The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-22
STAGE NEWS AND GOSSIP
The Bostonians in Ideal English Opera
at the Grand for Half a Week.
"Two Old Cronies" at English's, and "True
Irish Hearts" at the Museum-Gossip
About Plays and Players.


row evening. and the large advance sale indi-
Gates that the house will be crowded at each per-
Torrance. The Bostonians sixty five strong,
with an orchestra Of fifteen, come Co Indianapo-
lis from week of great success in ST. Louis.
the press Of that city according the company the
highest praise. The repertoire for this week will
be: Monday. Ofenbacn's s'The Poach ers." new in
English; Tuesday, Won Suppe's "Fati nitza," spe-
elal revival, with gorgeous scenery and i'm
ported costumes; Wednesday matinee. Au5er's
Fra Diavolo;" Wednesday evening, Serpettes
s'Fanchonette" In the latter opera occurs the
and w. II. Macdonald. which is still laughed
over in many cities. Exegeucies of route or clr-
cumstances. arising year after year, have pre-
vented visits to Indianapolis of this famous COM
Mr.. E. r. tombstone. the gentlemanly repre-
sentative of the company, in a conversation
about the principals of The Bostonians' said
yesterday: Il have often thought that while
thoroughly appreciative of artistic merit the
great mass Of opera-goers are apt to forget the
enormous expenditure of time, patience, money
and study necessary on the part of artists, male
or female, before that appreciation may be even
hoped for. We vefourteen principals, of whom
nine were specifically trained for and have sung
in grand opera, both at home and abroad. and
just here let me say that the French make
the distinction between grand opera and
opera comique, only that in the former
recitative takes the part of the spoken dialogue
of the latter. For the rollicking measure Of
Audran, Lecocq, ETC.. they have the term opera
bouffe Marie Srone-our soprano-spent years
in study in Italy, did her husband, w. III.
Macdonald, baritone, and both won praise in
grand opera from those most exacting of critics.
the italian opera habitues. The best maestros
OF Florence aud Milan were their teachers and
their exactions would surprise a would-be can
tatrice, who thinks three hours "practicing"
per diem an extortion of time and trouble.
Miss Agnes Huntington. contralto. when
quito young, went to Dresden to become a
favorits pupil of Lamperti, and after long
noviate succeeded both in Berlin and London in
wit
judge severely. Miss Juliette Gordon, soprano
five years ago was chosen from 2oO applicants
as future lyric prima donna by Colonel Maple
SOD, and studied under De Rialp of New York,
into whose charge Mapleson placed the lady.
That she ia not with Mapleson now is of the
lady's own option, having preferred to cast in
English provincial towns for a season.
Miss Camille Muori (soprana) has an
Italian father and vi, nisnnes sea mother haes'
and has had all the advantages of instruction
possible in this country. She first scored g sue
cess in grand opera as one of the prima donne
TENOR, after hard study in Milan and
tenore he has always been. and in Italy,
has for years occupied first rank. His success
in grand opera, with Parepa Rosa. being easily
recalled by the oldsters. Despite his years on
the stage Mr. Karl ia not in any sense elderly,
having commenced his career when but lad,
while tie strength and freshness OF his present
voice is the best testimony to the excellence OF his
training and method. ii. g. Barnabee, (basso), diff
fers from operatic comedians a class in this,
that when lad in Boston his excellent voice
received careful training from the best teachers
of the day, and he has always sung we'll in add
ton to Setting the benches in a roar" by the
cleverness of his acting. Reccardo Ricci, basso
profundo, has never sung in English opera until
this season. He, too. was educated in Italy and
has had success under the management of eye
& Mapleson in England and America. William
A. Xanten, tenor, bad two years experience
fha Av,oop nd IA nd
of Theodore Thomas. with whom he was de-
cided favorite. Or these, all are American born
except Messrs Karl and Ricci. who are natives
of Great Britain, although the former has been
a citizen of the United States for years"
Englishs will have new comedy attraction
the last three nights of this week. in 1.-TWO
Old Cronies," piece that has been built for the
express purpose OF making people laugh and
affordng an opportunity for a number of clever
comedians and singers to display their clever
ness. At the head of the company are Frank
NJ Wills, well-known comedian; John E. Hen
shaw and Miss May Ten Brock. Among the
other people Miss Lizzie Hight Norma
Wills, Kitte Beardsley. Alice Beazie, Grace
Butler, Monte Collins, Harry Foster. Edmund
P. Stanley, Phil j. Buck, Harold Redburn, and
others. In the performance of the piece twenty
musical selections and specialties are gwen. and
these make particularly attractive feature. In
the language of the truthful and discriminating
agent. ''This is the show that is making every
body feel that life is really worth living" The
advance sale Of seats will begin at the box-ofice
of the theater on Tuesday morning, and there
will be no increase the usual prices of the
house.
''Trus Irish Hearts," which will be presented
at the Museum all this week, is a picturesque
Irish comedy drama, in story and treatment
not unlike the famous 'Ivy Leaf" 1t is one of
the new plays of the season. but has been a con-
spcuous success thus far. In the company are
John F. Sullivan. who for two years played the
leading partin ''Ivy Leaf, i" Dan Mccarthy, the jig
and reel dancer, and Miss Kttis Coleman, little
Dannie Mccarthy. a juvenile prodigy, and others.
The company give the play special scenic
production, the notable effects being the Lakes
of Killarney by moonlight the Abbey ruins of
Castle Knock the cave scene and others A
feature of the production of the play is the int ro
PRODUCTION Of a number of songs. and genteel
specialties The engagement here will open with
a matinee tomorrow afternoon, and will con-
tinue all week with two performances daily.