The Washington critic., 1886-04-17
MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.
THE AMERICAN OPERA COMPANY.

oil grand opera In English Dy tne Ameri-
can Opera Company. These are to take
place on the nights of Monday, Tuesday
and Wednesday, May 3D., 18th and 5th, with
a special afternoon performance on the
last named date. The operas selected for
presentation here arc for the most part en-
entirely new to this public. Gluck's "Or-
and Nicolals' "Merry Wives of Windsor"
have never been sung In Washington De-
libes' "Lakme" may be said to have been
originally produced in America by this
company for the reason that prior pro-
duction by another opera company was
more In the nature Of travesty than pro-
duction. Gluck's "Opheus" had one rep
resentation in German In Boston last
season, and in years gone by Carl Formes
and a German opera company gavea few
performances Of "The Merry Wives"
these performances are sung in English aud
the entire repertoire, which, beside
the. operas named, includes. Wag-
ner's 'ILohengrin," is novel one.
The opening opera here will be "Orpheus
and Eurydlce,n introducing Nine. Helene
Hastreiter as 0rpheus and Miss Emma
Juch as Eurydice. In "Lakme," which
follows, we will have Pauline L'Allemand
and Jessie Bartlett Davis as the prima don
uuos WnhC Suuuiuubi tuo JcuOI, uuu GtUu-
dard, the baritone, will have the leading
male roles. In the "Merry Wives Of Wind
sor' the cast will embrace larger array Of
talent. Pauline L'Allemand and Jessie
Bartlett Davis are the "Merry Wives" VIII.
Hamilton is the Fdlstaf, Stoddard is the
Master Ford, Whitney the Master Pige,
John Howson the Slender and May Field
ing the Street 1nne Page. The quaint and
pretty old English costumes, the rolllcking
music and humorous action make "rhe
Merry Wives" q favorite opera with this
company. In "Lohengrin," which will be
the closing performance, wo will hear Miss
Juch as Elsa, Nine. Hastreiter as Oytrud,
William Candidus as Lohengrin, William
Ludwig as Telrdn,und, Whitney as King
Henry and Stoddard as the Herald. This
is powerful cast Of q favorite and the only
well.known opera in the repertory. The
costumes Of the company are all new and
expensive and all the scenery, properties
and mechanism used upon the stage
the resources Of the local stage
will not be relied upon In any particular
The famous Thomas Orchestra Of sixty
pieces will support every performance un-
der the baton OF Theodore himself. The
chorus contains one hundred voices, the
ballet contains eighty dancers, including
three solo dancers, and there is an unusually
large corps Of stage hands, property men
and dressers, SO that the entire outfit in
cludes three hundred people. 1t seems that
the American Opera Company fully intends
to do things in the proper way. The sale
of season tickets-that is, for the entire
four performances-will commence at the
box Office of the Opera House on Thursday
next, April 20, and continue until Monday,
April 26, when single performances will be
offered The price for seats ranges from
81 to So, according to location.
For one week, beginning Monday even
ing, F. G. Bangs and the sterling New
York company will present the beautiful
melodrama, "The Silver King" at AL
baugh's. The career Of Mr.. Bangs has been
characterized by steady and unfinchine
strides to fame until he now stands among
Americas eminent tragedans. From Maine
the Pacific slope his name has become ia.
miliar, having received everywhere uni.
versal Endorsement Of press and public. Al
Booths Theatre Mr.. Bangs twice formed
one of the trio Of dramatic stars, almost un.
equaled in strength in either Europe OF
America. The first cast Of "Julius Caesar
in 1S7ll72, was: Edwin Booth as Brut,sy f
G. Bangs, Marc 1ntony Lawrence Barrett
CdSSius. In 1S75-'76: +. 9. Bangs, Mar
HHOUU l-aWIencc DuIrett, CUsStuSJ Il. -
Davenport, Brutus. In the character OF
Wilfred Denuer (thc Silver King), Mr.
Bangs has secured part exactly suited tc
him, the success Of which is unprece
dented.
Joe Jefferson's engagement at the Ma
tional Theatre next week will afford oppor
tunity for seeing several Of the old-timt
,,lo IN Iybipl, fhio orfict hos 1n
great reputation. "The Cricket on the
booked for the first three nights of tho
week, and the last three, with Saturday
matinee, will be devoted to Grip Var
Winkle." II there is any one who has mo-
seen Jefferson In these plays, this oppor
tunity should not be lost. Box Office IL
now open.
The past week has been most success
full one at the Bijou Theatre. The Wilbu
Opera Company's excellent rendition ol
"Thc Mikado," and their evident popular
ity with the public has induced Manage
Harris to retain them another week. Mon
day, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon
and evenings they will present Charles lie
| cocq's charming opera, "Girole-Giroaa,
| and Thursday, Friday and Saturday after
moons and evenings the ever-popular and
| pleasing "La Mascotte," us produced b.
| this company over / ZOO times. Handsome
| scenery and costumes have been prepared
for both these operas, and an excellent pre-
sentatiOn of both these popular works Il
assured. The Buffalo Courier says of thei
| production Of "Giroile-Girofla - "a bet
ter pleased audience for opera never lef
the theatre than the audience assemble,
there last night. Miss Kirwin was charm
ing In both singing and acting, and CAV
| GHoRe with all the dash and chic she Is S
noted for, and received double encores o.
the drinking song and duet with Mr.. Comfy
Mr. Ed. Chapman was perfectly at home
and when on the stage the house was In
roar at his acting. j. +. Brond gave flu
rendition Of MOurzdrk, his fine solo in tn
last act earning for him an encore. j. i
Comfy looked the part of MarisYt1t to pei
fection and sang we'll. P,tqt.ita, Pedro an
aurora In the hands of Miss Thorpp Ferri
and 4. p. Stanly all gave satisfaction"
"Fun on the Bristol" will hold the board
at Herzog's Opera-House next week. Tn
is one of those productions which wa
created only to amuse, and from the pre-.
reports from every part of the country
appears that in this it is decided success
The company which will present it has
high appreciation Of fun, and bring all OF
that there is in the piece. Good singing
u great feature OF the performance.
The remarkable performances of Mr. 81
bel, the Texas cowboy pianist, have excite
the admiration and wonder of musician
and cultivated people. Without instru
tion of any kind, Mr.. Babel plays the mo
difficult pieces on the plano with preci
ion that would do credit to a professions
pianist. His success in concert has bee
remarkably good, and his appearance |
the National Theatre tomorrow night wi
afford all an opportunity to hear him. Bo
Office is now open, and reserved seats ca
be had at the theatre tomorrow, after tw
o'clock.
Watson and McDowell's company of val
city specialists will be at Barton and Logan
next week in great bill. Their compar
has made hit wherever II has played, al
includes many well-known people, amor
them being Harry Watson, ALI. McDowC