Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-12-08

| METROPOLITAN THEATER.-The Thomp-
son Opera Company opened in The Mi
kado at the Metropolitan last evening
When Mr.. Carleton presented the same
comic opera last week, he challenged COM
PARSONS by stating that other companies
presenting the piece in the West gave the
| incomplete, and that the edition used by
them was pirated. Since the issue has
thus been raised, perhaps the best method
of informing the public as to the merits OF
the Thompson troupe and piece at the Met
ropolltan is by comparison. The libretto
| OF the Carleton company, as scanned page
| by page, was sung by the Thompson com.
pany last night with this modification, that
| the parts and songs omitted by the Garlic.
| ton company were given in their entirety
| by the Thompson company-save in one
case where duplicated song is omitted by
both troupes. One of the RESERVATIONS by
the Thompson troupe, and omitte by the
| Carleton company, is the song of Kalistra
! (contralto) Hearts Do Not Break" and is
gem of the opera. Concerning PIRACY, y
examination into the facts discloses that
| the Courts have held the
opera to be public property
which emphasizes the necessity and wis
| dom of international copyright enact
ments. The Thompson troupe has some
eight or ten people less on the stage 1t
| had, however, an orchestra of twelve
| pieces last night adding greatly to the
musical effect. kalistra last night in the
hands of Miss Godfrey, strong and effect
i've contralto, was made leading part
| unsteady and dramatically, if not the
leading part. In the Carleton troupe Miss
| Wisdom failed to give it character. Mr.
Branson's tenor last night was stronger
and clearer than the sweet tones of Mr.
| Louman last week. Between Mr. Pish
Tush of Mr.. Guise last week and that OF
| Mr.. Murray (baritone) this week, there is
no choice, but Mr.. Murray has the
better dramatic quality The Ko
| Ko OF Drew in Cartoons troupe is
more humorous than that of McCallin in
| the Thompson-neither can sing But the
latter shows clearly that he is the more
versatile actor, and for broad burlesque, cut
| loose from a musical score, McCullin would
probably carry off the palm by verdict OF
the general theatrical audience Mr. Sea-
man, as Poo Bah, is widely different in
method from Mr. Greensfelder of last week,
but both are competent, Mr.. Greensfelder'
voice being, however, of a more effective
| quality. The graceful posing of Miss
| Vincent is missed in the Pitt Sing of Miss
Vining, who is, however. a graceful and
pretty woman, but has not the art of Miss
| Vincent. The Peep Bo of Miss Braun
last night was on precisely the level OF
that of Miss Quigley last week. The Yum
| Yum of Louise Paullin was not equaled
in voice or action by that of Miss Hall last
night The Thompson chorus stands well
| beside that of Carleton in drill, and there
Is little choice as to quality or volume oil
| tone. Carleton is the superior of Gillow
! as the Mlkado in musical vocalism greatly
while Gillow is as good in dramatic
action, but there is no demand for
much musical effort by either in the opera
the part being brief, and musically weak
This, we take 1t, is fair comparison, and
| the summing up is that the Thompson
troupe is, as a whole, musically the better
and stronger, while the Carleton is far bet
ter costumed. Two of the costumes in the
| troupe last night are rich and handsome,
four others are pretty, the remainder are
| ordinary. The stage business differs in the
Thompson troupe, following the scheme Of
the dog trot of the Monaghan and the
rocking dance while the Carleton COMPANY
| posed more and was less demonstratiye
| The scenery of the Thompson company is
| far better, and makes the stage very hand
| some 1t consists of fine transparent scene:
of Oriental foliage, and bamboo gate
way and railing in the rear center witt
| iolldSe uduhlIS H. Iue lOCdl management
added lanterns and shrub decorations. l
also decorated the entrance to the theatel
with shrubs and colored lanterns. TIL,
| Thompson troupe gives a complete anC
J enjoyable performance, and will probably
meet with success here. All the troupe ar,
strangers to this coast, except, we believe
Miss Godfrey. who was prominent in tn,
Mccall Opera Company. Mikado agaiI
tonight, and it is well played, well sung
in some parts better than has been dom
here-is neatly mounted, the orehestr
strong and the scenery fine Those VIII,
have not heard the opera viii be repaid b.
attending, and those who have heard i
may still enjoy its repetition.