The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1886-07-25
AMUsEM ENrS.

During the past week at the National the McCauli
Company from Nalacks have managed TO ensconce
themselves In the affections Of the washington pub
lie IN the place left vacant by the clever singers and
actors OF the troupe which had afforded us 40 much
entertainment for nve weeks previous. From
musical standpoint the new combination Ia perhaps
stronger than the old as may well be, In copsidera
tion Of the demands made upon Il by the score Of
Audran's latest opera. "The Growing Hen,"as the
"serment glamour" Is termed In the McCaull ver-
sion has not received from the critics the praise to
which II Is entitled, for the reason, possibly, that It
Ia somewhat lacking In the catchy and striking
melodies OF "oilvctte" aud "The Mascot But,
for the same reason, Perhaps II will bear rehearlng
better than either, and each repetition decoscs new
And subtle charms and Ktaccs OF composition. All
OF this Ia rendefed In admirable fasniot by the we'll
equipped and thoroughly trained artists OF the pres-
eht company. The burden OF the musical work falls
upon Miss Bertha Ricci as Rosettn and MIR. Hubert
wilke as the Count dc Fidcfondc. From the "vow
OF Love" duet In the first act, which furnishes the
theme and title Of the opera, TO the last fall Of the
curtain, these two excellent singers have success.
soh OF most exac,ing solo and concerted numbers,
dill of which given In style that leaves little TO
| be desired. Miss R,ccl sings so delightfully."- that II
is TO be regretted she does not put q
| little more heart Into her acting especi.
| ally In the love scenes with SO manly yet ten,
der stage lover IA Mr.. Wllkc This always plc.ur-
esque and melodous artist, borrowed for the pres.
cnt engagement from the KIralfy's, IL more than
Roland for the Oliver Of the Irresistible Peruglni In
| the role OF the hero aud lover. Mr.. MacDonouRh
| as Grfcolfn, the comicai little lnnkecper, has n
much better field for the display Of his abilities
than In either OF the other operas In which he has
hitherto been heard here lie gave quantity droll
Interpretation OF the character, and sang with his
| customary finish and good TASTE The somewhat
reedy quality Of his voice lent realistic effect TO his
falsetto initiation Of the hute IN the "Dsphns and
Chloe" duet with Miss Alice aalard, who made
| very vlvacous and tuneful Mdrgufse. OF Mr.. De
Wolf Hopper Il Ia not the slightest exagperatlon to
that as an actor, singer, and Individual he Ia sim.
ply immense. His colossal ngure Is the funniest kind
OF an anithesls to the chubby and cherubc form and
features Of the lamented DIgby Beli, and II would
be arcca to speak Of his stepping into the shoes or
| being ndued with the mantle OF the latter But he
| comes near to reconcling MS to Dlsby's departure
which, all things considered, Is high praise Gdpdu-
ddn the Major Dono, is by no means the best Of Mr.
Hopper's roles. but he certainly makes the most
Of 1t. As for "Blrdle," 1t Is simply tas he
sings ny the most uproarlously and outrageousy
comcal act on the American stage Of to-day, and II
wonder stad aud sensible people conduct them
selves like drivcllng idiots while II Ia In progress.
Miss Josie Knapp as Marion finds scope for the
display Of pretty little voice and attractive soft
brette style and personality Of her own. Her song
with the sextette Of saucy little clerks, with their
| symmetrical black small clothes and hosiery to
match, was nightly redemauded. The chorus, as
usual In the McCaull companies, was q unit as TO
time and tone, and part OF It at least looked pretty
need DO. The beautiful orchestration Of the opera
was adequately rendered, and the scenery and
tunes were tasteful and appropriate. 1t ia TO be
gretted that the engagements Of the troupe demand
the withdrawal OF 80 pleasing performance at the
end OF Its nrst week, but as ''Falka" with the
participants Is next on the bills we are content.
/
The extraordinary success which light opera at
rational prices has proved at both houses accepted
| with some mlsglvlngs by the managers. 1t brings
home to them clearly an unwelcome truth. This Ia
| that the people want lOw.priced amusements and
will 60 often and In profitable multitudes where they
can get them. Tho managers feel, too, that the
summer season Is bound TO have an unfavorable
effect on the regular winter business, not only be.
cause Of the difference In prices for seats but for
other reasons. However, they continue to improve
the present smiling hour. gather In such shekles
offer, and trust to luck for good winter season.
