The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-07-10
A NEW COMIC OPERA.
Africa" g Presented by George
Thatcher's Company.
OVER sEvENTY m the CAST.
yhe 0s9gsss epsessssiss Eafssvaeasss
Rvss Pssass~A % sAs Cssss -
Op<s asrs 1sstgh1

: 4 -.
!; The company shas WIZ pfessnt .ns ~
epketscuiAf comic cpsfa, AREA, u sas
SEATTLE she4teg Tor thsee nights. beginning
tnv, s.nt nnrsb>rs over seventy People aud
s.~s.sS~. .r.h ,x,,sx,la, ens~rsainsrp ~
T~ ra.,-a~. S,... u.,fan John Cole
-. pJ r.. f-h.r..~
Easn. hsy Mga Ms. - -
y sssne, H. ". ffa.la4s' AnD
John DAILY. Harry bisHey, yeefss Le.s.
Emma DsF~rseg, Blanche Hayden, Pearl
Iamsu. Helen and Hengsetta Byron, Grace
u.,n,I,,, Isnn.. sestt. Frssia Depeu and
49, -. r..n-~.n.y.,.aa {. kn,vn
- - rss.,~h~. - ~. f,,.,...c
- az. oeosss l" E.~.s-.~..
ExHsvssaaxa SoHpany. sne.'
the company has nHSas . tfemsnaoas hit.
The play 10 entirely nsw and should not
10 CONFUSED With "a Trin TO Africa"
~htea rsrnot - earn pared with il in point
s.s. =. ..s~.~,sxsr.~. Tina eomrauy
... - -. s..~s-, .r,,,,., a. ,er-
.'os o"iy n.s s.s s@a
formers, cut saso csffies i's o. a'.s.
snd car iosds OF scenery. ~ - unoousI
ssily the greatest spectacular production
III n has ever appeared on the Coast That
shs company took well In Portland il
- ~ ~. so,fo~fuv from The f,vnee-
FsAsf
"Afriea" was pronounced winner iass
Right BY IN audience that com p.essiy ex-
1Aastsd tbs sesting capacity oil the MAJ
guam. The verdict Uas expressed through
sDuliitsons OF sntausiasm that began WITH
She hrst I'VE minutes OF stage exposure
and continued with strengthened Sefror
Until the finai curtain. A more indiscrin-
tnstive hit has not been made by ans thans
pro1ueed In The house thss season. nIsss
Circle and gallery were squsay PROVIDED
with enjoyment.
The piece - two-aet exsrasazsnIa.
tsay NJ Greene wrote the hofetto, J.
Ghsevs. Gocdsin butt the lyrics ana Kan
doiph Cfager htted them VIII music Ihe
story hinges upon the eccentric conduesoi
Aanrics Merrill John a. CoiemanI
cigsrctte-snoking colisgsan. who insists
Epcn going TO Africa 70 discover I:ppoo
Tip, and ths deception prscueea upon
him By doting father. Believing
that ne - being sscorted through
the heart Of shs Dark tonnnent,
the misgiided youth II la reality on
Wcs. Indian Island. which the Old man
Pas peopsed with insds-to -oruer cannibais.
taciuding TiPpoo Jap ana ms court. Ihe
youth u captured and ordered 70 ce stsSsd
Iof the ioyaa tsoie. anu - 1asnen ssck Oh
the exploring business when disii!usion
strives. The plot 10 more substantial than
ahat OF the average farcs-comedy. ana .
tyine lighter than that Of the conventional
comic opera IL - weii-dehned. Tree from
Aa1ing inconsn'encies, anu .rncish.iy
amusing TO give Nj. Georss Thatchess
sFosd OF comedians abundant opportuni-
saes Tor good work. A. spectacular pro-
ouesion II IL magnificent Beautiful
scenery. gorgeous costumes ana . Wealth
Of paraphernsiiA In the way Of properties
snd decoratians IA axe the numerous tab
ieaax strkingiy picturesque ana effective:
There are % many people IN the cast and
e1ofus that the Marqna'n stage 10 taxed 20
accommodate them all In the ensemble.
Their individual and collective vocal
strength u one oil tbs hnest features OF the
entertainment. SFuger's pretty music re-
cstvss more generous justice than any
other organization In America could
ktvet1
John A. Coleman carries the bulk Of the
work throughout the performance aud
very. crsditabiy does be dott The charac-
YER he assumes could not have an actor
bbtter Quaithed by pbysiqus and method
fer its perfect interpretation His dancing
te ntmble and graceful ~ ever. and his
tsnging seems TO improve. Otis Harlan
carries the leading comedy In o bolsterous
Nay that 10 not extravagant, and he sings
vary funny songs In . very witty style.
VI