The record-union., 1894-08-28
AMuSRMENTS


The new opera season was opened at
the Clunie Operahouse last night by the
Pyke Opera Company. consisting of
chorus OF sixteen voices and eleven peo-
pie in "leads." If the success of the open
ing is any trustworthy indication OF the
success OF the season, then the company
Will be with us for the next seven or eight
months, as is planned for it.
Despite the hot weather those who at
tended at the Ciunie found the auditorium
cool and pleasant, surprisingly and most
agreea5ly so. The audience was not
large. but il was 4 very critical one, COM
posed Of musicians, old opefa-goers anu
people who have heard the Dest-lndeed,
il was All audience that came To crItlcIse,
anc il came away more than pleased; the
verdict was one of entire satisfaction,
and II found expression in APP
plause such as only rarely is
given 50 profusely. The company
was twenty-seven strong upon the stage;
1t has three lenors, two basSos and Darl-
tones. and three sopranos; and 1t has
three Comedians OF such even merit that
il IS difficult TO decide which is entitled to
be named first. 1t mas another feature
that VIII 60 far 10 give it attractive quail
liy. namely, eight very comely women,
handsome. -Four OF the singers have
never been heard here. We predict that
they Will become favorites. The other
voices are more or less familiar to the
music lovers of Sacramento.
The Queens Lace Handk erehier' was
the opera. 1t was timely mounted. richly
costnmed and sung with excellence
closely approaching that expected III
grand opera. The new soprano, Alvina
Hewer Wilson, is a tall, handsome young
woman, with rich, musical voice and
good dramatic ability. AS for the others,
we reserve mention in detail until to-
morrow. 1t must suffice now to say that
IL is far and away superior to any Stock
opera troupe we have had here. Man
ager Tod6 Is to be congratulated upon his
success in securing the Pyke combina-
ton. It's entertainment is greatly more
worth the advanced price than was that
OF the preceding troupe, good as 1t
was, worth the lesser price. The opera
viii run all the week and should have
tub hOuSes-it merits them.
Nothing prevents the people of Sacra
mento from patronizing literally good
circus when it comes to town. Neither
hard times nor such intense heat as ex-
perienced here yesterday seem to have
any effect. Last night the great tent of
the New Great Syndicate shows, at Fif-
teenth and NJ streets, was simply pack ed
with people. The seating capacity OF the
tent is 1850. and there were at least 200
who sat on the ground around the edge Of
the rings. This vast crowd departed at
the close of the entertainment thoroughly
we'll pleased with the performance they
had witnessed. 1t was good show, from
beginning to end, and if any fault could
be found it would be that there was so
al II
to take it all in. There were two
rings and an elevated stage, which were
occupied almost continuously, for every
thing moved lively and without any
hitch, under the able direction of the
veteran John D'Alma. The people
laughed at the clowns, Bert Rich
ardson and Theodore Baretta, and
applauded to the echo lady riders,
trapeZe performers and the various
trained animals. The main circus
performance consisted of seventeen
splendid numbers, beside the hippo
drome races, ten numbers. The perform
ance opened with a grand spectacular
production illustrative of Marc Antony's
reception to Cleopatra. Then followed
the tournament by eight ladies and gen.
tlenen in each ring, with fitting on the
hippodrome track, double and single
trapeze acts, bareback riding by daring
lacy riders, balancing, ladder perch, ac-
Gro bats, hurdle acts, menage acts, con-
tortionists, slack wire performers-every
thing that goes to make up first-cass
circus. It was all good. and there was
too much of it to attempt TO particularlZe
here. Probably the fact that the admis-
sion fee is this year reduced to 90 and %
cents had something to do with the inn
mense crowd that attended. At all
events. the people got the worth of their
money ana were well pleased. Two
moro performances will be given-this
afternoon at O'Clock and tonight at s.
1t will not be surprising if great many
who were present last night pay a second
visit tonight.
The management of the circus have
generously extended an invitation to the
children of the Protestant Orphan Asy-
lum 10 attend the entertainment this af
ternoon, and they will be furnished with
reserved seats and refreshments.