Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-13
MIRIH ON TOP.
Miss Huntington Lovely Paul Jones-Aunt
Jack-Spectacular Glories In the Twelve

Miss Huntington a Lovely Paul JOnes-Aunt
Jack-Spectacular Glories In the Twelve
Temptations-Yariety in Several Styles.
paul JONES'" comic opera in the proper
meaning of the term. composed by Planquette,
and more or less provided with English lines
by H. B. Farnie, was played for the first
time in Pittsburg last night at the
Duquesne Theater. 1t was a success
from the first bar to the last, and a
large audience gave it warm and spontane-
ously-approving reception. But the opera it
self was hardly so important as, the reappear-
ance of that finished and delightful singer.
Miss Agnes Huntington. If a voyage and
sojourn in England would always result so hap
PLY as it has in the case of Miss Huntington,
1t would be well for all our prime donne to
cross the herring pond. Miss Huntington
has not only brought back her deeply
melodlous voice. contralto of delicious
quality. and great personal charms of figure
and face, but also a stage character in which
all of her personality and powers are shown to
the greatest possible advantage. Paul Jones
would never have commanded the Ranger or
the Bonhomme Richard it he had possessed
the good looks of this American girl who, a
hundred years after his DEATH has taken his
name, not in vain, but for its glorifcarion.
The bold sea captain would have idled
his time away in Paris. or St
Petersburg, as he had a sneaking
desire to do anyhow. But as a matter of fact
opera have little or no historical value. That
does not matter much, for the role is heroic
picturesque and decidedly dramatic and the
story Is lar more romantic and well-told than
II Is. In brief, the story Of Paul Jones
courtship of pretty girl; his re-
Jection py the girls uncle on terms that
eompei MN to leave her for three years and
accumulate million francs; his departure on
aPrlVateersman and return at the end of the
tnree years just in the nick of time to snatch
s hs iove from another suitor at the altar steps;
quept escape and misunderstanding the win.
hing OF the faithful Yuonne.
AS raul Jones Miss Huntington was the life
o, .. 1e TWO frst acts-she had little to do
IN the third-and she sang all her songs
Mltn great feeling and artistic finish
weary everything she sang was encored
the song Ever My Own" being especially
the first act and another duet in the last act
and the closing aria and chorus in the second
ACT were numbers of considerable beauty in
wnicn MISS Huntington and Miss Van Brez-
gel, tne soprano in the role of Yvonne. were
neard TO advantage. The entire score of the
opera Is In Planquette's brightest stvle. Tine
ed,' n9roses are not very numerous, and truth to
nnt,, rer, Win tne exception of two or three, not
notaDie Tor melody; but they were sung last
nignt with accuracy and carital spirit. The
cnorus Is large one and contains sufficieucy
Tor the work in hand.
The humor of the p1ece ia verv mild and a
IsA&u
ns'le stupid through two acts, but it bursts out
N tne last act with good results Hallen
~ Hfoo.yn as BouttIdodtse. an old smuggler, sort
y. cross between Dick Deddeye and CdD'n
SafSe, as we have said, did not indulge in
low comedy TO any great extent till
.ne tnlrd act, although he created from
tne nrst an amusing character. But in the last
acs In the disguise of the Mosquito King" an
lnoian chlef he was uproariously funny, and
after new fashion. The song of the MOSQUITO
klpg and his companion. Pierre. in disguise,
also, was exceedingly ridiculous. and the whole
situation, prolonged to some length evoked
roars OF laughter. Mr.. Herve D'Egville as
Btcoquet had a share in quaint
which he performed well, but did
little else or had little else to do Miss Fanny
wentworth also languished IN state of COM
parat1ye obscurity until the last act when she
trlpped through Spanish variety of the skirt
dance with great grace, and in the interview
with her husband, disguised as the Indian
King, her coquettish dalliance was very cute
and laughable. A little song of hers about her
'sa6ots'-her wooden shoes-is gem that the
audience overlooked. The agility and grace of
Mr.. Thorne as Don 1Tocadero made a small
part prominent. Mr.. Carl Mora was not an at
tractive Rufno. but as the latter is Paul Jones'
rival that isn't of much consequence
The costuming is something of a revelation
even In these days of lavish expenditure on
comic opera. The shepherds and shepherdesses
dressed q ta Wattedn in the second act made a
very pretty picture in the dignified dance
which they went through to a tuneful air, and
the Spanish costumes of black and yellow, with
the Spanish arms embroidered. and long black
gloves, were very handsome. The scenery, ma
rlne views entirely, is very pretty but the stage
lights did not do it justice last night. The audi
ence called Miss Huntington before the cur
TAIN twice and in other ways marked their ap-
provaL The Wednesday matinee will be
omitted this week, but the Saturday one will
occur as usual.