The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-11
SINGERS OUT OF TUNE.
MISS MARIE GREENWOOD AVID HER
COMPANY IN "FRA DIATOLO.n
They are at Home In Sparkling Comic
Opera, But Grand Compositions are
Too High for Them.

Marie Greenwood and her opera company
presented to a large audience at the Acad-
envy last evening Auber's melodlous and
excellent opera, Fra Diavalo." This
work holds an enviable position among
those compositions known as grand
operas, and the company last evening
were not capable Of giving 1t that pre-
sentation so justly due It. The composer
has put in his work too much concerted
music for the Greenwood Opera Company
20 sing it properly, and the solo parts
demand the efforts Of artists more quail
fled. or gifted, as the case may be. than
those who make up the nightly cast with
Miss Greenwood as prima donna. To sing
the music Of Fra Diavalo." and sing II
acceptably, there must be In the cast
singers who are entirely at home with
harmony. and who possess in no small
degree the true appreciation Of the ar
tistic. Unfortunately Miss Greenwood's
company is sadly lacking in the latter
quality, and in some instances, strangers
10 the other consequently such grand
work, with such splendid harmonies as
Fra Diavalo" possesses. fares badly in
their hands.
with the ever tuneful strains Of Doc
caccio," the Greenwood Opera Company
can 80 bounding into fame and financial
prosperity, with a swinging rhythm as
harmonious as the Coafer's song, and with
Planque'tes Chimes Of Normandy"
they can gather shekels from where the
blue waves Of the Atlantic Ego broke"
against the banks OF Maine to where the
chameleons bask in the sunlight Of Flor
ida and change their tints With such
ebullitions Of melody as "Mascotte" and
the "Gobble Song" they can journey far
beyond the City Of Winds and Midway
Plaisances, and with bursts like"Oivette."
they can see the sun sink I'm the Pacific
and tread the primrose paths Of daliiance,
near the Golden Gate. With such operas
sparkling as cliquot and bright as a cal
cium, they can go and have a winning
wrestle for American sheckels. but If
they intend to closely associate themselves
with grand operas, then their baggage
had better now be checked 10 New York
while there IS yet time.
This afternoon there win DE a large au-
dience TO witness "Boccaccio," which is
admirably sung and acted by the com
pany. and the engagement will close this
evening with "Denisette," a charming
light opera.
opens this morning at 9 o'clock and
there Is sure TO be a large demand for
them, for the production 10 be given at
the Academy Monday, Tuesday and We'd
nesday is one Of the most gorgeous ever
seen in this city, and the performance
will please the most fastidious critic in
every particular.
a large audience filed Leader Hall
in Manchester last evening, to witness
the production Of that clever play. 1.-THE
Loan Of A Lover" written by blanche.
The east Of the piece which was pre-
coded by a concert. in which Misses
Pattee and Leahy, Messrs. Crump and
Batkins participated. was as follows:
Gertrude, Miss Mayne Leahy; Ernes-
tine. Miss Bessie Pattee; Captain Ar
nersfoot. Mr.. j. Louis Sullivan; Peter
Spyk. Mr.. w. a. Kleveshal; Delve, Mr..
Warren Batkins; Swyzel, Mr.. J. w.
Tyson.
The performance, under the direction
OF Mr.. Watkins Norvell, was a complete
success. Miss Leahy was a fetching
little Gertrude; and Miss Pattee. stately
asl Ernestine; while Mr.. Sullivan. as
Captain Arnersfoot. dressed and acted his
part well; Mr. Kleveshal made a laugh
able Spy1; and Mr.. Batl1ins was an
amusing country boy in the part Of
Delve. Mr.. Tyson deserves especial mem
ton. playing SwyZei, as he did, on two
DAYS notice with ease, and a knowledge
of his lines, in a style that did him
great credit.
The future performances Of this com
pany are looked forward TO with inter-
est. and already they have a PROPOSE
tion TO produce the play at the Soldiers
Home theatre in Hampton, Va, during
the month of December