The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-09
CLOSE OF THE OPERA SEASON
Large and Brilliantly-Dressed Audi
ences at Yesterdays Performances.
1.-The Flying Dutchman' and "Lakme' Pre-
scented by the American Opera Company,
with Wonderful Splendor of Scenery.

Another brilliant audience crowded English's
Operahouse to the doors last night, TO witness
the presentation of Delibe's new OPERA ''Lak-
me-" by the American Opera Company. The
Indianapolis public has certainly attested its
interest in music during the past few days, be-
ginning with the music festival. which gave five
entertainments in Tomlinson's Hall to audiences
such as could be accommodated nowhere else in
the city, and ending last night after the largest
opera company in the country had played to
crowded houses for three times It has tested
the capacity of the people, and they have come
nobly to the front in patronizing these artistic
entertainments.
1t is enough at this time to say of "Lakme'
that It'll pleasing opera, smooth in action. with
little plot and with not very much in it, except
such as is conventional The plot is lid in India.
where young British officer ,ashy falls in love
with the daughter of a Brahmin priest, whose
grounds he pollutes by intruding his presence
thereon. Lakme the daughter. falls in love
with the red-coat the moment she sees him;
just as might have been expected in
an opera of this kind This proceeding on
her part precipitates trouble, and the priest at
once resolves that he will have the young mans
blood for the sacrilege. Lakme, like a true but
foolish woman, resolves to stand by her lover,
and does so to the end. Gerald flies from the
priests garden, in which he found Lakme and
bids fair to make good his escape. but the old
man, understanding the weakness of mankind,
sets trap for him by causing Lakme to sing
in the market place where he and she
are in disguise. Attracted by her
voice. Gerald, the lover, is betrayed.
He leaves that scene badly stabbed man. But
Lakme remains leal, and with the assistance of
her faithful servant drags him away to bow
er In convenient jungle, which, By the way, is
very comfortably upholstered for the conve-
nience of the wounded man. Here she nurses
him back to life, and here the migrate proposes
to abandon her in response to what he conceves
to be his duty, instead of taking her along with
him, like a, man of spirit would. Lakme,
seeing the turn In her love affairs chews
up some 'pizen vines" and in due time dies.
though not until the old man. her father ap-
pears on the scene with vengeance in his eye and
dagger in his hand. 1t is not pretty ending,
but is better, perhaps, than to have essayed to
have taken the dusky maiden to his home in
England for while Miss Pauline pAleman makes
charming character of it, she is not exactly the
kind of girl that fellow cares to fall in love
with for the last time
The support was good throughout The sing
ing of Mr.. Stoddard, Mr.. Candidus and Mr. Lee.
and the Misses Walker, Campbell, Fielding AID
Davis. was all that could have been expected.
The opera proper was spendidly set forth with
the most elaborate accessories in the way of
scenery and ballet advertisements. The latter,
while not as good as that of the night
before. on the occasion of the presentation
of ''Orpheus and Eurydice," was very good,
and was costumed with that disregard of ex-
pense that has characterized all the furnish
ings of the American Opera Company. The Gloss
ing scene, that of the Indian Jungle was the
most complex and most natural and elaborate
ever put on the stage in the city of Indianapolis
1t was the triumph of art in thissdirection. aud
will not soon be excelled anywhere
As on the preceding night, the audience was
composed of the leading people of the city. with
very many from the surrounding cities and
towns There innumerable dress uits,
while the ladies We'd in the attempt to devise
new and original costumes for the occasion Al
together it was such an audience as seldom gathers
here, and only on. occasions such as this. The
applause was hearty but discriminating, and
Miss LAlemand have reason to COM
plain of her reception in Indianapolis, being re-
npatedlv epcored