHANS.
 This afternoon and evening at Peck's Grand Opera House Miss Pauline Markham will appear in her great creation of 'Louise, the Blind Girl in the familiar dramatic sen sation entitled the "Two Orphans" She will be supported by the FifthAvenue theatre company, and the patrons of the house may rest assured that the play will be presented in first class shape Reserved seats are on sale at Pease's bookstore, 1O2 Church street
 MIR. CUMBERLAND.
 Mir. Cumberland, the gifted and accom- pllshed mind reader, gave another sample of his powers last evening at the Atheneum be- fore large audience, the weather considered, and excited much interest by his work. By desire of many he last night arranged to re- turn and give further demonstration next Monday evening, Jan. 22. He will introduce new and startling experiments. Mir. Cum l berland announces that he will explain at the | time how the spirits produced etc., and | give demonstration in full view of the au- dience.
 | IOIIANTHE.
 | The first presentation in this city of "Iolanthe, or the Peer and the Peri," the 1 new comic opera by Gilbert and Sullivan, received @ grand reception, far as the size | of the audience was concerned, at Carll's Opera House last evening While the gen. eral opinion in regard to the merits of the | opera was somewhat conflicting. it was uni versally conceded to be very pretty musical | ly and very clever in point of satire. First presentations frequently leave impressions | which undergo marked changes when sec- ond or third rendition has been witnessed. This will undoubtedly be the case with 1 'Iolanthe." The ibretto is a literary work | of much merit, and is so interesting in it's keen wit and cutting satire that it absorbs so l much of the attention when first heard that 1 many of the pretty musical numbers are not | thoroughly appreciated. AS whole, from ! musical standpoint, this opera will compare | favorably with the others by the same author. It is full of the characteristic melody that has made Sullivan's songs so popular with the masses, but it seems to have less of spir- tied and enlivening music than is contained l in some of his other operatic compositions 1 There are not so many catching airs, al- though there are some which will soon doubt less be as familiar many that are now so hackneyed. The quartettes and trios were the most pleasingly rendered last evening" Most of the solos in fact were poorly sung, the voices not being equal to the emer- gency. The first revelation of the sweet ness of the music occurred during the entrance of the peers and excellences in the musical portion followed only occasionally and aroused considerable enthusiasm and evoked double encores when they did occur. The entrance of the fairies when "Strephon" calls them to his aid is made to lively meas ure, and the solo and chorus 'tWhen next your houses do assemble" given by the queen and her fairy subjects, so delighted the audience that triple encore was insisted upon. The interest much increased with the second act, the fine setting of the scenery | representing the palace yard and Westmins- ter Hall doing great deal for it. Encores became frequent as the singing evidently i'm proved. The company is an excellent one as far as acting is concerned, but it only fair ly rendered the musical part. The character of ''Iolanthe," which has but little promi- hence, was acceptably portrayed by Miss Rosa Dana. Mr. James Gilbert as "the Lord Chancellor" was quite sue cessful and his songs well rendered. MT. Harry Delorne as ''Strephon" fairly presented the character, as did also MT. M. | A. Thomas "the Earl Tolloller." The latters tenor voice is sweet, but lacking in power, and the formers baritone occasionally dis agreed with the orchestra. MT. Charles w. Allison (bass) as ''The Earl of Mount Ara rat" admirably sang and acted the part, and his solos were worthy of more approval from the audience. Private Willis'' (by Robert Evans) had but little to do, but that little, including a solo, was excellently done. Miss Ada Mule (Phyllis) is captivating. and cute little actress and l has very pleasing voice. She sang badly out of tune at first, but greatly improved to- ward the close. The fairies were unusually acceptable as fairies and were governed by a Miss Amelia Somerville, whose avoirdupois must have astonished taught to curl up in Her singing and acting were excellent. The costumes of the entire company were elegant, being all that was promised. The orchestra, though light, well rendered the music. This afternoon and evening the opera will be repeated, and the opportunity of witnessing it should not be missed by those who are fond of these novel musical entertainments.
 THE PLOT.
 1olanthe, fairy, is bauished for marrying a nor tai and is afterward restored by the queen of the | son, is half fairy and half mortal, and is in love ! with Phyllis, ward in chancery. The Lord Chan cellor has refused his consent to their marriage but l Strephon defes the court and determines to marry the pretty ward. The Lord Chancellor and the peer of the House of Lords are all in love with Phyllis l They proceed to the business of the day which is the decision of the Lord Chancellor, as te which one shall marry Phyllis. He him. s'H would marry, but is in doubt if hs car get his own consent. Phyllis admits that she has thrown them all over for the sake of the shepherd boy. Strephon calls on his fairy friends for con- hrmation of his statement that Iolanthe is his l mother and the Queen sWears vengeance on the puny mortals who dare to oppose influential fairy The peerss headed by the Lord Chancellor pooh pooh this idea and the first closes with defant demonstration between the two parties. The second act opens in the palace yard, Westmd dster showing the houses of Parliament. The fairies troopine
 in and are evidently smitten with the peers and are clinations. The Lord Chancellor is suffering from the bangs of hopeless love. Strephon and Phyllis have mutual explanation and make up. They beg Iolanthe to get the Lord Chan cellor's consent to their marriage but she refuses and makes the astounding avowal that the Lord Chancellor is her husband and consequently Sure phons father, 50 if she makes explanation to hel husband she forfets her life according to the fairy law, which makes it death to marry a mortal ; but for her sons happiness she relents and pleads witt the Lord Chancellor and declares her Identity Int Queen and all the fairies enter and the royal fair1 dooms 1olanthe to death but the other fairies inter
 pose sud declare that they have all siuned and mar ried the peers The Queen says the law is only toC clear "Every fairy must die who marries mortal The subtleties of the Lord Chancslloris legal mind are equal to the emergency He suggests the inspec tion of single word as means of getting out of fhaf z1la faJr