Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-03-16
MU.IC and DRAMA.
ROsALIND HAYS COMMENTS ON AMUsE-
MENTs IN NEW YORK.
Cruel Practical Joke on a water
Nymph'-Peculiaritie of Two
Great Artists-Notes,

Cruel Practical Joke on Water
Nymph"-Peculiarities of Two
Great Artists-Notes.
Rosalind May, the regular New York
correspondent of the SUNDAY UNION,
writes as follows in regard to anusements
in the metropolis:
Lent Is not without events of peculiar
interest. Presented to New York public
in better fashion, the gay, tuneful music of
the 'Gondoliers' at Palmer's Theater
eyinces not a trace of penitence, yet each
night the houses are crowded and the piece
is evidently in for a long run. At the
Casino, the same assertion can be made re-
garding The Grand Duchess which
proved successful from the opening night,
and will for an extended period prove
| popular. Much Is accomplished by extra
ordinary scenic attractions, to say nothing
of beauteous presence in Lillian Russell,
who reigns now, the acknowledged queen
of the operetta. The great tragedian,
sALvINI,
Is long way removed from comic opera.
but New York welcomes him again at the
Broadway, where, during this engagement,
he plays five times in the week, intervals
being filled by that accomplished actor,
Alexander Salvini, who seems to have
adopted America as his home, and who
yearly grows in the esteem of Americans.
At Daly's the season will end with the
| glorious revival of "A MIidsummer's Night
| Dream which, on its first presentation,
| Won such enthusiastic praise from press
and Lublic, and which is given now to
audiences who crowd to witness the splen-
did performance. Over at the Standard
| Theater The Stepping Stone has not lost
| the prestige of recent introduction 1t
has, moreover, the merit of originality,
| and is a refreshing change therefore from
the conventional play. The cast is also
| very. strong. The hero's part, however, is
filled by an actor who possesses none of
hero's personality, while Augustus Levick,
although comprehending the role of an
individual who plots dark plots at the
same time that he fascinates almost every
one about him, is moi gifted with the
physical charm that the character requires.
A man who captivates wholesale would
prove much more effective stage picture
if endowed more generously with those at
tributes which conquer women's fancy.
THE COUNTY FAIR
Is still crowded at the Union Square
Theater, and all through the winter has
proved one of the strongest attractions in
the city. Aunt Jack is still at the Mad
ison Square, and throughout the metropo-
lis no better evenings entertainment can
be had than by visit to this extremely
funny and otherwise attractive perform
ance. 1t is worthy of Mr.. Palmer's dis
elimination and has been trump card,
like almost all the selections of that able
manager. Rose Coghlan, at the Four
teenth-street Theater, during a two-weeks'
engagement has been well received, and,
to critical eyes, is still the uncommonly
same sprightly actress. She has PLAYED
'Joce|yn,' and Peg Wellington in Masks
and Faces
GERMAN oPERA
Is drawing to a close, and, in musical
way, the important future event is the
coming of the Italian opera, on the oath
instant. 1t seems long till that date, to
ears unused TO melody; an unparalleled
excitement is expected, and already there
is rush for seats"
TWO GREAT ARTISTS.
Says the Chicago Tribune: This is the
manner two great musicians go to re-
hearsal: Time, l P. NJ. yesterday: scene.
Auditorium; Herr DAlbert, accompanied
by his wife and manager, is driven up to
the grand entrance in a carriage and is as
sisted to alight as daintily as if he had
been woman. The party enters the
Auditorium, and with scarcely a sign of
recognition to the musicians on the stage,
he seats himself at the piano and signifies
to Conductor Rosenbecker that he is ready
to begin. When the first number was
completed he was ready for the next with
out a minutes rest. 1t is evident that to
DAibert rehearsals are bore to be got
through with as soon as possible.
Senior Sarasate, with his violin box in
his hand, walks from his hotel to the
Auditorium, and comes in by the stage en-
trance on Michigan avenue. He walks
across the stage In matter-of-fact way,
and cordially mods to the members of the
orchestra. The cheapest fiddler in town
could not have outdone this great violinist
in the quietness of his entrance to a re-
hearsal. In a minute his overcoat and hat
are discarded, his violin is in his hand, and
he is ready.
German musician who came in late
occupied twice the time in preparing to
draw his bow Sarasate did.
The first number is completed. The
forty musicians gathered on the stage, who
had made no sign of approval when DIAL
bert was at the piano, now burst into ap-
planse. The fddlers' claque, striking their
violin with the bow, echoed through the
great hall. 1t was hero-worship of the
exalted kind. They recognized their king
in music.
Then Signor Sarasate runs through a
selection from "Faust" The wonderful
power of the violin in expressing emotion
in the hands of its master reveals a new
world to the orchestra. They play as they
never played before. When the last note
dies away bows are nearly broken over
yiolins. Signor Sarasate acknowledges the
homage with a smile and kindly recogni-
tion. Then he mingles among them, and
they feel that after all they were of the
same calling.
CRUEL JOKE.
Some one played practical joke on a
couple of the members of KIralfys
"Water Queen" company, that has lust
closed an engagement at the Grand, saws
plays Mopsus, the low comedy part, carries
around with him in the play flask sup
posed to contain whisky. 1t doesn't, how
ever, as may be imagined, from the fact
that in the second act he gives it to Ida,
water nymph, who, much to his disgust,
drinks hree-fourths of it. 1t is supposed
| to be her first taste of any mortal's drink,
and the business requires that she shall
show a strong liking for it and drink it
nearly all.
Well, not long ago some joker substituted
flask of real whisky for the prepared
stuff. Moreover, it was the kind known as
Essence of File," that tears your throat
up into strips as it goes down. At the
proper time Mopsus took it out and took
sip. He looked startled, and the tears
came into his eyes as the stuff burned its
way down. He recovered himself, how
ever, smiled, and invited Ida to have
some. She went through the lines called
for, and then took the flask. She put tito