Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-12-18
LITTLE TYCOON"
PRESENTED AT THE OPERA HOUSE LAST
EVENING
For the First Time In Whseling-The Company
GOOd-Ths Scenery Fine and the
Music Pretty.

Wheeling people have been clanlorinS ioi
I opera for some time past and when an OPP
portunity is given them of gratifying their
desire they don't take advantage OF it as
they should. Of course the weather was
very disagreeable last evening and this &C
counted in great part for the only ordinary
sized audience present at the Opera House,
but fortunately it was highly apprecia-
tive one. The Temple Theatre Company
came to Wheeling with good
reputation preceding it, and the
opera, Little Tycoon" is famous,
80 those who attended last evening were
prepared to see something, as well as hear,
and it may be truly said they were not
disappointed. There was one drawback
to the opera which was unavoidable. MIR.
Fred Darrell, the tenor Of the company,
took sick at Dayton and was compelled to
remain there. A substitute was sent for,
but when he came on last evening, he was
seized with stage fright and withdrew.
The second tenor filled the part fairly well +,
but the lieniency of the audience overcame
the deficiencies and the performance
passed off very nicely.
The first act is on the deck of the
steamship Electric, bound from London to
New York. General Knickerbocker,
wealthy gentleman of the latter city, and
his daughter Violet are on their way home
from foreign tour. Among the passen-
gers are Alvin Barry, stock broker, his
chum, Rufus Ready, and lot of their
former college mates, who have also been
making a European tour, besides Miss
Hurricane, principal of ladies' seminary
and chaperone to her pupils, who are re-
turning from trip. On board also is an
English nobleman, Lord Dolphin. who,
in reality, is an adventurer going to Amer
lea to marry rich girl, and his servant
Teddy. Barry falls in love with Violet,
but her father opposes his suit and desires
| to bestOw his daughter upon Lord Dol
phin Barry attempts to induce Knlck-
erbOcker to relent, but he will not do so.
As the ship enters New York harbor
it passes by Coney Island, and the beach,
the hotels and every building of great in
interest at that great resort can be plainly
distinguished. The scene moves along
showing an exact representation of the en-
trance to the harbor The Brooklyn bridge,
Bedloe's Island and the Statue of Liberty
are passed, and the Battery appears, Castle
| Garden, the Board of Trade building,
| Printing House Square and other familiar
buildings are passed until the dock of the
Iron line is reached, where the party dis
embarks and the curtain falls with Barry
no nearer the accomplishment his end than
ever.
The second act is the home and grounds
of Gen. Knickerbocker, the latter part
being Japanese garden, the scenery of
which is beautiful. Barry represents nim-
self as the Great Tycoon of Japan, and
Rufus Ready as Gull Gull, his interpreter,
and Gen KuickerhOcker, to receive his
great guest in appropriate style has every
thing trimmed with japanese decorations,
and the schoolmates of Barry and the
young ladies in charge Of Miss Hur-
ricane, who by the way is after
the General, all appear in japanese cos
tunes to help Barry in his scheme. The
costumes are the finest and most elabor-
ate ever seen in Wheeling, and the scene
altogether one of the most beautiful. As
the Tycoon, Barry succeeds in winning
Violet, and when her father discovers the
deception he is conSoled by his second
love, Miss Hurricane.
Charles Stanley as General Knicker-
booker is simply great, and Douglas A.
Flint as "Rufus" was right with him.
His bass solo as Captain of the Brigands in
the second act was beautiful. In fact
every song sung by him and Mr.. Stanley
were encored. Felix Haney, as Teddy"
was very funny. Miss Zitta Gaines, us
Violet" used her fine soprano voice with
great effect. She is clever artistic. Miss
Dorothy Dean dolly Dimple," is
the daughter of United States Mar
shall JAS A. Kerns, of Philadelphia.
She is quite society belle at her home
and has gone on the stage because she
likes it. She and Miss Hattie Arnold,
who does Miss Hurricane" are both
charming actresses, the latter possessing
q beautiful contraltO voice, and the former
apretty soprano.
The music is all very catching, bright
and pretty, and the chOruses especially
strong.
At the matinee this afternoon every lady
attending will be presented with a
handsome Japanese souvenir. The opera
will also be repeated this evening