Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-01-06
THE S0RCERER AT THE OPERA
HOUSE,


ITS GREAT SUCCESS LAST NTGHT-THE
OPERA TO BE PRODUCED AGAIN TO-
NIGHT, sc.
Staunton has seldom Deen so enthused
over an entertainment as it was last night
by the opera of THE Sorcerer," given by
resident amateurs. under the auspices of
the Ladies City Mission for the Poor. The
premonition of success had been strong,
| for by noon Wednesday there were not
fifty of what are called available seats. for
sale in the house, and the result was that
last night was assembled one of the larg-
est as well as one of the most appreciatiue
audiences that has ever assembled there.
Even Mr.. Charles l.. Cooke, to whom the
ladies had entrusted the general 5uparvis-
ion of the getting up of the Opera, and who
had with that heavy duty also borne that
of taking leading part in the singing,
must have felt amply rewarded aG the APP
probation of his work when he viewed the
brilliant audience gathered. The amateur
company, gathered and drilled in about
sixty DAYS, included nine characters and a
chorus of about thirty five ladies and
gen tlemen. The Opera was written by
| Gilbert & Sullivan the authors of 'Pina-
fore,'' and was first produced about the
same time that its more successful rival
was; but s'Pinafore" got to the windward
of it, and it was not until her successful
voyage had ended, that 1.-THE Sorcerer''
came to the front and got its merits recog-
| nized, lis music is brilliant, and it con-
tains airs, choruses and ensembles which
are superior to some in its rival. The
cast of chara cters last night was as fol-
| lows
l>Aline ....M1 MISS KATE McGUFFIN.
lConstance, .................MR Mrs. F. B. BERKELEY.
I.Hadv Sangazure ................M MISS A. CROSBY.
FDame Partlett.. MISS EMMA GRIMM.
j. Wellington Wells, CThe Soreerer, )......-....
iss................. HovELLE
DIR. DAILY, aAFFE.
| Sir Marmaduke, ............-...J. J. Shirley.
| Counsel, .PRoF. MUssAEUs
The music Of the opera. of which the au-
dience showed an excellent appreciation.
was well worth the applause it received.
/ The opening chorus, Ring forth ye
bells,'' which is a difficult one. was well
rendered. The first aria of the piece, a
very pretty one, "W hen he is here" was
beautifully sung by Mrs. Berkeley. Next
came the reeitative and aria, "Time was
when Love and I were well acquainted, "
given by Mr. Jaffe with his splendid bari
tone. And then the prima donna, Miss
Kate McGuffin, sung the aria, "Oh, happy
young heart,' "a piece in which her clear.
strong, and sympathetic voice found a
good field, and which was received with
great applause. And just here we may
say that this lady'S singing and acting
were a triumph of art and good taste
throughout the piece. Then came a fine
piece of lyric acting between Miss Crosby
and Mr.. Shirley, in which Mr.. Shirley IS
sweet and powerful voice found a respon-
sive one in Miss Crosby's. The duet be-
tween Miss McGuffin and Mr.. Cooke,
'Thou hast the power" from the opera of
Don Quixote, which followed, was very
| Cooke Glove feeds on many kinds of food"
Next there came the solo by the Sorcer-
er. ''Oh, my name is John Wellington
Wells'' given by Mr.. HoYele. who is not
only born actor but good singer as
we'll. His dramatic talent shone in the
weird Incarnation scene which was well
put on the stage and in which the concer-
ted piece by Miss McGuffin, Mr.. Cooke,
Mr.. HovelIe and the chorus, was finely
given.
The duet by Miss McGuffin and Mr..
| Cooke, "Oh love, true love-" was one Of
The prettiest things our people have ever
heard on that stage and it was rendered in
a style worthy Of its beauty. The ensem-
BILE which followed this and closed the
First Act, and in which Mr.. Hovelle and
the chorus took part was finely given.
The first thing thing to attract atten
ton IN the Second Act was the ensemble
.Oh, JOY" with Miss McGufin, Mr..
Cooke. Mrs. Berkeley, Mr.. Mussaeus and
the chorus, which was admirably done.
And then came the quintette ''She will
tend him." exquisitely given by Mr.. Shir-
key, Mr.. Cooke, Mr.. Jaffe, Miss McGutfiln
and Miss Grimm, and sustained by the cho
rus. To this writer that seemed of all
the concerted pieces, to be the most per-
fectIy rendered and with the sweetest har-
mony. Then came the recitative and duet
between Miss Crosby and Mr.. Hovelle, in
which Miss G. had her best opportunity in
the piece to show her admirable lyric tai
ent, and Mr.. HoVelle another opportunity
to capture the audience with his. A fine
baritone solo ''Oh my voice is sad and
low" by Mr.. Jaffe. and beautifully rem
dered duet "Oh joyous boon," between
himself and Miss McGutfil followed this,
and ended in an ensemble, with Mr.. Cooke
and the chorus joining, which was we'll
given.
With finale, in which all the charac-
tiers and chorus participated, and which
ended by 1.-THE Sorcerer" descending
through the floor to a region from which
red flames fired out, the Opera closed,
having been not only great popular sue
cess, but 60 our mind one of the the most
decided artistical successes, as whole,
that Stanton amateurs have made.
To Prof. Eisenberg, who conducted The
accompaniment and whose baton ruled
the whole opera so ably and efficiently; to
Miss Mabel Tinsley, his young pupil,
whose playing Of the music of the Opera
showed the most remarkable music talent
we have seen exhibited in an artist of her
age; and to the stage management of MI.
Hovelle, is due much of the enthusiastic
praise which the public will award to every