The record-union., 1895-02-20
ADJUSTMENTS.


There was full house at the MetropoIi-
tan Theater last night on the occasion of
the first appearance of the Calhoun Comic
Opera Company. 1t was brilliant audi
ence that gathered as good and represent
RtiVe Of Sacramento as can be presented,
W lille 1t was not full dress affair, it APP
preached it. The result of the women APP
pearing, as a rule, without hats. and with
the hair tastetully dressed, and the light
ing up by color in cOstumery, was q
charming effect. There was a warmth
and social atmosphere about il all that
put everyone into a good humor gave
Zest to the enjoyment of the evening, and
kindled most receptive spirit so that the
opera was far more enjoyable than it
would have been had a mass of upright
plumes, pOmpOnS and towering headgear
obsCured the vision, and great hat brims
and dashboards on the head have made
the dress circle resemble a spring open
ing at a secOnd-rate millinery shop.
Two hundred and nine women sat in
the boxes without hats, siXty-three
wore low, inotfensiVe hats or bits Of
head-dresS while but fourteen Testified
to bad taste and deficient breeding by re-
tentiOn of the high hats, obscuring
piumes, impossible flowers and other
fantastic and senseless headgear. The
ice has been fairly broken, and it NAV
no longer offend or invoke the threat of
law. The management Is to be COM
mended for providing a ladies' hat and
ClOakrOOm and polite attendant Of
which convenience between thirty and
1ortv ladies awaited themselves | ct the
management adhere TO it, reform and DO
Hteiy insist uDOn women doing their part
TO make IL permanent. The fourteen WO-
men who wore offensive hats were really
entitled to pity for their loneliness last
night, and for the lack OF such courage as
their sisters manifested.
The Calhoun Opera Company in an eX-
CCeQIngly pleasing organization. 1t con-
taius no phenomenal singers; evidently
it lays no claim to brilliancy of leaders,
which is too often the evidence of starred
and abridged support. But it is a large,
well-cOstumed, weil-outfitted company
with a good chorus and q few merry and
pleasing singers, who we should Judge
are OF better musical capacity than the
opera OF last night developed. "Amo-
rita makes no eNactlng calls upon the
singers. The Black Hussar'' tonight
will, however, afford a better test OF the
capabilities Of the troupe. The gems of
song last evening We're the Nearer to
Him." by Miss Beauvet, soprano, whose
voice is light but flexible, feeling and
tuneiui, and whose presence and acting
are unaffected and easy; the catchy
song, II Love My Love-" by Mr.. Webb
which won as sincere an encore as did
Miss Beauyet; tenor robusto solo by
Mr.. Hunuey, whose voice is vigorous, OF
good range and well adapted to the spirit
OF the music Of the opera; the very pretty
chorus by twelve women who accUmpa-
MED themselves on mandOliuS and gui-
tars, IN the third act, is a novelty in It.
self; and the love song by Miss Earring
ton, meZZO-sopraunO, whose voice i'm
proves with acquaintance and is sympa-
hat ia 4 t4aF or
is a strong comedy element in the COM
pany, represented mainly by MIR. Flint
bassO. Miss Lodge, cOntraltO-who had,
however, no opportunity in "AmorIJa'
to prove her cOntraltO capability-and
Mr.. Moulin, low comedian. AS a whole
the entertainment was good: it was not
ettOrtful; it was spirited throughout, and
il pleased and won smiles and applause
in plenty. The costumes and scenery
constituted a notable feature and were
exceptionally good. The women OF the
troupe are very cOmely, some of them
handsome, and the men are Of good stage
presence and are clever actors. In the
second act, by aid of electric lights. brill
liant costumes and oriental dressing, a
very handsome stage picture was given.
In its midst two little uarkies were intro
duced as attendants 10 an ambassador
from Morocco, and amused greatly by
their dancing. The third act presented
one of the prettiest bits Of grouping OF
shapely ana handsome people we can
recall to memory. The entertainments
was a combination OF surprises, clever
acting, even and pleasing singing, and
an attention to detail and appropriate
ness that made the opera greatly more
acceptable. Certainly the people Of the
stage won the favor OF the auditors gem
orally, and have every reason 10 be salts
ted with the very cordial reception given
them. Tonight The Black Hussar,'
with Mr.. Lyding in the leading role, fOr
which he reserved his powers last night.
and tO-m morrow night said Pasha," with
Kirkland Calhoun in the leading role
and until which time lie does not appear.
a pleasant surprise last evening was the
breaking of a necessarily long wait by
the introduction of Paul Egry, an accom-
plished hungarian solo vIoliuist, who
played with artistic finish and in fine
taste, and was warmly applauded.
At the Clunie Opera house Mr.. Hig-
gins new play, "Jack Rose Of Tennes-
see,'' is a prime favorite. II has won, and
won deservedIy. There is an atmosphere
OF human interest and sympathy about
it that affects the auditor within minute
after the curtain goes up, fixes his atten-
ton and retains it genuinely enlisted to
the close. Mr.. HOSmerS lew lines he
makes the most of as the old nouEtaineer
seeking revenge for the wrong done to
his child Mr.. Armstrong; Major is
excellent, and though the Southern
accent bothers him little. he puts it
into shadow by his Interpretation of the
bluff, manly Confederate. Miss Fir-
GINA Jackson as a colored servant girl
has very few comedy lines, but she gives
them prominence testitying to the ver-
satility and strong dramatic ability OF
this promising young actress. There are
touches of sentiment in this play that
stir the heart and enlist the best sympa-
thies; types of character strongly pre-
scented that overdone would be carica-
ture; poetic grace and romantic involve
ment throughout, novel and charming.
That it will take a place well up to the
head in the better class of American
dramas is certain.
Try McMorry's Teas. They are the