Evening star., 1895-04-26
c ORION EFT AND COIN
The Initial Performance of the Opera Was a
Pronounced Success.
1T is Listened to by n Large and
Fashionable Audience at the
Academy of Music.

an interesting event, but when the work is
the product of local musicians there is an
added interest, and when the performance
is given by local singers and for local
charity all the elements of public anticipa-
tion are present. Perhaps all these facts
combined to make the initial performance
of ''Coron 1t and Coin," the new opera by
Messrs. Fort, Smith and Mcleod, at the
Academy of Music last night such a notable
event. The audience was large, fashion
able and enthusiastic. The charity for
which the performance was given was the
Children's Country Home, in which some of
the most prominent society people are in
terested, and they turned out in force to
swell the box office receipts, as well as to
give the new opera a proper sendoff No
similar work by Washington composers
was ever presented under more favorable
auspices, and the verdict of success was
pronounced by the time the first act was
finished.
The musical score is filed with bright
and catchy melodies, and some of the con-
certed numbers are decidedly ambitious IN
their construction, notably the prayer at
the close of the first act and the finale OF
the second act The work of both cast and
chorus was highly commendable, and the
authors of the opera have every reason to
congratulate themselves upon the efficient
manner in which their work was presented.
In the cast were several who have had
experience on the professional stage, and
they brought to the parts they assumed
the experience they had gained, which
added to the effectiveness of their work.
Mrs. Kitty Thompson-Berry sang the lead
ing soprano role of Lady Beatriz, and
found great favor with the audience, re-
'Vincenti, Where Art Thou?" Miss Flor
ence Grigg, in the part of Mantilla, looked
very fetching in her sailor costume, and
was easy and graceful throughout the en-
tire opera. Her singing of when Jack
Comes Back to Stay completely captured
the audience, and was again and again de-
manded. Mrs. Gertrude Bangs-Burns scored
decided hit in the part of Democrata, a
spinster with kittenish ways, whose am
btion is to be duchess, and displayed re-
markable ability as comedienne. Miss
Anita Hendrie was handsome and dig
nff1ed queen. and also a charming widow,
anxious to change her name and station.
Mr.. Herndon MorseN, as Vincente, was
heard to excellent advantage, and in all
his solos his voice was full, rich and true,
while his finished method won for him the
warm appreciation of his hearers. Hub
Smith, as the adventurous Don Francisco.
sustained the burden of the comedy work
in his own inimitable style. Many of his
local hits were really witty, while all of
them were bright, and his topical songs
were encored over and over again. George
OConnor wore the regal robes of King
John with dignity, and; as Democratus,
citizen of I3ellamya, was very clever, sing
ing Il Am a Naughty Millionaire" SO as to
elicit much applause. David Bangs as the
sailor Pedro; Edmund Fox, as the schem-
ing Sanchez. Mills Thompson, as Hack
Sack, an Indian chief, and Paul Evans, as
the court chamberlain, were good in their
respective parts, and contributed by their
correct singing and spirited acting to the
general success of the opera. The chorus,
which was quite large, sang in the most
effective manner, and showed the result of
their careful rehearsal by Mr.. Mcleod A
rrandolin and guitar club. under the leader
ship of Mr.. Yundt, added to the effective
ness OF one of the scenes, while the dances
were under the supervision of Percy Leach
The completeness of the stage setting and
work was due to the efficient MANAGEMENT
of Mr.. Percy Winter
These who participated in the chorus
We're: Miss Adkins. Miss Bayley. the Misses
Ball, Miss Berry. Miss Bush. Miss Caulfield,
the Misses Cox. the Misses Douglas. Miss
ter. Miss Ford the Misses Gardner, Mrs
Gilmore, Miss Hutton. Miss Howell. Miss
Hargrove, Miss Jordan, Miss Jeffrey, Mrs.
kurtz, Miss Mullet. Mrs. Murray, Miss
Moore. Miss Mcmillan, the Misses McDon-
aid, Miss Naylor, Miss Ross, Mrs. Rollings,
the Misses Ream Miss Reed, Miss Stearns,
Miss Tyler Miss Willett, Miss Wiley, the
Misses Walk, the Misses Won Entrees and
Miss Williamson Messrs Harry Allen. Fred
Allen, ]. S. Ball. Frank Ball, Burg, Corey,
Coleman, Clifton, Glazebrook, Gaddes,
Howell. Huntington. Kenaugh, Kirkland,
w. S. Hinman, LOCKER Longstreet. E. T.
Lewis, H. G. Lewis. Mackrille, Miller, W.
A. Perry, H. r. Perry, Reed, Ramsburg,
Soran. Sylvester Trail. J. Thompson, Fred
Thompson. Percy Thompson, Wheatley and
Willet. Mandolins and guitars - Messrs.
Yundt. Holmes, Nelson. Constantine, Shell
ton. Kitchener, Unger. Hale, Mackrille H
E. Hinman, w. S. Hinman, Willett, Thomp-
son, Miller, F. Ball and J. s. Ball
The opera will be repeated tonight, and
an audience fully as large as last night
should witness this most successful work
of Washington composers.