The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-11-16
Ube DaiIpIi9I,t
MOndav. November IS. 1886.
" THE MIKAD0."
Turner Hall Crowded with a Delighted
and Enthusiastic Audience.

Possibly there never has been larger
Sunday evening audience nora more APP
preuiative one than that which filed the
Turner Hall last night to witness and
hear Gilbert & Sullivan's opera of "The
Mikado." The fact that Colonel Ford,
under whose direct management the
company visiting our city Is, thought 1t
to be of such merit as to be the only
opera necessary to present this season
without having the varied repertoire his
troupes have heretofore travelled with is
an Indication that the success Ii has been
accredited with Is not specious one,
for SO veteran an entrepreneur Is not to
be deceived. The "Mikado" Is another
instance OF how skillfully w. 5. Gilbert
rules the kingdom. of which he is I'M
doubted sovereign, that of topsy-
turveydom. Taking the opportunities
Afforded by the picturesqueness and &C.
centrioities OF the Japanese, he has writ
ten a libretto In his happiest vein, which
under the spirit of fun running through
the "Mikado.m is in reality a sword
of bitter sarcasm that deals con-
tinually trenchant blows cutting
into humanity with painful yet
ludicrous truth. The setting Of the
libretto by Sir Arthur sullivan, has been
done In as equally felioitous style, the
music Is marked by that distinct indi-
viduality which is such noteworthy
feature of this eminent composer. Here
and there crops out something that re-
minds one of his former operas but
there are many numbers entirely fresh,
with magnificent arrangements and en-
trancing melodies. one never appears to
get tired of hearing.
The opera OF the "Mikado" seems on
the first impression to put one in mind
of lolanthe with Japanesque cOlorng
and n strong background OF Patience, so
to speak. Ii 10 worthy emanation Of
the great minds that conceived IL. The
company which presented the "Mikado"
last night is in every respect an estinia-
bic one. 1t Is invidious to make
comparisons where all are excel
lent. But the most striking char
acter In point of merit in our
opinion was the katischa of Miss
Alice May. This lady possesses a beat
tiful voice and fine declamatOry power,
her rendering of "IIearts Do Not Breakn
calling for special admiration. YUM
Yum" was played by Miss Mabel Haas.
and her fresh soprano was heard to
good advantage. "Pltti-Sing" and
"Peep-Bo," by Miss Blanche Chapman
and Miss Caprice Van Lissi, were the
other two wards Of Koko, and IN sir
comes train Of little ladies" In con-
junction with "Ium-l um,n was de-
servedly pplauded to the echo. 1t
were difficult TO ascribe preference to
either l.. W. Raymond as the "MikadO"
or to Louis Carlberg as "Pooh- Bah
both being such mastery renditions.
"Koko" was enacted by u. W. Denham,
and his rich fund of humor was fully dis
played. The fine tenor of Mr.. Joe Ar
mand as "Nanki Poo" was peculiarly
brilliant all through the opera. "Pish
fish," Sherwood Royston, and Nee
Ban" l.. w. Voss, Jr., were both merit
orious. The chorus, male and female, is
remarkably strong, and the fairer portion
Of 1t are Devy of beauties rarely seen
congregated together. Encores through
out the opera were frequent, and in some
instances the delighted audience were
not satisfied until the favorite morceauX
had been repeated two or three times.
Ii space were at command we would
like to make this notice more exhaust
i've, but this cannot be; suffice that The
Mikado," as given by Colonel Ford's
company, Is the most enjoyable event
that has occurred in san Antonio since
the Abbott Opera Troupe, and San An
Antonians should congratulate them
selves upon the enterprise OF Manager
Rische III securing such Il delightful
treat.
Tonight another performance will be
given, which will be the final one, and a
great demand for seats has been made
already. The scenery and costumes are
complete; In fact the ensemble Is per-
feet. Go and see 1t this evening with
out fail