The evening world., 1893-12-07
NEWS Of The STAGE WORLD.
HHamlet" in Five Musical Acts
Is Somewhat Tiresome
The Kendals VIII Give q Varied
Programme in Philadelphia.

aJa inlet" Ambrose Thomas's five-act
,,era. was sung for the first time this
ssason at the Metropolitan Opera-House
last night. Nine. Melba probably Sc
,octed 1t on account Of the mad scene in
The last act, which gives her musical
nyrotechnics full play. Melba evidently
likes vocal insanity, for on Monday
nIrht 1t 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 has no distinguishing
mark. In the fiorid music of Hamlet"
the prima-donna did marvellously well.
Her method Is admirable. the flexibility
OF her voice Is simply astonishing, and
she goes through the most precipitous
|roulades Wit the utmost ease and sang
frnid. The audience was a little bit
weary, and some people did not wait to
rear Melba's triumph in the NTH act.
-Four acts had proved too much, for
been sung first, and the first act
last, the result of the performance at
Tie Metropolitan would have been YER,
as the Prince of Denmark, although he
WAS somcwhat colossal and chubby for
hat morbid. melancholy Dane. NJ.
,% aShe1 Queen @as G N,rs ,au M Ma Mllf; pom ms-
frtes; Sig. N.iviani, the ghost; Sig. Ger
usco, Horatio; Sig. Rinaldini, Marcellus,
and Sig, .N%aschetii, polonius. To-mor-
BOW night Romeo ct Juliette' will be
ung in French.
The Kendals will fall back upon their
repertoire in Philadelphia next week.
r "a T"s'aS'sI being GneN deemed s sfSeha M" for
he arch and chubby Inhabitants of the
Quaker city: The kendlls will play
The Silver Shell" "A White Lie,"."A
ESTs5. a on F aT%e lro Ts,ill Wate Tse R laS,
banned play will also be given by Nine.
lane Hading at the Chestnut Street
Theatre, so that Philadelphia will have
II opportunity, of seeing both the ma
ainty, sinuous Hading as the misguided
E.aire.
Maurice Barrymore is now rehear rising
Rose Coghlan in "A Woman OF No
Fehearsal letter perfect, which Is some
hing quite unusual for the ~areless Mr..
barrymore. Miss Coghlan herself is
ode has upset her considerably, but she
Is gradually recovering from the effects
4 the annoyance. 1t is said that Charles
oghlan's statement that he did not
Ike the role he was to have played is
feally true. The role was that Of a man
h has betrayed a woman to whom,
Pter In life. he Coolly suggests marriage.
Mr.. Coghlan thought that the role was
ln~sympathetic. 1t would be interesting
o know what he thinks of the part he
las just played in real life.
Miss Josephine Plows-Day ha been en-
Jagged to play Miss Elliott's part in
The Prodigal Daughter when that
helodrama goes on tour. Miss Plows-
pay has already made herself unpopular
h the company. 1t is said that at the
frst rehearsal she. the only newcomer,
emarked to the members of the
organization: my friends, excuse me
or saying that I think you are all rank
IN the last act" ..
Who is more important, the composer
pr a comic opera or the librettist? The
Question has often been discussed. Emile
Eola has just taken 1t up. and makes
his declaration: THE librettist and mu-
Fician should not be treated on the same
|ooting. While an able writer may make
! book for an opera in three weeks. the
kbor Of the musician is enormous though
has some recompense in the fact
hat his name may live forever while
he librettist Is Eeard of no more"
How fond w. S. Gilbert must be of
kola!
James A. Herne and his Shore Acres