The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-09-22
ltrHE MIKApo,"
In which Come Things are Rxpiaiued b
the wilbur Alleged Opern Company.

In Which Come Ihingn are REplhlned BY
the wilbur Alleged Opera Company.
Alter Last nights performance at the
Opera House It is easy to understand why
Gilbert and Sullivan have appealed to the
law to protect their authorized version as
given under the direction OF Mr.. Doyle
Carte, by a company which has an appre-
citation Of the work and the capacity to
render II. Gilbert and Sullivan might
stand the pecaniary loss entailed upon
them by representations such as that OF
last night, but they have reputation TO
sustain. They wonld have to strike low
note in the scale Of necessity before they
would be willing to entrust musical pro-
duction to so unmusical an organization as
the Wilbur Opera Company.
So fine house, containing so many
persons who know good music from bad,
and not q few OF whom had seen THE Mi
kado" under auspices more favorable, de-
served at least one voice beyond that Of q
fair chorus singer. Conscious OF the weak
ness OF the company the management cut
out bodily Yum. Num'S beautiful solo IN
the frat act, and to hide their imperfeC,
tons the male singers slurred their work
with extravaglnt burlesque. OF course
this was funny aud raised q laugh, but q
company Is hard pushed which has 10
burlesque satire.
The ChoruseJ were fairly rendered, all
things considered, but outside OF these
tho only thing that received decent treat
ment was the quintette in the second act,
brightly Dawns Our Wedding Day."
The company brought along pianist, but
the Opera House orchestra was called on
to do the beat it could with one rehearsal,
and the result certainly could not have
satisfied the excellent musicians who were
thus placed at disadvaltl Sullivan'e
music is not difficult, but it Is fall Of pecu'
liarities and requires q ve,y nice under
standing between the stage and the instru'
mental players. The hard-glove kissing
m atch between Nanki-Poo and Yum Yum
caught the house with its boldness. In its
way 1t Is triumph, but IL cannot be cal!
ed pleasing way.
The setting and the drersing were
striking for their poverty. There were
costumes worn by principal characters
which must have cost at least twenty-five
cents at the shops. japanese haDgings
lanterns and imitation CuTioS are CHEAP
enough to furnish an attractive and char
acteristic setting at very small cost, but
the company is making one night stands
and does not Leem to care for public ap'
probation. Pittsburgh got this show for
twenty-five cents, q big enough price toi
wares so tawdry.
The librelto aud the music bear the I'M
mistlkable impress OF the master hands
which produced them. No amount o.
hard usage can take from their work al
that Is pleasing, And IN spite Of the
rough treatment by the interpreters al
audience which must have felt itself in
suited got something for its money.
"Thu Mikado" is so delightful q creation
that it is to bs hoped that the people OIL
Wheeling may yet have IN opportunity
to see and hear it not quite go lar re-
moved from the original design. II the
Wilbur Opera Company has shown at its
best in Wheeling 1t ought to 60 farther
west and grow up with the country.