Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-17
CAME, BUT SAW NOT.
THOUSANDS WAIT HOURS FOR THE
PARADE AND ARE DISAPPOINTED.
Belated Arrival the Cause--Performance
Very Hurriedly Given-Splendid
Production of Pinafore."

A circus minus the street parade and two
performances with incomplete programmes
very hurriedly executed tells briefly what
the Barnum & Baily combination gave yes
terday and last night TO the people of
Richmond and vicinity, who fiocked here
TO witness the greatest show on earth"
and the result was that thousands OF dis
gruntled persons retired TO sleep in disap-
pointment.
That the show given as il should be with
proper regard for the right Of those
who pay TO see it would be- marvel be-
yond what has ever been seen here there
can be no doubt: but that the two per-
fOrmances given in the afternoon and last
night in the Allen field Just west of Rich
mond College We're not by any means what
the people had been led TO expect IS equally
certain.
The Abandonment of the street parade
could not be avoided and was attributable
10 no fault of the management. In fact
they seemed TO deeply regret having 70 dis
appoint the thousands of persons who rs
early as Q o'clock in the morning thronged
the streets through which the great
pageant. composed of herds of ele-
plants, caravans of camels. hun
dreds of beautiful ring horses, chariots,
and cages of wild beast, was expected to
pass and put forth every possible ehort to
get the animals here in time to show them
off, but it could not be done.
The delayed arrival was due rather to a
combinatiOn of circumstances, but most
especially to the inability of the Pennsyl-
vania railroad to handle the heavy trains
with proper celerity with the engines fur
nished for the purpose.
The management claim that they suffer-
ed at least $4,000 loss by reason of the
failure Of the Pennsylvania railroad TO de-
liver the cars at Quantico as promptly as
was anticipated.
The afternoon performance. which was
much the better of the two, began about
4:30 and was witnessed by perhaps i've
| thousand persons.
The night performance was also witness
ed by quite large crowd.
Superb Presentation OF Pinafore by the
Richmond Amateurs.
The ever-charming opera "PinafOre
WAS presented at the Academy of Music
last night in q superb manner by the Rich
mond Amateur Opera Company.
While it was confidently expected that
! Mr.. Shepherd and his company of amateurs
would give a pleasant performance, the
most sancuine were agreeably surprised;
]
manner that would have done credit TO
| frstrate professional troupe. There was
not a hitch or an awkward point in tho
whole performance, and the strength OF
! the company and the effectiveness of the
| stage setting and costuming contributed
| TO make it the most successful rendition
of Pinafore" ever seen IN this city.
THE SOLO PARTS.
The feature of the performance was the
singing of Mrs. Warren-Mechling as Jo-
! sephine. Her voice-a pure, sweet so
prano of great range and fieNbllity-was
! admirably suited 10 this most dramatic of
all the Sullivan roles. But it was in the
! Last Rose of Summer" which she sang
| in response 10 an encore. TINT the rich. VI
/ brant quality of her voice was most appa-
rent. This beautiful ballad was sung with
Il delicacy Of phrasinG and depth OF feel
! ing that is rarely heard-even on the pro-
fessional stage.
Mr.. Thomas w. Dabney, the young tenor
of st. Paul's church choir, "a Ralph Rack
straw. sang in superb manner, and as the
manly British tar completely won the
sympathy Of his audience. His voice Is a
rich, dramatic tenor. even and smooth IN
| all parts Of the register and is used with
much taste and effect.
! Mrs Carrie Staude-Rowe made most
charming Little Buttercup, singing and
acting the part with the Uerre and sprlght-
illness that has made her such taVorite
with Richmond audiences.
Mrs. II. A. Tabb as Hebe was charming.
| and II IS safe 20 say that better Hebe has
never been seen here. Mr.. Z. }. kemplln
| made a roliicking and amusing Captain
| Corcoran. His singing OF the "Serenade"
was particularly fine Mr.. Douglas Left
! wich was manly "Bosn " and sang his
| lines IN a spirited and forcible manner:
n The Dick Deadeye of Mr.. Il. Is. Shepherd
was well studied and carefully executed
conception. His makeup was slngularly
| effective, and his comedy was clean, clever,
and irresistibly funny. He sang the part
with breadth Of tone anda dramatic effect
that made it one Of the most prominent
parts in the opera. Master Moore Lathrop,
as the Midshipmite, fairly took the au-
| dience by storm, and his sweet, childish
| treble went straight 10 their hearts. HIS
SINGING of THE Midshpmite" and lit
| tie Annie Rooney" was received with tre-
mendous applause, and he was loaded
down with flowers by the ladies'.
| GOOD CHORUS.
The LARGO chorus effectively supported
the principals. 1t is undoubtedly the best
opera chorus ever organized in Richmond.
! The singing is remarkablefor great volume
of tone. and the ensemble work Is done IN a
finished and effective manner.
Mr.. Shepherd, who organized the compa-
nv and rehearsed the opera, and DIR. j. Emo
~ Shaw, the musical director, deserve great
credit for the way in which they staged
the opera and it is hoped the company
will be kept together that other operas
nav follow "Pinafo-e."
The fine costuming and scenic effects
heightened the effectiveness OF the pro
duction, and the excellent playing of the
orchestra contributed no little TO the sue
cess of the performance.
This afternoon and tonight the Academy
will in all probability be filled to its ut
most capacity The audience last night
was very enthusiastic and the universal
opinion seemed to be that the perform
ance was one of the best ever given IN this
| city.
! The Thursby Concert.
The Thursby concert at the Academy
next Thursday, May 22d will be one of the
finest musical events of the season. Miss
| Thursby will be assisted by Miss Emma G.
Hair, Of Atlanta. niece of Dir. Frederick
| @. Hair, MIR. William II. Grant, Jr., and
some of the best local talent.
|