Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-01-19
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
R0sALIND MAY WRITES ABOUT THEAT-
RICALs IN NEW YORK.
The Man Who Writes the "Kid"
Stuf-Southe ern and Jones-Gen-
eral Stage Notes.

correspondent OI INC oONDA1 CNAON,
writes as follows:
"Did Gilbert and Sullivan exhaust them
selves in the production Of The MikadoT
Certainly nothing they have given to the
world subsequently has equalled that effort.
The Gondoliers' isSa decided improve
ment on The Yeoman of the Guard 1t
offers taking solos, duets, quartets and
ouintets; attractive chorus parts, and a
dance which musically, in execution on
the stage, and production of stage pictures,
| is very good. The entire first act, indeed,
has strong elements of success. The theme
is pleasant, being love episodes among
| Venitian gondoliers and their sweethearts.
They look their roles, all being young,
pleasing in appearance, and voices fresh.
The principal parts are well done, and the
impression altogether quite agreeable. A
change is given by the entrance of a
highly-born and richly dressed group, who
alight from a gondola, and shortly after
wards, the parsonage who is evidently IN
tended to become the grotesque and fun
making character of the play-the Grand
Inquisitor-enters. He does his part; but
the expected fun does not ensue. Here is
a notable
SOURCE OF WEAKNESS,
Since nothing is more dreary than an at
tempt at the comic which fails of the
mark. The audience, which was warm in
welcome and enthusiastic in plaudits, re-
ceived the Inquisitor's efforts coldly, and
here arose the first shade on the perform
ance. In spite of this however, the first
act might be called signal success, and
when the curtain rose on the second act,
which showed an entire change of scenery,
being royal court, preceding events had
led to the expectation of perplexing situa-
tions and deepening plot that might in
duce the suspense which goes so far in
arousing interest. But as time went on
matters grew fatter and more fiat, until
with nothing of a thrill they ran out in
most conventional and automaton-like style.
1t seems a pity that somebody had not
been able from SO promising beginning
to bring about more striking incidents
toward the close. The grotesque humor,
the strength of The Mibado,' is quite
wanting Nevertheless, The Gondoliers,'
on the whole, is pleasant entertainment.
The music, while affording no such capti-
waiting morceau as The Flowers of Spring,
is (for music of that class constantly ex-
cellent. 1t is the weakening plot which is
the blemish and cause for regret. Hap
PLY the performers are all young where
youth is requisite and the three principal
female singers pretty. A decided success
was scored by Tessa, who won an en-
thusiastlc and double encore. The open
ing of
THE LEMON LYCEUM HALL
On Fifty-ninth street and Madison avenue,
by Theodore Thomas, has been note
worthy musical event, and illustrates fore
IDLY the rapid progress of the city up
town. Three very interesting recitals have
been given this week at Steinway Hall, by
PAlbert, the great pianist, and the excel
lent and warmly-applauding audiences
speak well for growing appreciation of
art in this commercial center. | cannot
write too strongly of the famous per-
former. 1t is an education to listen to
him, of course, and the press seem dis
posed to accord him full need Of praise.
He is set down by leading critics as the
greatest living exponent of Beethoven.
''Next week the second Nikisch Sym
phony Concert takes place, also at Stein
wav Hall, and its success is already assured
in consequence of the fine manner in
which the first went of. A most cultured
audience welcomed him warmly, and New
York Journals with commendable candor,
accorded to his orchestra superior finish
over any musical organization here.
'In a dramatic way, Fanny Davenports
La Tosca,' though now so well known,
has been of interest as continued exhi-
bition of her remarkable abilities. She
! hut
week to Crane in his new play.
"Much is anticipated of Julia NARROW
next week at the Fifth Avenue"
sorHERN AND JONES.
His name is not Jones, says the Wash
ington Post but Jones will do. He is
citizen of the world, with headquarters in
New York. For fifty years he has lived
upon the bounty Of other people, and lived
we'll nearly all the time.
Jones was an acquaintance of the elder
! Sotherp, as he was and is of all the lead
ing actors, and when the son, E. II. Soth-
ern. had made his hit in "The Highest
| Bidders Jones was soon upon the ground.
He invited himself to dinner with Mr..
Sotherp, said clever things and helped the
| young man to spend his money.
| vi
| York after successful season Of travel, he
| had not as much money as was generally
supposed he had, for he had had to pay
some debts; but the demands of his posi-
] ton in the profession made 1t necessary
! that he take apartments in fashionable
quarter of the city, so he and another
young man took one room In swell fiat,
and kept up appearances with small ex-
penditures. Tha, the real manner in
which they were living might not be
known to indiscreet persons, they in
/ structed the doorboy Of the building al
wavs TO obtain a callers card before say
ing whether they were in and Mr.. Soth
| ern especially instructed the boy not to ad
nit old Jones. The boy was faithful to
his charge, and though Jones called nearly
every day Sothern was always "out."
One day New York newspaper said:
eYoung Sothern has fitted up handsome
fiat in the Cumberland commensurate with
the ample income he is now enjoying
| from his starring venture"
! This reassured Jones. He wanted to
| help spend that sample income" He
called again and again, but always in vain.
| Finally he pasted the clipping from the
newspaper upon sheet and wrote beneath
it:
| Your stupid man, each time 1 call denies me
The boon of meeting you, in artiul ways.
| When l would fain, as these few lines apprise
| me,
Bask in the sunshine of your prosperous days.
! I'd gladly contribute my songs and jestings,
| AS oft l did beside your fathers board,
| And aid you to enjoy your now inyestings-
| Yet still Pm thus incontinently hoored.
| Mr.. Sothern, in a fit of despair, resolved
that the way to rid himself of this bore
was to confess the truth, so he wrote in re-
| ply:
How man of mine could give you that inpres.
| sion,
| When I've no servant, is not clear;
| And with 70 festive board, without depression,
You would not care to sing and Jest, fear.
| The paragraph, dear sir, is purely fiction,
! The ample income coinage of your brain.
| Pardon, dear sir, so fiat a contrasiction-
| The fiat, believe me, is Hat in Spain.
The plan worked well. Jones did not
call again. He has little use for men who
have not ample incomes. But Mr.. Sothern
| is now making more money, and probably
| when this season closes he will really have
enough to attract Jones back to him; and
we can assure him that the publication Of
this circumstance, while it may enlighten
Jones, will not deter him from coming
back.
A NAN OF EXPEDIESTS.