The record-union., 1894-04-12
ADJUSTMENTS.

The Stockton Comic Opera Company
sang "The Pirates of Penzance" at the
Metropolitan Theater last night to a good
sized and a most kindly audience. We
fear very much, however, that as finan-
cial venture it did not pay; all the more
regretable fact that because young
gentleman of this city, deeply interested
in cultivating musical tastes, worked so
untiringly and generously to secure the
entertainment. The Stockton people
brought sixty persons for the stage, ten
for an orchestra, and were accompanied
by about forty Stockton friends. So that
in all there was quite an lrruptlon OF
Stocktonites in Sacramento yesterday.
They all returned safely TO their homes
at midnight. and they left the city behind
unimpaired. 1t is vlllalnous SANDER
that their women were possessed OF
the quality of beauty that stops
clocks, as that their singers have but TO
open their mouths to cause the river to
turn backward upon its course. Neither
did they look like dependents or appear
as if they lived upon the proceeds Of
boarding-houses, or as if the chief indus
try of their city is gaming, and its main
stay State institution. By no means;
while as much, and more than that, d
Sacramento company of amateurs going
TO Stockton might expect 10 be said OF
them by the Slough City press. judging
by its ingrained habit of misrepresenting
Sacramento, this city is able-especially
diSclaiming analytical criticism OF the
voices and technical work OIL the singers
to say that the Stockton company did
exceedingly we'll; that 1t Is composed of
comely, modest women and manly men;
that its chorus sings with remarkable
vigor, sweetness and correctness; that it's
orchestra, though mainly amateur, is
good and, save in one passage in the
overture, left no loophole for assault, if any
one were inclined to be fault-find-
ing. The amateurs, in fact gave
most enjoyable evenings entertainment,
and received in generous and oft
repeated applause, the verdict of cordial
approval from discriminating audience.
There was one novel but very successful
feature in the atfair-the opera was di-
rected by woman, Mrs. Edward Oulla-
han. She welded the baton with a skill
and command that it was easy to see was
the key to the success of the large group
Of singers on the stage. A Sacramento
singer, and favorite one, had the lead
ing basso role, and Mr.. Crocker filled it
most acceptably; indeed, he demon
strated that besides lyric he has no small
measure of dramatic ability. Mr.. Elliott,
the tenor, was i'll and at the close of the
first act was compelled to give over his
part. At this juncture, which threatened
disaster, A. Nj. Thornton, the stage man
ager, a well-known musical leader of
San francisco, stepped into the breach,
took up the part, one not adapted to his
voice either, and though he had to cut it
freely and use the printed score fire.
quently, he proved to be the right
man for such an emergency and
musician with courage, as we'll
as fine capacity. The audience
was charmed with his success under such
difficulties and applauded him to the
echo. Miss Bessie Smith was the Mabel
of the opera, the most difficult Of the
female roles. She acquitted herself won
derfully we'll, and scarcely second were
Miss Thomas, Miss Pusey and Miss
Brooks. Mrs. II. c. Bender was Ruth.
and saving that she restrained the vol
ume of her contralto tones ill-advisedly,
she was charming pirate princess. Mrs.
Bender will be remembered as Miss
Thurston, who sang a BOYS part in
mariana" as given by Sacramento
amateurs couple of years ago. Mr..
Parker's pirate Lieutenant was excel
lent, because he not only can sing, but
has appreciation of dramatic demands.
Robert Oullahan's Sergeant of Police was
irresistibly humorous. If he had been
half as free with his voice as with the
business of the part, his success,
much greater and the pleasure of the
audience would have been enhanced, for
really the people wished to hear Mr..
Oullahan, who is so well known here.
But it was good performance
as whole, and for amateurs
it was surprisingly so. The chorus
was superior, one of the best anna
teur operate choruses we have heard. 1t
had been taught TO open the mouth, to
sing, every individual of it; each to feel
that the whole thing depended upon him
or her, and TO sing accordingly, with
care, precision and strength. for through
out in this opera the chorus parts are
strong and vigorous, and weakness on
the part of the chorus singers would
mean ruin. We are glad the Stock ton
singers came over; they will be better
liked for it; much broader and better
idea of Stockton musical capacity is the
result among Sacramentans. The anna
teurs did themselves credit: though they
came in with doubts expressed by their
hearers. they went away with colors fly
ing and amidst hearty congratulations
and record of encores and applause diff
ficult to parallel. They did not prove
that they are wonders, or that, as some-'
one told them, they are good enough to