The evening world., 1893-12-07
NEWS Of THE STAGE WORlO.
"Hamlet" in Five Musical Acts
Is Somewhat Tiresome.
The Kendsls VIII Give q Varied
Programme in Philadelphia.

: "Hamlet." Ambrose Thomas's ive-act
o,era- was sung for the first time this
acsson at the Metropolitan Opera-House
last night. Nine. Melba probably. Sc
lected 1t on account of the mad scene in
The last act. which gives her musical
p%yrotechnics full play. Melba evidently
likes vocal insanity. for on Monday
night It was Lucia" that she chose.
unfortunately. in Hamlet Nine. Mel
ba's opportunities did not come early.
In quiet and non-extravagant episodes
the Australian prima-donna is very or
binary. She is like half a dozen others.
Her voice is, of course, beyond re-
proach, but 1t a no distinguishing
mark. In the forid music OF Hamlet
the prima-donna did marvellously well.
Her method is admirable, the ~fexibility
Nr her voice is simply astonishing, and
,S,e goes through the most preclpitous
Youlades with the utmost ease and sang
froid. tn audience was a little bit
hear Melba's triumph in the fifth act.
-Four acts had proved too much, for
Ambrose Thomas, although, melodic, Is
have been sung first, and the first act
last, the result of the performance at
the Metropolitan, would have been very
different; Lasaile was exceedingly good
was somewhat colossal and chubby for
that morbid. melancholy Dane. NJ.
Plancon was King Claudius, Mile. Dome
ertes; Sig. Viviani. the ghost; Sig. Ger
russo. Horatio; Sig. Rinaldini, Marcellus,
and Sig; Vaschetti. Polonius. To-mor-
row night Romeo ct Juliette' will be
The Kendais will fall back upon their
repertoire in Philadelphia next week.
Tanqueray" being deemed sufficient for
the arch and chubby inhabitants of the
Quaker CITY,, Thu Kendals will play
scrap ans s of rs snsis'" .stil Mih Wst eis'" Run uA
Deep, and The Ironmaster." The last
named play will also be given by Nine.
Jane Hading at the Chestnut Street
Theatre. so that Philadelphia. will have
an opportunity of seeing both the ma
ture and loud-voiced Madge and the
dainty. sinuous Hading as the misguided
Claire.
Maurice Barrymore is now rehearsing
with Rose Coghlan in "a Woman Of No
Importance" and he attended the first
thing quite unusual for the ,areless Mr..
Barrymore. Miss Coghlan herself is
working very hard. The fraternal cpl
sode has upset her considerably. but she
Is gradually recovering from the effects
OF the annoyance. 1t Is said that Charles
Coghlan's statement that lie did not
like the role he was to have played is
really true. The role was that of a man
who has betrayed a woman to whom,
later In life, he coolly suggests marriage.
Mr.. Coghlan thought that the role was
unsympathetic. 1t would be interesting
to know what he thinks of the part he
has just played in real life.
Miss Josephine Plows-Day has been en-
gagged to play Miss Elliott's part in
THE Prodigal Daughter" when that
melodrama goes on tour. Miss Plows-
Day has already made herself unpopular
in the company. 1t is said that at the
first rehearsal She, the only newcomer,
remarked to the members of the
organization: MY friends, excuse me
for saying that 1 think you are all rank
In the last act"
Who Is more important, the
OF a comic opera or the librettist? The
question has often been discussed. Emile
lola has just taken 1t UP, and makes
this declaration: 1.-The librettist and mu-
stefan should not be treated on the same
footing. While an able writer may make
a book for an opera in three weeks, the
abor OF the musician is enormous, though
he has some recompense in the fact
that his name may live forever while
the librettist Is Eeard of no more"
How fond w. S. Gilbert must be of
lola!
James A. Herne and his Shore Acres"