Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-11-17
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
CHIEF ATTRACTIONS ON THE NEW
YORK STAGE.
Thompson and Gilbert and snl-
livau Before the Public.
Correspondence of the REcoRD-UNIoN. /


New YORK, November 8, 1888.
The two leading attractions have been
the Coquelin-Hading company, under Mr..
Abbey's management, at Palmer's Theater,
and Gilbert & Sulliyan's new operetta,
"The Yeoman of the Guard" at the Ca
sino. One cannot tell which has been
greeted by the best houses. The names of
Coquelin and Hading were enough 20
draw crowds. The French of the city
turned out, of course, en- masse, but New
York wealth and fashion went as we'll A
name is good thing; reality is better,
and at the end of the first performance
Coquelin's position as q comedian was
granted him here as it has been long ago
given him in Paris
A night or two afterwards came Nine.
Hadings opportunity. As a vision of
loveliness she stepped upon the stage, but
soon the beautiful woman was lost in the
great actress Even the much advertised
Sarah and her admirers must confess that
within the last five years a star has arisen,
whose luster equals if it does not outshine
her own, Nine. Hading's beauty, more
over, being of such a unique and fascinat-
ing type as to merit special notice. She is
tall and slender, with classically-shaped
head, upon which rippled wealth of rich,
auburn hair, caught up carelessly by a
single comb, and falling in graceful waves
over a low, broad forehead. Violet eyes, a
Grecian nose and a firm, yet tender and
expressive mouth, complete the features of
face, which reflects every emotion Of the
soul. No less unique than her persona lity
Is Nine. Hadings absolute simplicity. An
opera-glass fails to discover paint or pow
der. In general she wears no jewelry, the
remarkable hair Just mentioned outdoing
the attractions Of wigs, usually considered
sine q,rd non by actresses. But art ex-
hausts itself in the production Of her
dresses. Her costumes are notable, not so
much for costliness, though they are costly,
as in careful adaptation and taste in fit
and combination. They are genuine crea-
tions.
Everybody goes to the Casino anticipat-
ing good laugh, and they have it. Riley
is funny as ever as the Jester; absurd
complications arise, of course, in the plot,
while in short time now we shall hear
upon the streets more than one of those
taking melodies that go far toward the
popularity of these operettas, which,
copied on every hand, still hold the first
place in peoples hearts. The best compc-
sition in the work is a chorus at the end
of the first act, where the execution bell
tolls with weird, yet harmonious effect,
in combination with voices of wailing
men and women. 1t is really fine piece
of music and notable contrast to the
light character of the remainder Of the
work
Cora Tanner, in Fascination" at the
tourteenth-street Theater, has been very
successful. Numerous pretty pictures led
the public to expect a pretty actress, and
they found one. Perhaps she should
rather be called handsome, for she is large,
well-proportioned and acts with great
animation a part which requires the
hoydenishness for which some critics have
blamed her. In parlor scenes, however.
she is dignifed, and her boyish part is
admirably DONE The support is verv
good, with the exception of Edward Belle,
who is a most mechanical lover; and last
but not least, she has an excellent play.
l wish l could say as much for "a Legal
Wreck" at the Madison Square Theater.
MIR. Palmer, the manager, has not scored
as much of hit in this play as he gen.
orally does, and it is with special regret
that do not commend it, since the author,
Mr.. Gillette, is certainly writer of quite
unusual talent, as we'll as an excellent
actor. The work is very unequal; some
parts much better than others, but the plot
Is rude and the author would have done
well to put it aside for future revision;
nevertheless it draws excellent houses.
Mr.. Palmer's name has magic in it; the
Madison Square Theater is in itself so
attractive, our best classes are fond of it,
and many dissent from my view of the
play.
The Star Theater has recently been
illumined by Lydia ThomI son and her
company. Tights, of course, and son e
good things in Penelope" notably good
looking girls. The fascinating Lydia still
preserves the same perfect proportions, and
still acts her part with the matchless grace
that throws younger rivals around her
into the shade. Alas! for unkindly touches
about the neck and face. They come to
all, but this talented woman still draws
crowded houses and remains attractive.
Let us not enter upon the ethics of her
performances. We should never be DONE
The majority condemn her. But Justice
demands that if Miss Thompson be con-
demned, then large portion of Italian,
German and American opera, patronized
by our most refined classes, be wiped from
production of "a Midsummer Nights
ID