Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-03-09
A Musical Renaissance.
THE FORTH COMING PRES ENTATION OF
PINAFORE.

THE FORTH COMING RES ENTATION OF
PINAFORE.
The rehearsas of s'Pinafore" now pro-
crossing bring back good many pleasant
recollections in the history Of Sta I'M
tons amateur musical efforts. Pleas
ant because they recall old friends and also
because they recall musical successes that
have not been equalled in any city of this
size in the South.
Few OF us have forgotten the first produc-
ton of this charming opera fourteen years
ago. 1t was the first attempt of that mag
nitude in the city. The town was all agog
and when the curtain rose at the Opera
House they were astOnished. It was pro-
duced three times then, with the following
cast:
Josephine Mrs. W. l.. Bumgardner
Buttercup. ...... ............... Mi ISIS Daniels
Ralph. ........ ......... ........C. l.. Cooke
Capt. COrcOran.. Mr.. Daniels
Admiral Porter. .......John McQuaide
Dead Eye. ............ ........ Herbert Stiff
1t was great success in every way. The
R. Firth; the whole stage was ship and
the drop curtain was a white mainsail
which was hoisted by the sailors Prof. e.
Louis Idle Was the musical director. Few
Of us have yet forgotten the beautiful voice
of Josephine, the fine singing of Ralph and
Corcoran, the magnificent basso Of Dead
Eye, the inimitable acting of Admiral
Porter and the really splendid execution of
the chorus work. The audience was fairly
taken by storm, and when the duet Of Ralph
and Josephine, Farewell my OWN came,
they went wild over it. There was but one
amateur in the cast who did not live here
MI. Daniels OF Washington city.
About two years later it was produced
again with the same cast, except that Miss
Annie Haas OF VI oOdstock, took the part
OF Josephine. On that occasion, as on all
others, it was produced three times.
Later it WAS again put on with the same
cast, except that Mr. Ed. Euritt took the
part Of Dead Eye.
The fourth and last time it was produced
mere was by the same cast, except that Mrs.
COHUI4lUO.
took the part Of Duttercup, Miss Cora Tur-
her that Of Josephine. aud MI. Alfred Jaffe
that Of Capt. Corcoran.
Two OF The singers have sung in pinafore
elseWilere-Mr. Cooke three times at Harri-
sonburg and three times at Lovingston. and
Mr.. McQualde three times at Harrison
burg.
The cast with which it is now to be pro-
duced in Stanton, and which is now re-
nearsing it, is this
Josepljue,. ...,,.,. Miss Clemeuce Cooke
butleIcup.' .........".. Hiss Nan Cooke
Heo2' '..'.'...... Miss Fannie Tannehill
haieh.'...' ......... MI e.. L. Cooke
Capt. CoIcofan ............ Mr.. a. Jaife
Admiral Porter Mir. J. McQaide
Dead Eye. MI Ed, Euritt
BoatsWf;in. .......... Mi. &. Il. Caldwell
The musical conductor is Prof. f.
Il. v etb, and Mir. Cooke issuperv sing the
stage setting and the stage business. The
reheaIsa!s are taking place every Monday
aid Friday hight in the ! tonewall Camp
room.
Ii is the purpose OF all interested 10 inaKe
this presentation as excellent ils any that
have preceded it. And just here it may be
we'll to say that ne high standard OF perfec-
lion can be reached in the ciloruS-a most
Important part in this opera-if those who
have volunteered to sing in it do not att
tend regularly. The lady choristers are
rarely absent, but the gentlemen are not so
nu,;ctnal, 1t is the habit OF those who do
not know. to underrate the Importance of
the chorus, and a most unfortunate habit
it is Many beautiful ensemble may be
spoiled by all i'll trained chorus, and the cho-
rus work in Pinafore is so pretty that it is
d pity it should not lie perfect. 1t is not
hard to learn, and we hope the gentlemen