Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-12-03
AhllIcr MCMIS.

Though most of the company OF singers
who presented "I'risc.la' Ot the orcra
house Tue day evening nrs amateurs. tnsv
can give mSny n travelling opcra company
points ON furnishing IN cuJpyc'ic oNtcrt'!N-
nient. From the t!mo the c.rtaiu rose et
the beginning OF tho FIRST uc; unt.
it fell at TIE c.,ae OF tie 0pcr-
ctta there WAS not a htcA
OF any kind. The p.ece ran along Us smooth
summer brook. the chorus Of -
voices showed tie effect, OF caro.ui trimming
AID all TIE principals seemed TO l., i,n bued
with the true spirit Of Their several parts.
Mr. iupry u. Coolidge has written q
very clever libret'o az no time !u', and at
times sparkling Ire music, hy Mr. Thomas
". Surette, Is all pleasing, tho mcio-
d.es have p!cnty Of variety and
the production aAouads in charm-
ing scios ducts and quarto;tes,
with somo fine pieces for thu chorus. Act
first opens with a chorus by IA group of
Puritan maidore, vho wear white cap:,
white aprons and vi.o white collars and
cuffs, the general effect beng Very pleasing.
When tie young men appear the stage
they are seer ia kue1 b:eechos, high hat,
capes and wide WHO collars and cuffs
The costumes Of the loading characters were
quite elaborate and appropriate.
Mr. II. ". tDiSs pSi,oNatCb capt. Miles
Standish, ami in his high-toppsd boots
gauntletS, sword, shining helmet and breast
pate presented striking oppcarar"o lis
acting was cnsy and no fault could ba found
with his singing, though some Of tho noes
in the part seemed to belong to baritone
rather than a bass voice. Ills four utteni-
ants in bun co.ored suits and shining hei.
NETS, and armed with spears, wore a fep-
ture. MIR. ". W. Grillitns u Gov. Brad
ford bore a long staff. sang his lines well,
and conducted himself with the dignity
becoming his eXco..ency as re received the
homage OF his constituents. Mr.. +. y.
I Bancroft can always be depended on to do
whatever is demanded OF him just ms it
should be done, and lass evening was no ex-
ccpton to the rule. His faithful devotion
as John Alden to Standish, with the con
tending emotions caiissi by his love for the
! fair Priscilla were admirably depicted while
his tenor solos were most fayorabiy re-
ceived, rs they always are. lIatebad
| Higgins, the agent OF the good ship May
| flower and president of tie 'Ancestrial
+ Reflex and Antiquated Heirloom Co.,
limited, " furnishes the fun of the operetta,
and this part was admirably sustained 10y
| Mr.. W. Hubert Dodd. He kept the audi
! ence constantly i'll a roar Of laughter. His
/ topical song was u bright thing we'll ron
dered and was enthusiastically sncored time
and time again. His makeup was particu-
larry good. Mr.. Harry l.. Bingham made
Il splendid reformed Red Man." his make
NJ and war whoop being alone "worth the
price of admission.
Mrs. +. \. Smith as Priscilla was per
fectiy at home in her role. while as a So
prano singer she ranks with any one heard
here in many DAY. No bettcr selection
could LaYe boon made FOR this part. Re
/ sgnaton, middle :"i ,pineter, was td-
mirablv parson'ilci 10y Miss Laura l. Eaton.
Miss GcriruGe Noodbury's pleasing alto
voice was heard 20 good advan-
ta.e in tue part OF barbara ord
Nj Minnie Whe'llr sang we'll the lines
hat fell to her laisA. and Hiss ilnilie
Walker lid al that was required of her
rs r1denco.
ilr. c. T.. Macomhcr conducted tie opera
in q iaut.e-, manner aad tn instrumental
part was well cared for by he opera house
orchestra, with Mrs. Kate Macomber Davis
rs accompnni,t. Tho songs and bits Of
.cTcccd rsly clever acting werc generously
ulr.aUlcd. The grouping OF the chorus and
principals at the end Of the first act and the
unaie, vtE tie downfall Of Higgins becaUee
oi his attempt to carve up Plymouth Rock
into relics and convert the "Mayfiower''
into walking sticks. sorrow OF Resignation
al the loss Of her Intended husband, happi-
ness of Irisrilia ana Nd II aud the accept
ance of Barbara by the captain, uade two
very pretty pictures.
Ihe second Presentation OF Priscilla at
the Opera iiou Last EyenImr.
An audience which filled tho opera house
gathered lust evening to witness the second
and last presentation OF Priscilla. The
words of praise which were Justly due Tues
day evenings performance apply with equal
force TO last night entertainment. The
audience was not SOW in approaching the
good singing and clover bits OF acting and
oncores were frequent.
In he lerge amount Of preliminary work
necessary TO mako the opera The success it
was. Mr.. CHarie, Z. Phelps is deserving Of
especial credit. The very excellent stage
, Lu~lnc,S on the two evenings of the opera
was largely due TO his thorough training Of
the chorus aud his personal efforts in other
directions The success Of a opera derends
largely upon the handling OF the nstru-
urnlai score and the howard Opera House
oich.-tra, with Mr., knt" Nac.m}.r DAVIS
1T the piano, deserve u word VI pruise fol
their faithful work.
The cast Of the opera the two nights wa:
Is follows:
Pris,.ta, the Pretty Pilgrim,
designation, midd Gagged spi.-tqr
Ills laura +. Eaton
Itth ..----.............Ni-, Nliuu4c Wheeiei
Irudcarc ............ Miss 4tuu.- Wa rr
'li~s 9,aad.-h the dou;niy c1p'%.l, r.
john alden, The frleno in necl, -,
William Gra ford, GOVERNOR; Sc" ". ,ymoaIh
3. ~ " q ttt.t h