The Portland daily press., 1885-10-09
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
GIRALDA.


Tonight the Ideal Opera Company will appear
at City Hall in Adams beautiful opera Giralda,
and those who fail of attendance will miss one of
the most delightful evenings entertainments of
the winter, and some Of the best singers. The
characters are Giralda; reigning Duchess of
Aragon Philip, duke consort; Don Jalhet lord
chamberlain; Don Manuel de Riversj Dromez, a
miller
Giralda, the orphan daughter of banished
nobleEan having in her childhood been adopted
by village inkeeper, has been betrothed by her
guardian to Dromez, the miller This betrotha is
heart has been given to an unknown stranger,
whom she has met under the most romantic cir
cumstances: an attack by bandits while passing
through a forest on dark and stormy night d
rescue by n valiant youth OF noble bearing and
gentle defheanbr, and the music Of a voice that
Stirred her heart. have worked upon her imagin-
ation so that, although she has never seen her
preSeryers face, she is convinced at once of her
promez % m sH urged S hsr Ma1
and is III spite of her protest, about to take place,
when Don Manuel, the unknown knight, becomes
aware ef it in an interview with Dromez he
bribes him TO permit a substitution of himself as
groom and this, favored by the following circunl-
stances succeeds sue On the evening set for the
arrival Of the reigning Duchess of Aragon, who,
attended by her consort and suite, is making
solemn pilgrimage to the neighborlng church of
Santiago. The farm house Is at once appropriated
by the chamberlain for the accommodation of the
royal roy party, and the wedding party compelled to
place at the church, to the obscure cell of hermit
and to defer the wedding festivities. Don Manuel,
tined for the Grand Mastershp Of the Order Of the
Celbate Knights of Santiago, finds himself i'll
most awkward dilemma, and is compelled, after
having pcrsonated Dromez during the wedding
ceremony, to relinqush his bride to the miller to
be conducted to his mill which is to be their fu,
ture home. The second act finds Giralda and
Dromez at the mill ON their edding night, whittier
they have been secretly followed by Manuel (who
hopes to regain his bride), as well as Duke Philip,
ture, seeks BOTH attended by the chamberlain,
Don Japhet. Don Manuel, discovering that Gi-
presence Of the Duke prevails upon Drornez to
arouse the court and bring the Duchess and her
train to the mill; the Duke however, by a combin-
tutes Don Japhet for himself at the critical mo-
ment, and the unfortunate chamberlain, who is al
ready secretly married to lady Of the court, finds
who, not having seen her husbands face since the
ceremony, is as much mystified as he is. The
third ct lakes place in the palace of the Duchess,
to which Giralda, as the wife of Don Japhet has
been conveyed. Don Manuel is in attendance,
anu aIter series Of resulting from
for the price for which he has relinuuished his
BRIDE as well Jas the previous secret marriage of
the Duchess to his marriage to Giralda, through
the good offices of the Duke, who thus escapes
from what threatened to become very awkward
situation for himself.
PHYLLIS DENoHR.
In the dramatization of Hugh Conway's novel
the adaptor has prepared several very powerful
situations and some light comedy business as
final to the more serious scenes of the drama, but
Phyllis Denohr is SO sombre, so much more than
tragic in the third act that the nerves of the
speetatorare strung to their greatest tension and
the effect is painful in the extreme. OF course
this effect is produced by the remarkably power
full impersonation of madness by Miss Thompson,
but while she holds her hearer captive she chills
the very blood in his veins. The insane laughter
the death of Sir Charles Melville Is terribly
realistic and Is heightened in its realism by the
natural acting that accompanies it. If Miss
Thompsons Jane Eyre is most artistic creation,
her Phyllis Denohr surpassfs it. There is a most
thrilling scene of intense passion at the close Of
the second act where Phyllis deies her husband,
Sir Charles Melville.
Mr.. Verance as Sir Charles Melville not only
looked the character. but he also gave very fin
ished personation His death fall in the third act
was far more natural than such bits of business
usually are. Mr.. George Learock was a good
Truman, and the other characters were well
taken. 1t is unfortunate that Miss Thompson has
not received better patronage, but she has the
satisfaction of knowing that all who were present
were more than pleased with her assumptions.