Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-02-23
TIE CARELESS OPERA COMPANY.
Favorable Presentation of the ssPi-
rates of Pcnzance,, Last Night.

The g Pirates of Penzance, rendered
by the Careless Opera Company yester-
day afternoon and evening, was in all re-
spects the greatest success yet achieved
in local opera here. The attendance was
extraordinary, at both performances,
nearly every seat within the parquette
and first circle being filed, and also the
choice seats in the upper galleries. The
total receipts must have approached
81 100. making due allowance for all the
complimentaries to friends OF the chorus.
The opera itself is by no means worthy
to be classed alongside of either
Patience" "Iolanthe," or "The Mika.
do" in respect to plot Or music, and by a
less able company the piece would have
failed to interest the audience. But all
that there is defective in the opera was
more than made up in the manner in
which it was put on the boards. The
cast throughout is the most evenly bal
anced that has yet appeared in any of
the local productions, its principal weak
ness being manifest in the acting of Mr.
Gorllnski and Miss Wells and the absence
OF Mr.. Spencer's indispensable acting
throughout the piece, he having only
short scene or two.
What insured a brilliant success for the
performance from the start was the admir-
able acting and singing OF Miss Edith
Clawson, who in her first solo and
throughout the entire performance per-
tprtlV pnntivataI tba a,l;a,nn
had made favorable impression on
the Salt Lake public as a concert
singer, but her beautiful notes
in the high soprano part OF the Major
Generals daughter last evening was n
source OF establishment US well as delight
to every one present. This, added to her
splendid acting, made the character suf-
iicient attraction in itself to carry the opera
through approximately to the audience.
Miss Wells was too charming in her
makeup, and altogether too amiable in
her acting, for what the author intended
III Ruth, but her sweet contralto voice.
while 1t was scarcely Us powerful as ia
desirable for the part, did excellent work,
and was thoroughly enjoyed.
Miss Whitney and Miss Allen, who
made their first appearance, sang their
parts very nicely, especially Miss Whit
ney.
we had no desire to speak disparag.
lngly in our former reference to Mr.. Cor
llnski's acting; we only intended to saw
that, through his failing to introduce
sufficient fierceness and pompositv
into the Pirate King, it tended, i'm con-
nection with Miss Wells Instrumentation
oil her part, to partially destroy the char.
acter OF the plot. His singing was excel
lent throughout, and when the fact
Is taken into consideration that this was
MS iirst appearance in opera, his acting
must be taken, us it evidently was by the
audience, rs remarkably good. With n
change in his makeup and acting CON
iorlnable to the suggestion given above,
tins part will be received with even more
enthusiasm than greeted his efforts last
night, Mr.; Piper, as Frederick ac-
auittea himself in his usual
careful and painstaking manner,
ana sang his part particularly
IN the lower notes, with much sweetness.
IN the amusing policeman's drill, Mr..
spencer created any amount OF
iun,, and introduced number of
good local hits, which were re-
ceived with applause. Mr.. Meakin
surprised his friends, particularly
IN his duet with the Pirate King, which
was sung with excellent clearness and
sweetness. ''
The chorus was the best drilled of
the several We have seen here, and the
stage business was admirable throupho,,t
Mr.. Careless did much better in Inc or.
chestration than was expected, although
there's room for Improvement
The opera was immensely enjoyed. and
VIII be repeated tomorrow night, when
there will doubtless be another large
audience to greet this most excellent OF
the home company's efforts.