Morning journal and courier., 1886-04-02
Entertainments.


 ''The Mikado" is one of those delightful operas comique to listen to 8 repetition of which seems never to tire one and always disclose new beauties. Having thus far this season heard no less than five different com psnies render this charming production of Sullivan's, we were prepared to subject the players to rather open criticism. yet the excellence of the performance as 8 whole was a most pleasant surprise. The text was literally sprinkled with original witticisns and much of the barrenness of the dialogue enlivened thereby. The orchestra was distressingly small and lack of sufi- cient rehearsal at times painfully apparent. Henry Hallam as Nanki-Poo gave the best performance of the evening. He has a sweet tenor voice and imbued the part with 8 greater regard for the histrionic require msnts than any of his predecessors: Annie Maxwell as Katisha sang excellently we'll. Her solo ,"Hearts Do Not Break" called for a meIited redemand. Yum Yum was graceful, assumed by A1fa Norman, whose charming manner won the audiences favor at her very initial appearance. The Ko-Ko of MT. Morton was mer ly tolerable. The first act he failed to invest with the slightest interest and his vocal efforts were far from successful. He showed all improvement toward the last, but was not on par with the others. Dickie Martinez made quite
 
 and received an encore for a well rendered musical bit. MT. Peakes spoke the lines of Pooh Bah in the conventional manner, and Miss Lillian Martinez acceptably impersonat ed the 'fthird ward" of Ko Ko. The chorus was unwisldy and stiff and suffered greatly as compared in sprightliness of manner and gracefulness of posing with companies of far less excellence. The opera will be sung again this evening, and everyone who has not heard it should be present.
 RIP VAN TWINKLE.
 A large audience witnessed the play of 'Rip Van Winkle'' as given at Loomis' Temple of Music by local talent last evening with H. w. Durand as ''Rip," supported by tine Howard Dramatic company. The enter tainment was an excellent one, and should it be repeated in the future a crowded house would be the result.
 AMERICAN THEATER.
 A number of amateurs from out of town will assist the regular company at the Amer ican this evening. Their specialties are said to be good, some of them unusually so, and with the strong features of the regular bill will make an entertainment that all can en- joy. Two hours of more pleasure cannot be spent than at the American this evening.
 NEW HAVEN OPERA HOUSE.
 At this opera house on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and Wednesday af ternoon of next week the charming little ac tress Carrie Swain will appear in her best effort yet in the new melodrama "Jack in the Box" An exchange says: The interest of the play centers in the actions of the viii lain filled in a clever way by Carrie Swain as "Jack in the Box"
 BUNNELL's MUSEUM.
 Yesterday afternoon and evening the Lewis Dramatic company produced "Dan1 Druce" in fully as excellent manner as they did ''Two Nights in Rome" the first three days of the week. ''Dan1 Druce' will be pre- sented this afternoon and evening and "Two Nights in Rome" to o-morrow afternoon and evening. The audiences at both entertain ments were very large and much appreciation was expressed for the really fine dramatic work of the company. Several of the leading characters were called out twice before the curtain. f'The Conjugal Lesson," very pretty little comedietta, in which Harry Bell and Miss Kate Gilbert appeared, furnished much amusement and sent the audience away in the best of humor.
 CARLL's OPERA HOUSE.
 Tomorrow evening at this opera house Margaret Mather, the we'll known and pleas ing artist, will appear in Romeo and Juliet" of which the Providence Telegram says: Miss Mather from her very first en- trance as the artless light-hearted girl through the successive scenes to the final tragic ending, there is gradual unfolding of the character, and in the transition from the gaiety of the earlier scenes to the intensi- ty of the tragic climax shows the extreme versatility of the actress in being enabled to portray to the life the whole range of the hu- man passions. The famous balcony scene, always considered the best of all Juliets, is marvel of artistic acting as now presented by Mather, and shows conscientious work and great development of her power and fio