The Portland daily press., 1889-01-19
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
YEoMEN or rHE auARp.

YEoMEN OF THE GUARD.
The third Stockbridge Popular, drew
very large audience to City Hall, last even
ing, it being the occasion of the first repre-
sentation of Gilbert q Sullivan's latest opera
the "Yeoman Of the Guard" in this city.
The Interpreters of the work were the fine
company of Mr.. Stetson, the cast appearing
in our edition of yesterday.
The music of the "Yeoman of the Guard"
Is In loftier strain. more approaching grand
opera than anything Sullivan has yet given
us. There are a number of musical gems
scattered through the work, many of which
at first hearing impress themselves lightly
on the ear because it takes later hearings for
us to fully appreciate them. The brain is
always little disturbed at a first hearing
of opera trying to take in the
value of each succeeding bit of
melody, or harmony. The over
ture, If listened to attentively. gives an idea
of the leading themes. 1t does not
strike us as very strong Dit
of orehestration. The first part of the
first act is not quite the equal of the later
portions of the opera, but that is always
far better fault than where the work shows
signs of weakness as it draws to close. As
is customary with Sullivan's operas there
are at times reminders in the music of for
mer familiar airs. The utilization of sepa-
rate choruses for the male and female voices
gives peculiar effectiveness as witnessed
in the Yeomen's chorus in the first act The
heigho song, "When Maiden Loves" is
beautiful thing The trio II Wayer To
and Fro," between Leonard, Phoebe and
Meryll. is gem. The chorus 'Come Fool,
Folify," is sprighty and is followed by the
duet, between Point and Elsie, 'Is the song
OF meirymanp which catcnes the popular
taste at once. "'Tis Done, | Am a Bride.'
Is very pleasing sentimental composition
But IL Is at the close of the act that the finest
eHect Oh the opera is produced, when all the
preparations are made for the execution, and
the great bell tolls out an accompaniment to
the dirge-like chorus. Elsie's solo .sOhl I
Mercy, Is succeeded by beautiful religious
ensem6te, splendid piece of harmony, the
whole erect OF the scene being that of grand
opera.
In the second act the auartette 'Strange
Adventure" is beautiful piece of old Eng
lish madrigul writing and the quartette
when A Wooer," and the duet Rapture, -
ana the grand finale, impressed them
selves most agreeably and forcibly on the
memory.
Miss Helen Lamont as Elsie Maynard add
ed another to her several triumphs in Port
land. Her clear, sweet, resonant, finely cul-
tured voice gave all her music without ap-
parent effort. 1t is unnecessary to select
any one of her numbers as superior to an
other where all were so well given. Added
to her musical gifts, her delightful presence
and person, and her pleasing acting give as a
result an Ideal prima donna In English opera.
she was presented a basket of flowers.
Miss Alice Carle's rich contralto was es-
pecially adapted to the beautiful spinning
| wheel song with which she opens the opera,
but perhaps 1t was in the wooing Of Wilfrid
that she most especially pleased. AS Phoebe
laurels she has gathered in her native city,
and did much towards the success of the
opera. Mr.. George Taverner has a good
clear. sweet tenor which he displayed to
special advantage in ''Is life boom" Senior
Brocolini both sang and acted the role Of
Sergeant Meyll with the taste, skill and dra-
matte ability for which he is so well noted.
Miss Mabella.. Bakers beautiful voice,
ana her excellent acting, gave especial
pleasure as Dame Carruthers, and her
| Gilbert as Jack Point, and Mr.. N. s. Burn
ham as the assistant tormenter, left no stage
business undone that could add to the humor
or to the appropriateness Of the situation
Mr.. Fay as the Lieutenant and Mr.. Gervaise
| as Leonard were good. The minor charac-
4
numbers Of the opera were enthusiastically
encored. The dialogue by Mr.. Gilbert is
rather forced and woodeny
| The chorus sang with precision and good
attention to proper shading, They were
very prettily and picturesquely costumed,
and entered into the life and spirit of the
| opera. The orchestra under the direction of
Mr.. Adolph Bauer was good, and the mem
bers from Collins orchestra who took part
did well OF such short notice and without
mn nAcnn II.
mounted and the scenic effects as good as
could be expected In their cramped Quarters.
This afternoon there will be matinee and
the final performance will be given to-
| night.
| THE TWO SISTERS.
| In writing the 1.-TWO Sisters" the authors.
Denman Thompson and George Ryder, state
that the public know life just the same as
they do, and that melo dramatic plots are
often nothing more than nightmares Natu
raj plays are just beginning to transplant
many OF these time-worn, worm-eaten relics
1t has been noted that the stage has better
facilities than the pulpit for preaching ser
mons and liberal clergymen and their follow.
ers recognize the fact that the stage, when
used for the purpose of teaching useful les.
sons, is worthy assistant. The Two Sis.
ters is lesson to the thoughtless young OF
both sexes. That's all. They claim moth
ing more for 1t. Some have asked, why is
such and such a character introduced when
they have nothing to do with the story. II
| you go to market, you find other people
there beside yourself. They may have moth
ing to do with your life, but nevertheless,
| you meet them. 1t is nature, it is lifel"
In this play, which tells the life story OF
the sisters, there are lines and incidents In
| the story that will move the heart as only
true sentiment and actual sorrow can. The
odd phases of life that are brought into view
by way OF humorous incident, are freshly
natural as the Setting night clouds or morn
ing sun. 1t is brimful of wholesome enter
| tainment. 1t treats of homely life without
vulgar wit The play teaches good lesson
without any signs of preaching. 1t sends
| everybody away in a friendly mood
| The Two Sisters is in four acts, the scenes
OF which are laid In third rate hotel In New
| York, in Central Park, the the housetops OF
New York at night, and the Union Hotel in
the city. The parts of the two sisters, Mary
by Layinia White ana Mary Merrick. Hiram
Pepper from Montany, Handsome Harry
| Horton, Joe Baptiste La Flamme are taken
by Messrs. Eugene. Jepson, Myron sCalice
and L. ID. Gray, and host of other charac-
ters are well taken by other actors. Tonight
the 1.-Two Sisters" will be repeated. There
| Is fine music incidental to the play by the
| Acme Quartette, Me- srs. Hilbert, Nichols.
| Webb and Martin, with chorus by the COM
pany and the colored minstrel, Mr.. Horace
| Murrow.
NOTES
| Dockstader's Minstrels will be at Portland
Theatre next Tuesday evening. Everybody
knows that Dockstader gives a first-class
| performance. Sale of seats this morning.
Mr. John g. Magle, acting manager of the
Little Lord Fauntleroy" company is in the
| city. His company will be at Portland
| Theatre on Friday and Saturday nf navt
week.
This evening will be the last opportunity
to hear the Sanford Girls Orchestra in our
city, as they commence an engagement on
Monday evening at the fremont Temple,
Boston. The entertainment this evening
consists of concert by the orchestra and a
temperance address by Rev. S. +. Pearson.
LOOK TOMORROW