The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-04-27
birds OF A FEATHER.
Jersey City Society People
Before and Behind the
Academy Foot
lights.
THE AMATEUR "ERMINIE." !"
Given With a Professional Grace
and Animalion-Stars, Chorus
and Audience.

The Amateur Operatic Association
scored another success last evening, and
that. too, with an opera far more difficult
and elaborate than any of its previous
productions. The undoubted success
which attended last nights production of
"Erminie" should remove all doubts as to
the future career of the Association, If
in deed such doubts existed. Faults there
were. and no one needed opera glasses to
find them. but they were merely those
which always accompany first perform
ance, and do not indicate deficiency In
talent or training.
The Academy of Music was not well
filed. The parquet had several vacant
spaces and the balcony was desert
waste back of the fourth row. Further
more, what there was of the audience
was cold, so cold that there was not a
murmur of applause until Miss Cowles'
song, when Love is Young" half way
through the first act, and IL would be an
icy audience that would not thaW at such
piquant bit of acting and voice like
the traditional nightingale. Miss Louise
Cowles deserves the highest praise for her
work in the role of Erminie. She has ac-
complished the difficult feat of
taking the image of the professional
who created the part from the minds OF
hsr hearers, and replacing 1t with her own;
it is safe to say that in the mind OF every
person who may see her Interpretation
Of the part. "Erminie" will stand for Miss
Cowles, not Pauline Hall. None can deny
the versatility Of one who can succeed
equally well with gay bit of frivolity
such as her song in the first act, or the
famous lullaby, "Dear Mother. in Dreams
See Her." whose melody has passed un-
harmed through the handorgan and exc
the gutter band. 1t may be said, with little
fear of contradiction, that Miss Cowles
sustained the part as few professionals
could do, and presented the most artistic
work OF the evening.
THE OLD FAvoRITES.
Even the apathetic audience woke up
when the old time favOrites, Frank Fl.
Molten and William I. Vidal, stole upon
the stage as the two thieves, Ravennes
light-fingered pair did not diminish dur
ing the evening. 1t was a foregOne con-
-clusion that Messrs. Motion and Vidal
would develop to the utmost those eccen.
trio characters on whom depends the en-
tire action of the play. The famous duett
"Downy Jail-Birds" was rather dlsap-
pointment, and "With Cautious Step" In
the last act, a far more artistic piece OF
work, vocally and otherwise. But 1t was
upon dramatic. not musical, ability, tha6
the thieves placed their confidence, and
in this there was nothing left to wish for
except greater readiness at taking cues.
MIR. Molten's dash and daring made his
work successful, while Francis Wilson in
his palmiest days, never presented
better picture of chicken-hearted cow
ardice than Mr.. Vidal. as the timid Caddy.
His gurgling voice, inimitable howl of
terror, his cockney dialect and loose
jointed awk wardness kept his audience
in commissions, and the "Dickey Bird
Song" produced such hit that several
recalls were given, in which Mr.. Vidal
referred plaintively to the crowded Mont
gomery street cars and mourned over his
lost election bets.
Miss Alice johnson made her first ap-
pearance with the association in the
eccentric role of Princesse de Gram
ponenX, and with Cadeaux, scored the hit
of the evening. 1t is no small matter to
interpret so impossible character, and
Miss johnson Is to be congratulated on a
fiawless performance. Her laugh, her
hoops, her agility and her aimlessly flap
ping hands are unapproachable, Mrs. w.
Hunter Brown invested the part of Cerise
with gentle dignity delightful to wit
Molten) skipped as nimbly and danced as
gayly as when Marie Jansen made her
reputation in the role. Mrs. Molten's
solo, "a Simple Maid from Village
Green" was bright bit of melody, and
her song, "This Afternoon at Four"
brought out an encore, for which she re-
peated the dance at the passage And the
Band that Plays the Charming Valse and
Minuet." Miss Gertie Segnine made
first briet appearance as Marie and dis
played an excellent stage presence.
With the Marquis de Pouvert (Mr. John
d. Shaw and the Chevalier de Brabazon
(Mr. r. b. Shepherd), no one could fail
na off iad "a in ,Io,
displayed fine voice in the military
solo. Mr.. Fred Parker was lover after
the Eden Musee order, and gave the toast
of Eugene" with exactly four gestures
only these and nothing more. But q
tenor voice of such richness and purity
as Mr.. Parker's would cover multitude
of sins far greater than gestures on the
one, two. three order. The audience evil
IDENTIFY thought SO and gave his interpo-
lated solo, De koven's 20, Promise Me I"
the hearty applause which the perform
ance deserved. Mr.. Henry Bright made
two brief and stormy appearances as the
upimportant Ernest de Brissac, and Cap
his Sergeant (Mr. w. III. H. Kane) were a
pair of interesting veterans. Mr.. Henry
G. Nichols appeared as suave inp-keep-
er, Dufois, and Mr.. Charles Morgan, as
Simon, brought out the humor of his part
in the scenes with Javotte.
IHE CkOhUS.
The much discussed chorus deserves
special mention, and Mr.. Dressler special
congratulations for the spirit and vivacity
no less than balance and accuracy dis
played in the several choral selections,
notably Good Night" and "Vive lie
Marquis" The sextette and chorus in
the first act was also noteworthy. The
elaborate gavotte led by Miss Cowles. with
Mr.. Parker, Mrs. Brown with Mr..
Molten and Miss Johnson with Mr..
Vidal, was conducted without q flaw. aud
brought out curtain call. The scenery
is that used in the original production.
Audiences at amateur performances
come prepared for long waits, but forty
minutes at time was altogether more
Than anyone expected. This record was
made after the first act. which closed at
just ten o'clock, aud together with the
customary first night waits for cues was
responsible for prolongtng the opera until
five minutes before twelve O'Clock.
This evening "rhe Chimes of Nor
mandy" will hold the boards, with Miss
Bertha Waltzinger as Serpolette, and Mr..
Frank Molten III his great part of Gasp
ard "The Chimes" will also be given on
Friday evening and Saturday matinee.
"Erminie" will be repeated on Thursday
and Saturday nights.