The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-17
THE THEATRICAL WEEK.
Two Companies Of Great Merit Will
Occupy the Week at Ming's
Opera House.
Manager Mcguire Has Bookad
Many Fine Attractions for
the Coming Season.
Surely No Town Noed Ask for better
Amusements than Helena win
Have this Winter.

This will be . great week at Ming's. To-
night the Abbott Opera company will OMEN
a season Of three performances and on
Wednesday the eminent tragegian Thomas
w. Keene will be seen for the first time in
this city. Surely no city in the land can
enjoy better theatrical week. Other at
fractions Of high order will follow during
the season. Among those already booked
to appear are the following:
Gus. Williams Comedy COMPANY. The
Still Alarm, James A. Herne in Hearts Of
Oak, Ray L. Joyce, Miss Jane Coombg. Prof.
Hermann, The Private Secretary. Edwin
Mayo, Little Lord Fauutleroy, Hermann's
Vaudevilles Trans-Atlantique, Frank DAN
iels in Little Puck, Kiralfys' spectacle The
Water Queen. the Fay Templeton Bur
leque Opera company, Donnelly and Gira
a.; ard in Natural Gas, Lolita, Corrine, Richard
spectacle Rajanka, F. B. Ward and Mrs. D.
z. Bowers, Ovid Uguoin Concert company,
Denman Thompson's Two Sisters comnanv.
The Bostonians. Mr.. Barnes Of New York,
Cleveland's Minstrels, Roland Reed, Cora
Tanner, The Clemenceau Case, Clara Lou
ase hellog, Ihatcher,s Minstrels, A Social
Session, The Emma ouch Opera company,
Verona Jarbeau, Sol Smith Russell, The Ed
itor.
Tonight Emma Abbott and her grand
opera company begin an engagement at
MinR's opera house. The organization has
long enjoyed the distinction Of being not
only ono of tho largest but among the
strongest, artistically and numerically, of
any organization in English grand opera
in this country. Emma Abbott easily main
tains her proud supremacy as one OF the
most popular prima donnas of the
American operatio stage; Miss An
mandate, prima Of American con-
tralti; Mirella. one Of the brightest
and abandonment sopranos on the American
stage: Michelena. the Spanish American
tenor. and an artist of rare attainments
and presence; Pachc, tenor primo, who
filled brilliant engagement in grand opera
in New York at the Grand opera house not
long ago; Rudolph, tenor primo, who will
be remembered in connection with
the great season at the Chicago
tanar INV, last ss season; Pr Bots
other roles have established him as an artist
of merit; Pruette, first of American bari
tones, superb artist and principal at one
time Of Her Majesty Opera company under
Col. Mapleson; Broderick, whose splendid
basso profundo and finished dramatic abil-
tiles have won him first position among
AAAAASAASnA
promising of young American bassi; Ready,
tenor secundo and Borovik, baritone, and
Misses Broderick, Vernon and Ellerinctop
soprani-these make up the list from which
to construct the cast. Behind them stands
the Abbott chorus nearly forty stronQ-one
ever heard in the cOuntry-and in front the
splendid orchestra, twenty in number, I'M
der the baton of Herr Albert Krausee, all Of
whom form solid and compact organiza-
tion of vocalists and instrumentalists that
is simply incompatible in America"
"Ernani." The thrilling story as created
by Victor Hugo needs no reference, as it is
known to all readers. In transcribing it in
music, Verdi has reached the fight of his
genius. and created work rs vivid in mu-
steal invention and seductive in melodious
rhythm as did ever Hugo in his wondrous
with tremendous effects at points, as at the
tomb of Charles the Great, in Act III,
where ensemble work is almost cyclonic in
its forces.
Mr.. Keene's idea Of the prince Of Dem
mark is that he was for the most part quiet
and contemplative. He seldom "unpacks
his heart" of furious words, but rather by
the intensity of his manner conveys thu
impression particular fact or situation
has made upon his mind. says the San
Francisco Call. He has studied and ap-
piled, in his own case, the instructions he
gives the players. His soliloquies are per
feet. No ranting nor defamation, as we
are apt to hear occasionally, but the sub
dued speech and interpretive manner char
acteristio of man communing with him
self, especially when 10 weighty q matter
was the subject Of his thoughts. In this
respect Mr.. Keene agrees with the late w.
+. Sheridan. who played the part with much
the same scholarly insight. Mr.. Keene's
interviews with Ophelia are also nicely
adapted to the condition-he conveyed the
idea Of real or pretended distraction, but it
was tinged more wieh melancholla and not
marked BY the restiveness of actual mad
ness. The play before his uncle and moth
or, the scene IN the cabinet Of the latter
when Polonius is slain, the rebuke to Ros-
encrantz and Guildenstern; in fact every
ton showed that the actor has been careful
and studious, and only moves where he has
become reasonably certain of his direction.
Like some professional fools. led for the
most part by precedent" he does not rush
IN and seek to carry the situation by rant
and roar, but. as Hamlet himself desired
the players to do, suits the action to the
word, the word to the action, and o'ersteps
not the modesty of nature.
The sale Of seats for the Keene engage
ment will open tomorrow morning at Pope
AZ O'Connor's drug store.
theatrical Notes.
Vax;o DrA~o,n ..o.~~A~a sS0ys 0-.:..