Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-07
THE DRUM MAJOR,
Bright Music, Fair Faces, Fun and Rafa-
plan Win Victory.


plan Win Victory.
sGTHE Drum Major" led corps of the pret.
tiest soldiers under the sun to a victory at
the Grand Opera House last night From the
reveille to the ''taps' the rataplan of the drums
beat pleasantly in the ears of one of the largest
and most representative audiences Pittsburg
has turned out this year. In plain English, THE
Drum Major" was success, artistic and popu-
lar 1t is an opera that no one who has an ear
for sparkling melodious music, an eye for
pretty faces and military fnerY and soul for
laughter, should miss.
The music of "The Drum Major is of a
higher kind than either ''Nadiyn or "Erminie''
can boast, and has all Offenbachs strong char
acteristcs. There is lots of color in it, and the
waltz measure that is the inevitable motive in
the score of most modern comic operas is
noticeably absent. In place of it we have
marches of electrical effect plaintive love
songs, and cunningly contrived ballads of all
sorts. The concerted music is wonderfully
rich in places the finale of the first act being
good instance.
THERE is no dreaminess about Offenbach. 1t
islively always, startling once and again, and
full of bubblIng merriment. The song and
chorus beginning, Fill Up The Cup" in the
first act is full of spirit and ''go." So is the
y.
same act, which John F. Brand and Pauline
Hall sang very well, is the sweetest number of
all. A Spanish air, which fell to Miss George
Dennin's care showed Offenbach's versatility.
OF course 1.-The Drum Major is an old opera,
and we have grown to like-or to be given
another kicd with German or Austrian
stamp upon it. But to our mind Offenbach and
comic opera are most happily allied. The
libretto tells the real story-a novelty in opera
comique nowadays-fairlY well.
Miss Pauline Hall sang better last night than
she has hitherto done, and she rivaled the
divine Diana in all sorts of becoming dresses
from an accordion skIrted school girls dress to
the marching uniform of the daughter Of the
regiment
THE charms of Miss George DENIM were
most happily and appropriately bestowed
upon CIGudtIe the ViuGndtere. She played
the part with the greatest spirit in the world.
She was ViUGndiere nobody in the regiment
could escape loving. AS one OF the lovers,
James T. Powers, mlsfit soldier made from
a tailor, was immensely funny. His imitation
of lady at her toilet was a notable
piece of quiet comedy, and was received with
great applause. Mr.. Brand was not only hand
some and dashing as Robert, but sang with
great taste and power. The singing of Miss
0EdCo 0Oluou WAS EeIndEkdDly SOOu AloOs
Stevens as Mantha6ar could hardly have been
better, and a number Of others in the cast de-
serve praise.
THE costuming of the whole piece is some
thing that has never been eQualed here
before. The military nature Of the opera gave
opportunity for the use of military costumes
in lavish and elegant variety. Very seldom in
deed has such blaze of color been seen on our
local stage. The scenery was very beautiful,
and the orchestra under Mr.. Williams did well.
0THE Drum Major'' will be given tonight
and at both performances tomorrow.
There should be large audiences if the public
only realizes how good this opera is in all re-
spects. A hurried review does not do its merits
justice.
IN the presentation Of Bronson Howard's ex-
cellent comedy. "The Henrietta" next
week at the Grand Opera House, Mr.. Mordaunt
will play the Wall street magnate. which was
Mr.. Cranes part last year, while Stuart Robson,
who loves pictures of actresses and buys them
in wholesale quantities from photographers,
and gives apremium for autograph signatures,
possesses the love of delicious young girl, and
that certainly should be sufficient happiness.
The comedy will be excellently produced and
most effectively performed; and wherever "The
Henrietta" has been produced the capacity has
bean inadequate to accommodate the crowds.
The advance sale of seats has opened auspi-
ciouslys
The curtain will rise on THE Drum Major
at o'clock tonight instead of S:l5. This is
rendered necessary by the heavy scene-shifting
and the great length of the opera.