The Jersey City news., 1892-05-13
THE ATHLETES OPERA.
Brilliant Performance of
Cinderella" at the J. c.
A. c. Theatre.
ADMIRABLE AMATEUR WORK.
People in the Cast-A Pleasant
Dance Follows the Enter
tainment.
ADMIRABLE AMATEUR WORK.

last evening at the Athletic clubhouse,
when the Jersey City Athletic Club Op-
| cratic Company presented cinderella at
School. in two acts and five scenes, with
an excellent cast composed entirely of
amateurs-"real amateurs, too," as the
committee proudly explain to all inquir-
ers. The pretty little theatre was only
com fortably filed, but while the perform
ers lacked the incentive always afforded
by packed house, they were fortunate
in an audience not only sympathetic. but
enthusiastic, applauding every vocal fea-
ture and recalling almost every soloist of
the evening.
cinderella at School" is the lfghtest
kind of light opera, and the plot is SO
very, very light that it is very nearly
vapid. The school is the Papyrus Semin-
ary for Young Ladies, owned by Prof.
kindergarten and conducted by Miss
Zenobia Tropics. Cinderella is Niobe
Marsh, charity pupil, who falls in love
with one Arthur Bicycle, an Upper Crus-
tacean, nephew Of Lord Lawntennis,
long.lost grand che-ild of that Brit
ish nobleman. Merope Mallow, an
heiress from Brazil, and friend of
Niobe, is incidentally beloved by Jack
Polo, and with his assistance furnishes
the audience with some exceeding vivid
love scenes. The story of the slipper is
prettily introduced in the first act, where
Jack Polo rescueS Niobe and Merope
from q fierce COW, and Arthur picks up
Niobe's slipper. lost in the fray, while
Jack discovers pair of gums of the size
supposed to have been worn by "Clemen-
tine'' of college song fame. 1t is no more
than just to the performers to say at the
ouGset that 1t was TO their excellent WORK
that the acceptance of the operetta was
due-with less remarkable cast and
chorus the action would have been often
tedious and the music fiippant.
LADIES IN THE CAST.
Cinderella, otherwise known ass Niobe
Marsh, was sung by Mrs. Will w.
Thomas, whose voice was never heard to
better advantage. Her most pretenoious
solo was why Am so Sad Today" in
which her voice. so mellow and rich in
the register. assembled to G in alt descend
ing in a succession of ripping cadenzas.
Deafening applause drowned the last
notes, floral tributes were showered upon
her, and she was forced to repeat the
entire solo. "The Linnet In the Tree"
was also well adapted to display her
fexibility of tone. Mrs. Thomas
most artistic work, however, could pc
found in the concerted pieces In
which her voice dominated the
chorus without becoming unpleasantly
prominent Miss Katrina Green as Merope
Mallow scored distinct artistic success.
and added proofs that hers is q voice with
not only glorious present but still
more glorious future. For the dramatic
solo with which she attacks Syntax in the
third scene. and the song, Pm Sure TO
Astonish You All, Miss Green received
applause and flowers galore, aud no more
than she deserved. Miss Gertrude Car
land was cast for exactly the part to dis
play her eccentrlc talent. She was not
frightened at the fact that Ada
Rehan once appeared In this role,
and proceeded with the utmost
nonchalance to fall asleep UNEXPECTEDLY,
chew gum incessantly, throw putty.
dance, jumping jacks. and do all sorts of
school girl tricks as Psyche Persimmons.
Miss Carland's stutter was simply inimit-
able, and the delightful way in which she
murmured in her love scene with Tutor
Syntax, ''S-s squeeze me t-t-tighter"
brought down the house. Miss Eleanor
D. Buchanan gave a thoroughly consis-
tent and artistic rendering of Zenobia
Tropics head teacher at the Papyrus
Female Seminary. Her part called for
no extended solo work, but what fell to
her share was excellent throughout.
THE MASCULINE PARTS.
The highest honors among the gentle
mon of the cast belong to Mr.. j. +. Cook,
whose Syntax was work of art
from every point of view. He
has the rare faculty of merging
his personality entirely In the past. with
the result that every gesture, as well rs
every note or word, was perfectly con-
sistent and perfectly chosen. The duet
with Niobe, "You are an Orphan-So
am Il'' was a fine example of the dry
humor so rarely found on the amateur
stage, and his courtship of the naive
Psyche with the same strain was particu-
larry fetching. Arthur Bicycle was rep
resented by Mr.. Chas. II. Smith, whose
appearance in the first act was SO entirely
stunning that it attracted everyone's
attention from even his voice. However,
when in the third scene he descended
from: the glories of brown corduroy
shooting jacket to the dead level of even
ing dress, the feminine portion of the
audience was able to hear him sing his
serenade with great success and applaud
also recalled Tor his bright little song,
by Jove. it's Pretty Little Shoe"
Mr.. William ID. Preston appeared as Jack
Polo, in love with Merope, and
dazzled the audience by succession of
gorgeous suits ranging from hunting
"pink" to tiger-striped Princeton rowing
costume. He succeeded in making in.
teresting and melodious 81 Kiss My Hand
to Thee" a waltz song, with as thorough
ly inane words and insipid music as ever
disfigured an operetta. The admiring
friends of Mr.. Charles w. Shone were
given an opportunity to see how he would
look at the age Of ffty-five; certainly not
trace of his present looks were lett.
But his voice remained intact. and de-
lighted the audience to the point of vigor-
Gus applause when, as DIR. Kindergarten,
he sang of his educational system. which
seemed to consist chiefly of "cod- fish
mince-much too often" Mr.. Winfield
Vreelaud as Jenkinson. and Messrs. H.
G. Beltair and George b. Kern as gen
une" footmen did good work in small
roles.
THE CHORUS.
The chorus deserves special mention
and praise for the excellent balance and
volume, no less than for their promptness
in taking cues. The first chorus. "Green
Are tine Waving Branches" the finale to
the first act, "Hark to the Sunset Gun,"
and Farewell" were the most note
worthy features. The school girls who
were charmingly clad in Greenaway
frocks, were as follows:-The Slatepencil
sisters, Cloris, who lisps, Miss Minnie
Stewart; Circe. who giggles, Miss A. Ter
hume. Lofts; who sighs. Miss LILY Scott;
and Penelope, who eats, Miss Mary Bahr;
Pansy Pickle. who knows everything,
Miss Emily Bloom; Primrose Pickle,
who knows nothing. Miss Lillian Harrison;
Sallis Chalk, Mrs. w. A. Rosenbaum;