Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-04-21
ALADDIN'S TRIUMPH.
Five Hundred Fort Worth Boys and
Beauties Before the
Pootlights.
A Wonderful Tale Of Fsiryland Re-
produced in all the Splendor Of
the Realm Of Fancy,
The Greatest Theatrical Success Of
the Season Scored by Mrs. Ben
ton last Night.

Fewer events possess greater inter-
est for the average mortal than an
amateur theatrical. There is such a
delightful uncertainty rs TO how a
person with whom you are perfectly
well acquainted will act on the stage,
what they will do, whether they will
take to it naturally and comfortably,
or whether they will weller in the
awful sensati ons Of stage fright, pro-
ducing paroxysms Of rage in their
friends or JOY in their enemies. The
most complacent and self-possessed
person is liable to lose his equanimity
before the foot-lights, while on the
contrary timidity often becomes brave
and carries off the laurels.
Inspired by varied sensations of
curiosity, sympathy and iety, a
large audience filed the spacious re-
ceeses Of the opera-house last night to
witness the rendition of that fairy
dream OF the Arabian Nights, "Alad-
din," by 500 Fort Worth children.
There were mothers, fathers, sisters,
brothers, uncles, aunts and cousins,
all fairly expiring with anxiety to see
how the blessed children would acduit
themselves. Perhaps more select or
fashionable audience never came to-
gether before In the opera-house-the
leaders and bellies of society, the
wealthy, the refined, the cultured and
intelligent A large number had
relatives in the cast, about whom
they were solicitous larger
number were merely spectators-com
to criticise, OF course with greater le-
niency, just as they would the regular
opera.
THE OPENING SCENE
was one Of such exquisite beauty and
gradeur that all hearts were captivated
at once. 1t introduced the entire bevy
OF five hundred children in costumes
OF indescribable elegance, sparkling
beneath the calcium lights like sun
beams playing on fresh dew.drops.
"Tis grand, u superb" was whis-
| pered from seat to seat, and when the
curtain went down, amid the ringing
melody Of hundred voices, the
audience forgot everything else
from the walls of the opera-house.
| This established the success of the
event, and afterward il was merely q
question OF rivaly for hopors between
the different performers. To them all
too much praise cannot be accorded.
Trained in 80 short time under the
disadvantage of previous inexperi.
ence, 1t is marvellous that they did SO
well. AS Aladdin Miss Lilly Hickey
proved herself q natural and instinct
i've artist; her gestures were model, of
grace, her infections rarely imperfect,
and her entire rendition OF the char
acter worthy an experienced artist.
Miss Pauline Wynne, as the
Princess, was charming. She
was perfectly at ease, and in
the various love passages which fell
to her lot, came out (as the lady al
ways should) as the boys sometimes
say with the persimmons.n Miss
May Groves, the Queen, was very
obedient and loveable wife to the EN-
peror LAS wives should always be).
Miss Lucy Wells, as Pekoe, was very
attractive wooer, and though finally
unsuccessful twas certainly the fault
of the author and not of Pekoe. BOYD
Wyse, as the Emperor and father OF
the lovely princess, was most lordly
and commanding. Evidently he pos
sessed very good case of the govt
and many other hereditaments
of royalty. The Grand Vizier. as rep.
resented by Eddie Ryan, was very
pretentlous plot.er, indeed, but an
old copp with more money than
brains. VIII Hirechfield, as ALBANIA.
Ear, the magician, held down several
extra pounds OF weight with great
composure, and worked his msgic arts
just as II he had been used to that sort
of business all his life. Widow
Twanky, Aladdin's mother Clarence
Sanford), bloss ,med out in all the
charming innocence OF widows
weeds, except that she wore them red,
The Widow Bedott was fairly eclipsed.
and the Widow Twanky becomes a
national character. The marches in
troduced In the play were splepdidIy
executed. The closing maneuvers
under the captainship OF Miss Lizzie
Terry, in which the entire cast Joined,
evinced careful discipline and wonder
iul proficiency, creditable alike, to
manager and pupil. The dances were
all gracefully done, and won the
heartiest applause. The little ones
mere babies, hardly out OF long
dresses were as a young lady was over.
heard to whisper, 'Just too awfully
CUTE Beautiful scenery con-
tributed largely to the success
OF the play, which THE GAZETTE does
not hesitate to pronounce the preadest
OF the season.
The following was the
, CAST OF CHARACTERS
u,@auutn. Miss Lilly Hickey
anvs"S' Miss Pauline MynRe
Ssven' ....,........... Miss May Groves
1870, SUI o. 1897. Miss Lucy Wells
tsrapd VIZ, % Shlna''.'....... Boyd wyse
Ahana -, !, u s...,. hddie Ryan
Widow Twanky, Aladdin's
IlVtnSI ...s'.-,,,.,..-- Clarence Sanford
Ss,,tt " nlns, Buelah smith
Man ~ LaWp"'.'....,,..,......, Nirgie Harris
'''''''''''' '.,...."...,..., Lena Mcneil
SONG,
Iyroleon Duett-The Owen sisters.
on How Delightful--May owen.
I'm Dude-Fred Higgins.
Shaw.
Baehful Row Ressia EIalds