San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1894-01-22
GRAND OPERA HOUSE.
1.-THE Algerian" Delights all Lovers
of Pure Music and Artistic
Stage Work.

Only a moderately full house
greeted this new production of Reg
inald de Koven and Glen Melon
ough at the Grand last night, as
was to have been expected after a
week of popular price" opera. The
rising of the curtain showed that
there was some artistic hand at
work in the staging Of the piece,
and the quartette with which the
first act opened took the house firm
ly in its grasp, the interest and de-
light intensing to the close. To
those who really appreciate a con-
cord of sweet sounds and do not
make price instead of performance
their basis of criticism, the operate
and comedy work Of last night was
in delightful contrast to that Of
last week. The audience was thor
Oughly en- rapport with the singers
from the opening chorus until
the curtain fell upon the closing
one. The plot itself is amusing,
revealing the progress and out
come of a Irritation that Col. La
grange is carrying on with the sup
posed "star of the orient" Baya,
when he is only the dupe of a COM
ic opera company stranded in AL
giers, his alliance, the countess de
MOnvel, assisting the deception by
persOnating the Baya. "Tartarin
TarascOn," is only the most
shadOwy setting for the nOmen-
clature of the play, but his bragg
gadocio and the impecuniousness
of the manager of the stranded
troupe are we'll worked into the
body of the plot, which thickens
to the close and is genuinely anus
ing.
AS for the action of the piece, it
is smooth, movement lively, incl
dent abundant, situations comical,
impersonatiOns clever and at times
highly dramatic, interest always
sustained and the unexpected fire.
quently startling the audience.
There is no rant, either in manner
or voice, no rude play, the entire
production being provocative Of
genuine amusementa and real pleas
ure to those who love good music
artisticalIy rendered.
The singing of Miss Richie, who
took the part of the Countess, re-
vcaled a voice of great sweetness,
eXcee dingly melOdiOus and very
full on the upper register, more so
than on the lower. She has a dain-
ty figure, a really attractive face,
most expressive eyes, mobile
cOuntCnance, is graceful in manner
and her action in the closing in
tervicw with the flirtatiOus Col
onel, whom she was bringing to
book, highly dramatic. Voice and
action were alike free from all
mannerisms and Stagincss.
Miss Morton as SuZette displayed
piQuancy in her acting that was
charming and a voice that is Capa-
BILE of good work. AS leader Of the
Quartette i'm the opening act she
delighted the audience, and her
solo was warmly applauded in the
second act. Her voice is full and
clear, with power, but last night
there was a persistent tremOlO run
ming through her solo work that
detracted at times from its etfec-
tiVeneSS.
Hubert Wilkie, as the Colonel,
showed himself not only a good
actor, but a singer who stands very
close to the first rank. Seldom in
deed has such a baratone been
heard in the Grand. 1t is full, SYM
pathetic, vibrant and just such a
voice as touches the heart Of those
who respond to soul music.
The bass of TarascOn would alone
fill the house without any effort on
his part. 1t was clear and SON.
OrOus.
There was not a cracked or weak
voice in the company, as was APP
parent in the chorus work which
was declared on last night by the
leader of the Beethoven Maenner-
Choir Of this city to be deserving Of
the highest praise.
Those who attend the matinee
this afternoon or the evening per-
formance will score an hour or
two of real artistic enjoyment.