Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1891-10-28
The Piuafore Performance.

The opening of the new opera house last evening by the produe- ton of Pinafore was a marked sue cess. Messrs. Aitken x Goldwater, lessees of the hall, deserve great credit for the neat manner III which they have repaired and changed the hall. They have built a fine, com modious stage on the first floor, and have furnished it with entirely new scenery, the hall being newly paper ed and painted, giving it very fine appearance. The new curtains are particularly beautiful. and the place has now a pleasant and cosy appear ance. The place is also provided with great conyeniences m case of accident, there being three means of exit from the main hall, and the same number from the stage.
 The managers were rewarded last night for this display of enterprise, by having a full house at their open inc. The cast of characters of the play has already been published in these columns, and the very least that can be said of them is, that all a .quitted themselves exceeding lv well in the characters assigned. As Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph Porter, K. c. B., Joseph Dauphin was perfectly at home. While he has been of the stage for several years, he has lost none of the true spirit of an actor which he possesses, and his voice seemed in fine trim last evening. H. D. Aiken took the character ot Captain Corcoran, and sang and played his part we'll. pr. F. H. Waite surprised many of his friends by the pathos and feeling; as well as the good singing, in the charaoter of Ralph Rackstraw. Jules Baumann brought down the house in the sec ond act, in his inimitable personifi- cation of Dick Deadeye. Tom Tucker" by Frank Andrews, Bill l Bobstay," by A, M. Jones, and Bob Beckett" by J. F.. Brown, gave these gentlemen very little opportunity to make any great display of their abilities, but that little was taken full advantage of to the credit of 1 each. A better marine sergeant than Jerry Ford would be difficult to find. Mrs. W. A. Cline, as "Jose- phine," was happy selection, as her ! fine, well cultivated voice IS just suited to the character, and her
 faultless rendering of 1t ellcited
 great applause from the audience.
 The same may also be said Of Mrs,
 w. A. Freeze. as Little Buttercup.
 Her make up was well suited to the
 character, while she manifested a
 grace in her manners, and an ease in her appearance, which indicated
 that the stage was no stranger to her. She was frequently applauded during the evening also. The char, acter of Cousin Hebe was taken by Mrs. G. A. Swan, with good effect
 Prof. Ludwig Thomas was musical
 director, and with tho sssistance o. f two others in his orchestra rendered | good music. A criticism of the play would be incomplete without specia mention of the chorus. While with , one or two exceptions, all participa
 ting in the play are amateurs, anf , to critise their acting or singing, II S comparison with professionals would be unfair, the chorus woult
 even stand such criticism. .
 course Pinafore is not new play and who has not heard it numeroa times. but who has heard 1
 where the choruses were bette rendered than last evening" Thei melodies are most enchanting, an' a the rendering of them last evening r was superb.
 The performance will be repeate'
 auain this evening and to-morro, . evening. when it is expected that al 2 participating will even excel thel performance of last evening.