Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-04-06
THE CHIMES OF NORMANDY"
ITS PRESENTATION A GREAT SUCCESS,
AND TO BE REPEATED TONIGHT.

"Sorcerer" would be handled. Those who
had faith in the ability of the Association
for the work we're not disappointed. The
| following was the cast
| Serpolette, the Good for nothing,
soprano. ...... 100000. MISS KATE McGUEF1N
Germaine, the lost Marchioness.
mezzo soprano. .....MIss A. CROSBY
| Gertrude. ..................MRs. F. B. BERKELEY
Manette..... ............"......M1ss FANNIE JAMS
| suzanne. .....MRS HAMMOND
Henri, Marquis of Bonneville,
baritone. ............-..... ...."...A. JAFFE
Jean Grenicheux, Fisherman,
! tenor. II. COOKE
Gaspard, Miser, bass .......".. IA. HOWELL
The Balll1, bass. commemorative YATES
Notary, baritone .".... .........J. L. LlGHTNEE'
The Opera opened with some hard work
for the chorus, especially hard for chorus
which had not had The indispensable ad-
| vantage of nightly attendance of all its
forty-two members. But they stood the
test we'll, and Notwithstanding the dis
advantage they had labored under in prac-
ticing, did wonderfully.
Miss Kate Meg uffin, the prima donna,
who surprised her friends so much by the
perfect ease with which she rendered her
part in the ''Sorcerer, lin which, by the
bye, she was adebutante,- them
still further last night, by the piquancy of
her acting and the further advance she
had made over the successes of her debut.
Her opening air, 81 may be Princess,
leastways Madam was beautifully given
and merited the applause it got. In the
first act came beautiful barcarolle, ION
pillows rocking" by Mr.. Cooke, in which
he showed that the hoarseness that beset
him in the ''Sorcerer" had gone, and in
which his sweet tenor had good field to
show its quality. In this act also he gave
a very pretty and well sung duet with Miss
Crosby, "'Twas but an impulse" Mr..
Jaffe with his fine baritone gave valse-
rondo, with joy my heart" with fine
spirit and effect, as he did all the work
laid down for him, which Is saying good
deal, for the "Chimes" is one of those
rare operas in which the burden Of the
piece is carried by the baritone. AS fortune
would have 1t, Mr.. Jaffe is not only train
ed and admirable vocalist but also fami-
liar with the stage work, circumstances
that greatly aided the success Of the
piece. Miss Crosby sung the air In the
solo and chorus, Legend of the Bells"
All through the opera this lady made
strong comparison with the minor part
she assumed in the "Sorcerer." There her
opportunities were few to display her
talent; last night they were many and she
proved herself fully worthy of them. Her
singing was fine and her acting admirable.
The Legend of the Bells'' contains work
: for a chorus which thoroughly tests it's
ability, and in it last night the chorus
achieved triumph. In the closing
choruses of the act they added to their
laurels, especially in "Look at that and
look at this.''
The second act is full of concerted
numbers, choruses, and ensembles. 'sLet
our torches light the gloom" by Miss
Crosby, Mr.. Jaffe, and the chorus, was
very fine, and this was followed by the
beautiful air. most admirably sung by Miss
Crosby, "By his side." This was followed
by the piquant song Not ghost at all,'
by Miss McGufin, which was charmingly
given, and accompanied by chorus which
was fully worthy of it. The chorus of
''SiIent Heroes" introduced by recita-
tive by Mr.. Jaffe, was splendidly done.
Then came the prettiest thing in the opera
and, we might write, one of the prettiest
things in any opera-the qulntette and
chorus, ''Cold sweat is on my brow"
ny Misses McGufin and Crosby, and
Messrs. Cook. Jaffe and Yates. 1t was
exquisitely sweet, and its rendering was as
near faultless IS could be. 1t was about
the only thing that following SO closely
after, could have made the nearer forget
the lovely duo, "'Tis she, happy fate"
so effectively given by Miss Crosby and
Mr.. Jaffe. few minutes before.
| Th Q third act is nearly as replete with
| conce rted pieces as the second, and in
deed that usical effect seems to have
been the peculiar forte of the composer Of
the opera. There was the pretty "Cider
Song" by Miss McGuffin, with a chorus;
the charming song ''I'Ye come, you see"
by the same lady. in style that captured
all who heard it, which also had a chorus
accompaniment; beautiful duet, "My
Lord, My Lord" by Miss Crosby and Mr..
Jaffe, and the air ''That night I'll ne'er
forget finely given by Mr.. Cooke.
I Mr.. Howell as ''Gaspard.' not only sus-
tanned the high reputation he took in the
s'Sorcerer" as an actor of great intensity,
but increased it. His acting last night
was superb, and in nothing were his dra-
matic resources more evidenced than in
the castle scene with his boarded gold.
He also sung his part we'll. He gave the
''Beggar Song finely, and in the finale,
Glove, Honor. Happiness" be gave bis
part admirably.
Mr.. Yates and Mr.. Lightner had parts
! which gave them little opportunity to
show what music was IN their voices. the
latter gentleman with his excellent voice
having but few bars to sing. Mrs. +. b.
Berkeley and Mrs. s. J. Hammond deserve
especial thanks for their training of the
female chorus, which has been as unremit.
ting as it has been skillful, and its results
contributed greatly to the success of the
piece.
In all respects. the opera of last night
was a great triumph, and tonight, with the
additional ease acquired by a second rem.
dering before an audience, it will be even
better. The stage setting was noticea BILE
for it's excellence, the costuming some.
thing beyond anything ever attempted in
ae, fho