The Portland daily press., 1885-12-19
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
THE BIIKADO.

THE MIKADo.
Gilbert g. Sulliven's latest opera THE MikadC"
is to our kind the quaintest and most attractive
of all their work. .'Iolanthe' was happy con-
ceit but its faryASnrroundings were by no means
novel; "Thc Kikado.' while portion OF lis
Japanese manners and Costumes have been some
what sharply criticised by Japanese residents oI
this country still presents a suih.iently correct
portraiture of that peculiar people 70 cah tt1rth
their praise OF course, being satire, IT'S cor
rectness in certain features, only tends to make
the hits all the more effective What can be
droller than Pooh-Bah's pride Of birth. which is
ready at all times to submit to the insult OF a
bribe. kind of pride not uncommon out of Japan;
or the sudden elevation of one OF the e0inln0neSt
OF cOmnonerS to the highest ONCE IN tne glit VI
tile emperor-as sometimes happens IN OIher
countries beside Japan-with all his attendant
acts of omission and commission. Eyen artless
'YumYum' shows that the most DeauI,Iul s,,i Mo
ton ON her charms, as when sne compares ner-
self with the moon, and Katisha proves that the
admit ssshe is an acquired taste" The opera it
self is most soothing in its effects. While the
music is bright and catchy at times, % sweet M d anu
opera in its ensembles, there is n the constant,
regular movement OF the tanS, the military unity
OF motion Of the person hs on sae a.' ei sort Of half
areaminess with 1t so that the listener and spects-
tor sits enjoying the perforApence, almost nxe an
to the accompaniment OF the plasning waters OF
fountains and the soft music OF lutes.
AS for the presentation Of tne opera oy ar Stes
man to say that he Is never parslmonlous IN tne
mounting OF the plays produced under his direc-
ton The tMo acts are rspresssu h rsvard ~ of Ko
Kos official residence, and the other OF ko-hos
garden, and the sceusry was specially painted lor
this occasion. They were not only pretty, tney
were very attractive and with the addition of the
large ehuruses, attired in rlch ana Deautlul
japanese costumes, the tableaux, Illuminated by
the lime-light were highly effective. One OF the
m, st picturesque groupings ever seen IN Portland
was that Of the Mikados body-guard with their
arms and banners, the villagers OF Iltpu ana tne
royal suite, i'll the second act Intact the opera
The east was veFy good and would bear favor
able comparison with companies on the metftS-
potan stage The three little maids" by Misses
Montague, Leaf and Hickman were very pretty
arch and natural Miss Montague, the YUM I ulll'
is the celebrated beauty, who won Manager Fore
palgh's prize of 10000 as the handsomest NO,
| imam in America Miss Leaf Is not only = goou
singer she is capital actress She is from Aus
| traiia and will make her mark m TINS country;
| Miss Roche was dignifiea hatlsha wsftny oi
praise in every respect mT Brooke was & nG. .ne ne
carried carried out the authors idea Of Pooh-Bah and
| Mr. Gus Kammerlee and Mr. Clarke's exceisht dS
| voices were heard with great pleasure; Inc
| prncipal numbers were eneored again ana again.
| The choruseS were well drilled, the ensembles
MtillaIy gave the Sullivan effects which are inn
perative to a proper representation OF the opera
"The Nikado' will be given at the matinee 70
| day and tonight aud our people Will make greal
mistake ii they fail TO attend. The audience las.
| night was a crowded one composed of the nosl
musical and fashionable OF our cltiZenS
NOTES.
| The Souvenir concerts to be given by Mr
| Stockbridge at City Hail. Dec 26th are attracting
| much attention. The Till Family, Leland rover
| and the Orclalnena Ladies Quartette VIII TAXI
part. Beautiful Christmas cards are gwen away
Leila Farrell is playing in Adonis at the Bjuu
| New York, and meeting with success.