The Portland daily press., 1888-03-23
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
THE LITE TYCOON.

Mr.. Spenser is to be congratulated ON his
opera, "The Little Tycoon" for it Is very
tuneful and possesses many novel and TAX
ing features 1t is better than many OF
more pretence, because it fulfills its object OF
amusing the audience and sending them
home in good humor The plot, in brief, de-
tails how Gen. Knickerbocker, of an old
New York family. tries TO marry his daugh-
ter Violet to Lord Dolphin, an English MIN
ny, and how Alvin Barry, Wall street
broker, by the aid of his friend Rufus Ready
manages to defeat bis plans and marry Vio-
let himself To attain that end he finally as
sumes the character of the Great Tycoon,
whose position is considered by the General
far superior to that of an English lord. The
solo parts are not in very efficient hands,
Miss Lily Post standing out in strong relief
against the weaker background of the other
principals. She has good, well-trained
voice, and she sang her solos. Love Comes
Like Summer Sigh" and the aria in the
taste. MI. Gervaise's voice is not adapted to
the part of Alvin Barry, and Mr. Myers as
Rufus Ready, has strong bass. but 1t is
| harsh. Mr. Fred LennOx, as Gen. knicker-
booker, although his voice is not very strong
makes up by his cleverness for its failure,
and his topical song You can't do IT, you
| know" ELECTED encore after encore. Messrs.
| Everett and Mealey were very amusing as
| Lord Dolphin and his valet, and Misses Ar
| mold and White were acceptable as Miss
Hurricane and Dolly Dimple. The choruses
| were spirited and strong. albeit rather Dois,
| ferrous but the singers were well drilled and
sang with much precision. The costumes in
the Japanese scene were rich and appropriate.
| The scenery was very good, especially the
set in the first act, representing the deck OF
| the steamer with the miniature steamship
4 under full steam in the distance.
| The audience last night was large and en-
thusiastic, and encore followed encore IN
| rapid succession. There should De a crowd
| ed house tonight
HIGH STREET CHURCH ENTERTAINMENT.
There was good attendance at the enter
tainment given in the yestry of High street
church last night, and those present were
evidently more than pleased with the con-
cert, the different parts of which were most
| admirably rendered. The selections by the
Sumner Quintet Club met with the approval
of the audience, while the piano solo by Mr..
Rankin, the soprano solo 81 am Waiting"
by Mrs. Fellows, and the contralto solo by
Miss Long. were received with great enthu-
siasm, and 10 response to meIlted applause
each was repeated. Miss BERTHE l.. Hall
| sang the song "Thine eyes so blue and ten
der" in manner that elected the applause
Of the audience, and Mr.: Barnard, when he
left the platform, after singing the tenor So
10, "The silent world is sleeping" was
| called back. The reading of Holmes
BOAT Race" by Mrs. Newton, was warmly
received, and the other features of the en-
tertainment were, to say the least, pleasing.
WEBER CLUB CONCERT.
Last evening this favorite Club were greet
ed with full house at Haydn Hall, about
five hundred or more persons being present,
and the seating capacity Of the hall being
taxed to its fullest extent The Club has
| not appeared before the public for over a
| year. We observed number of new voices
and faces in the club. As they came upon
the stage, twenty-five in number, all in full
dress, they presented fine appearance. The
pieces sang by the Club were, ''Hark, the
Trumpet" by Buck; ave Maria" by
Phelps; "Cruel Cuckoo" by Koschat; and
"Weimar Folk Song.' by List The most
pleasing selections were the Ave Maria and
the Weimar Folk song,
"Home of heroes, the German land adjoining,
| May the God who rules the nation
Weimar's princely house uphold"
was very appropriate piece to be sung at
this time, and was rendered with enthusiasm.
The readings by Mr.. r. L. Whitcomb, were
mostly humorous, and elected hearty laugh
| ter
Mrs Morrison's selections were well re-
ceived. The piece "The Days are Long," by
Marston, was very pretty, and was sung so
| sweetly that Mrs. Morrison was loudly en-
| cored and was compelled to sing again.
Miss Sampson, who made her debut before
| Portland audience, has pleasant voice,
and was greeted with an encore in the selec-
| ton Sweet Heart" The song Tell her |
| loved her So" was sung with much feeling.
Mr.. Clark's piccolo solo, 1.-THE Wren," was
| rendered in an artistic manner, and he was
compelled to repeat it, This solo was a
4 pleasant feature in the concert.
The Schubert Quartette's 'Sing Song OF
sixpence, pocket full of rye, and 'Nipped
off her nose" demanded an encore.
Mr.. Harry Pearson, pianist to the Weber
Club, accompanied in a very acceptable
manner.
Mr.. John Morgan, conductor of the Weber
Club, may be congratulated upon giving a
very enjoyable concert to those present.
STATE STREET ENTERTAINMENT.
The entertainment given by the State
street Society at the vestry of the church
last evening, was much enjoyed by all pres
ent. Mr. II. w. Bryant read Mrs. Mary ID.
Brine's beautiful poem, "Grandma's Attic
Treasures" sxcellently, and the tableaux il
Illustrating the poem were excellently pre-
sented by ladies and gentlemen of the socie-
| ty. The old furniture was In perfect keep
| ing with the subject, and there were frequent
encores. The singing by Misses Long and
| jackson was delightful, and the BELL Ring
| ers" made great hit