The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-02-10
FALSTAFF IN NEW YORK
VERDrS NEW OPERA GIVEN WITH
GREAT SUCCESS AND RRILLIANCY.
Victor Maurel Sang In the Title Role-a
Fashioaable Audi nco Was Present,
Bette Ordway in n New Play.

Falstafr has at last been given to the
American public. Verdi, the veteran
composer. has produced another opera,
and on last Monday night it was present.
ed for the first time in America, at the
Metropolitan Opera House. with Mr.. Vic
tor Maures in the title role. The audience
that welcomed Falstaff was as fashiona-
bic as It was enthusiastic, which is
speaking in the superlative degree. The
New York Herald has the following to
say regarding the opera:
1t Is wothotIt a doubt one of the finest
musical comedies that has been written
is this "Falstaff" Your lover of tunes
will not like it, perhaps, but future gene
rations will surely class II WIN the
"Nozze di Figaro" with the III Barblere
perhaps, with die Meisterslnger.'
Let us enjoy ourselves. Let us toIBe'
our woes and be merry says the COM
poser from the very start. lie does not
even ask you to prepare yourself. as
has been the custom time out OF mlhd'
for overture. There Is none, and the cur
tain straightway rises on the scene dls-
covering Falstan in the Garter Tavern
inn. How marvelously the orchestra re-
produces all the well known Characters
tics rot only of the sensual Knight
but also of Dr. Cams. OF Pistol and Bar
dolph. And a moment later, when we are
taken to the garden in Fords house
Here the music is all warmth and sun
shine. Mistress Ford. Mistress Page, Nan
Meta and Mrs. Qnickey-they are all
Merry Wives of Windsor" The mirth,
the humor, the sparkle and the galty
are sustained to the end with art that is
amazing.
The performance was, perhaps, me
noothest and the most spirited we
we had at the opera this winter. How
differently everything impresses the u.s.
nner when the singer is no longer reliant
N the conductor when ne or she can
ing from any part OF the stage, and yet
feet I'm concerted NJ mbers a prompt
ntrance. and when the prompter himself
as suuernuous as the lady I'm the hind
most row OF the ballet Yes, what a
virtue there IS in long, IN frequent III
;erlous rehearsals. Maurels Falstah
anne 70 us like "A revelation. quite apart
from his singing. it must be ranked WIZ
the great imDersOnations Of the stage.
Technically II was hawless. not at all q
surprising fact when IT is rememberec
that Maurel was an actor before he as
covered his lyric endoWments, but he
also caught the true Shaksp6arean at
inosphere.
/ have seen many great actors in the
mart. but not one who so convinclngly
pictured forth all the amusing attributes
of the character as does Maurel
Nine Eames, too, showed herselt IN
quite a new light. She was last evening
| ar excellent Coincidence. She sang with
amazing certainty and abandon, and
| seemed fairly TO revel IN the comicai
scenes. Miss de Lussen, too, rs Nanetta
sang as never before, phrasing with eN-
a,hsite taste. and Nine. Scalache as Mrs.
Ouickley was won1erously amusing and
effective. though she hadn't a roulade u
sing. Campanarrs Ford must not be Tor
gotten. for the part was iii ely sung
even if stiny acted.
Miss Bette OrdWay, who once resided
in this city and who has figured lately so
,.ronninentlv upon the stage and I'm the
divorce court. appeared Monday night II
the .T'wentieth Century Girl" at the BIZ
ION Theatre. New York. Her stage
name IS Bettina Gerard. and she has
been starring for the last two seasons
in "Old Kentucky
The New York Herald criticises her as
, follows:
The twentieth Century Girl' was CIV
on . new impetus toward success AT tne
RIiou Theatre in the changes that were
made Monday night in Frightening up
IFS variety of comedy and placing Miss
Pettina Gerard i'm the role OF the Girl
Bachelor. Miss Gerard gave "A decidedly
more mannish version OF this supposed
| DEVELOPMENT of the end OF the century
than Miss Helen Dauvray her predeces-
sor and won the applause or her au'
, dience.
Miss Gerard sang what she had to sins
pleasantly and with a voice that could Dc
| heard i'm the ensemble. Her costumes
were Of the mannish, most manly, anc
her gestures and her cigarettes were
"up 10 date
| A melodrama. Humanity" by Sutton
Vane. was produced for the first time Il
/ New York Monday night at the Four
| teenth-Street Theatre. The critics say
that IL was q success. IT is brimfui o
blood and thunder and catches the Gal
| lery Guards.
Miss Helen Bertram, who was dismiss
ed from the Little Christopher compa
nv at the Garden Theatre, on Feoruar'
Isl. for her failure to appear the even
ing before. when she was seen in a boz
| M the Herald Square Theatre. has re-
tanned counsel and proposes TO nght IN
case. SAYS the New York Herald. she
asserts that she has been suffering IRON
! an attach OF acute bronchitis, which rem
dered ii Impossible for her to sing, bu'
| aid not compel her 20 stay indoors. SIN
| and her husband, Il. j. Henley. reported
| nj the Garden last Monday night, whel
she was Informed by Manager II. II
| Rice's representative, Mr.. y. ID. frlce
thai her services would no longer be re
| ouired. Miss Bessie Bonehlll. who hai
been engaged to take Miss Bertram'
place. will make her first appearance
| tomorrow night Meanwhile Miss Leil'
blow will continue in the role of LITTLE
| Christopher.
"Trllby' is now in the hands of dra