The herald., 1894-10-21
A mn o un Gem o II to.

honor OF the fiftieth anniversary of the
day when Johann Strauss, the Waltz
King, produced his first musical compo-
sition, an occasion which will be cele-
brated next week wherever there are
people who love and appreciate music,
Mr. Benson has decided to produce to-
morrow and during the week Strauss'
most perfect WORK, The Merry War.
Johann Strauss musical life must be
divided into two periods. Up to the
beginning oil the '70s he has been fa-
NOUS as q composer of dance music,
more 80 as the poet in waltzes. Every
body knowe his Blue Danube waltz. his
Vienna Blood and his Vienna Life
waltzes, and even such eevere q critic
and condemner of all Light music as
Richard Wagner had to admire Strauss
genius and the right OF existence of his
work. 1t was not until the '70s that
Strauss mustered up enough confidence
in his own talent to undertake the COM
position of comic opera. Indigo or the
4U Thieves. His first work in this line
proved an instantaneous hit. 1t WAS
followed by new opera every year, of
which De Fledermans, Carnival in
Rom, Prince MethuHslem, The Queens 8
Lace Handkerchief are best known and
most admired. But his greatest success
was The Merry War, produced for the
first time at the Theater on der Wien,
in Vienna in 1882, and only few weeks
afterwards at the Thalia in New York.
The causes for this success were plain.
Not only did it show the composer at his
best, but the very libretto is so good a
comedy that it has been produced as
nuch without music. What is known OF
Mr.. Benson's com pany and OF the cap
abilities of it's members justifes the pub
lie in expecting very good performance
OF the Merry War.
There are good parts for the four lead
ing female members OF the company.
Miss Daisie Thorne, as Violetta, has a
aplendid chance to display her beautiful
soprano. Miss Ynez Dean as Princess
Artemisia, commander OF the female
forces OF Massa, he's great opportunities
both for singing and character-acting.
Miss Turner Fitch, the lovely Marietta
in Mister Monte Cristo, will be Marchese
Sebastiani, and as such will have to in
terpret the most popular number of the
score, the celebrated waltz Gong reisti ng
the adventures OF the Counteos Melanie,
known as the Kiss waltz and Fannie
Lidd:ard, last but OF course not least,
will act and sing Elsa, simple minded
Dutch peasant who, while hunting for
her husband. the tulip planter Balbazar
| Groot, permits herself to be consoled by
| the good hearted msrchese, whose prin-
cipal occupation in life is conHoling poor,
| deserted wives. Messrs. Stewart, Kelly,
Hubert, de la Motts, Brewer and James
are caat for the male roles and Miss May
| 7 mi nh oH, ha~
graceful dancing. has been retained for
another week and will introduce Hun.
garian dance in the third act OF the
opera. The chorus has been atrength.
ened. and, as far as scenery and cos.
tumes are concerned, they will be equal
to the standard set by Mr.. Benson.
x*#
| The melodrama of the Silver King
will form the dramatic portion OF the
entertainment at tho Burbank during
the coming week. The part OF Wilfred
Denver the silver kiug is favorite one
with all the great melodramatc actors
of the day, and in the hands OF that
sterlirg actor Charles Kent, it should
receive an artiltic Interpretation. The
support will be al that could be desired,
embracing the entire Cooper company.
uo dTllBbb anu IutCnlUlEtB nave GX6rteQ
themselves TO the utmost and the scenic
and mechanical effects will be realistic
and beautiful. A high clRea vaudeville
entertain ment will be given in conjunc.
tion with the drama; the principal fea.
lures of which are Mons. Sarina, the
White Demon and elastic devil. Mons.
Sarina has performed his wonderf al
feats in all the principal cities OF Euro pc
nd ha nil fat Ho
styled the White Demon both OF &C.
count of his Satanic make up, and b is
marvellous performance which seems al
most superhuman. Dressed in W hite
with scales of silver covering him and
with the horned cowl he presents q
picture which strongly reminds one oi
the tabled internal region. M. Sarina'f
act aside from being novel is a most
scientific one and as O contortioniBt he
sta nds at the head OF his profession
Mile. Lalo, the pyrotechnic bicycle
queen, will introduce an original ast,
She is q graceful and, daring rider and
local bicyclistH may be prepared TO ( =
one OF the best exhibitions OF trick tssd
fancy riding ever given in the city. The
double bill will be given the entire week
with matinee on Saturday.
="*
The subscription list for tickets to the
Gen. Lew Wallace lectures opened at
the A. ". Berry stationery etore, 100
South Spring street, show many names
OF our literary citizens. His lectrTs cn
Ben Hur is very highly spoken Of ard
should receive their hearty endorse
ment. 1t is necessary to enlarge the
subscription liet already started to in
sure the generals visit, and for that
purpose the lists will be held open for
subscribers few days longer.
x*x
The new bill at the Imperial for the
coming week ia, az usual, very strong
one. The most prominent feature is
tha: of Ssdi Alfarabi. There ia no