The low prices bring to the summer opera many
to whom this species Of entertainment Is quite a
novelty. 1t Is great fun to watch how hugely these
people enjoy the antique comedy Of "Ffa Dlavolo,'
for instance, and laugh immoderately at jokes that
| were the chestnuts OF dead and gone generations.
But what testimony to the genuineness of the fun OF
Aubers delightful work is this fact that even yet In
the third generatIon 1t appeals rreslstiby by its
truth to the popular heart. They are not making
such operas nowadays. Sixty years hence who Will
| know OF the operas which are setting the present
generation In roars7
Another very different class that patronizes the
summer opera beralIy is made up OF younger mem.
bers OF the foreign legations OF the dlstn-
gulshed Foreigners are not at all Influenced by the
fact that the prices OF admission are low. As Is
well known, the wealth Of the diplomats invariably
corresponds with their preensions both being bound.
less Nevertheless, It s to be noticed that even they
do not attend performances at sl.25 as frequently
| as those at quarter OF dollar.
Harry MacDonough, who made much out OF
| the unsatisfactory role Of Griuofn In "The Crow.
Ing Hen" last week, and whois inmitable as Arthur
In "Falka," has q rather curious story. Five years
ago he was attending the 30 Ia fountain in drug
store under the GIlsey House In New York. Mr..
Dunlap, now Col. McCaull's partner and manager OF
the company playing at the National, was proprietor
| Of the drug store Marlborough would go over to
| see the San Francisco Mlnstrels at night Next
morning he would have all Dunap's clerks around
him roaring with laughter at his limitations OF Billy
Birch and Charley Backus Dunlap stood 1t as long
as he could Finally he old MacDonouRh he was
altogether too funny to have around drug and
had better Join minstrel troupe. Marlborough
WAS discharged. year or 30 later MacDonough
rather down In his luck, found Dunlap, then become
Il
sino. Marlborough asked for something to do and
was put In the chorus at SIS week. His talents
soon secured him part, however, and as Arthur In
"Falka" he IN ide great hit. His salary now is In
the nelghbOrhoOd OF a hundred week.
Gilbert and Sullivan Tor perhaps 1t is their busi
ness managers) seem not at all above employing the
well-known methods OF the theatrical advertising
bureaus to create public interest In their worth,
| though one would think this entirely unnecessary.
1t will be remembered how m any rumors got abroad
only to be contradicted after weeks circulation
regarding what "Iolanthe" was going to be like and
what "The Mlkado" was going to he like Now the
same thing Is being done for their forthcoming
opera. First we we were told that the scene would
be laid In India, then In Egypt. Now 1t Is said there
will be nothing Egyptian about 1t. Furthermore we
assured that Sullivan has laid the operate score
aside In order to finish his oratorio for the Leeds
festival. Nevertheless, 1t will be found that the
opera Will be ready for production when the winter
theatrical season Ia well under way. Col. McCaull,
who has secured the right Of production outside Of
New York, pays royalty Of 20 per cent. Of the
gross receipts, II is said. the heaviest ever paid
McCaull will have three companies the road next
se .son and one In Philadelphia As soon as the new
opera is received three companies will at once be
put to work on IT, and will give 1t all over the coun
try. As neither the librett0 nor the score will be
published, It Ia expected the desire to hear the new
opera will be greater even than It has been with
"The Mlkado."
The Mexican Orchestra had nothing like the sue
cess here this year that II had last. The trouble
was bad management mainly. ! think no more
thoroughly pleasing summer entertainment than
that Afforded by the music Of this organization could
well be devised.
pleasing prospect for the coming theatrical sea-
son Is the scarcity OF melodrama. Nearly all the
time'honored old chestnuts will be consigned to the
dime museums, and the new crop promises to be
beautifully small. Now, II something would destroy
oil the "farce-cOmedles" and "comedy -dramas' OF
the "Bunch Of Keys" and "Dads Girl' variety, real
honest drama would have chance.
II Is highly amusing to watch the great efforts
making OF late to induce the American public to be-
leve that Dixey has after all snatched victory from
the Jaws OF defeat In England. For my part,
should be sorry TO the prospects, OF Dxey forth
coming American tour blighted, hut then who likes
to be gulled' There ir more reason In the failure
"Adonis" In London than there In It's success
In New York Tell the truth.