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

! METROPOLITAN IHEATER.-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 bv
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 d by the
Carleton company, is the song of Kalistra
! (contralto) Hearts Do Not Break" and is
a gem of the opera. Concerning piracy"
examination into the facts discloses that
the Courts have held the
opera to be public properly.
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 q 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
on oil tln n
| Louman last week. Between Mr.. Pish
Tush of Mr.. Guise last week and that of
Mr.. Murray (baritone) this weeks 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.. Greensfelders
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
nght. The Thompson chorus stands well
beside that of Carleton in drill, and there
Is little choice rs to quality or volume of
tone. Carleton is the superior of Gillow
! as the Mlkado in musical vecalism greatly,
while Gillow is as good in dramatic
| acuon, but there is no demand for
much musical effort by either in the opera.
Ihe part being brief, and musically weak.
1, MS We take 1t, Is fair comparison, and
the summing up is that the Thomson
| troupe Is as whole, unsteady the better
ana stronger while the Carleton is far bet
ter costumed. Two of the costumes in the
troupe last night are rich and handsome.
TOUR 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 comnanv
| posed more and was less demonstrative
The scenery of the Thompson company is
far better, and makes the stage very hand
some. tconslsts of fine transparent scenes
| OF Oriental foliage and bamboo gate
way and railing in the rear center with
| foliage thanking it. The local management
added lanterns and shrub decorations. 1t
also decorated the entrance to the theater
with shrubs and colored lanterns. The
! Thompson troupe gives a complete and
J enjoyable performance, and will probably
meet with success here. All the troupe are
strangers to this coast, except, we believe,
Miss Godfrey, who was prominent in the
Mccall Opera Company ''Mikado" again
| tonight, and it is well played, well sung
in some parts better than mas been done
here-is neatly mounted, the orchestra
strong and the scenery fine Those who
have not heard the opera will be repaid by
attending, and those who have heard It
may still enjoy its repetition.