The record-union., 1896-12-20

"
To all lovers Of comic opera, the COM
ing of the Grau Opera Company to-mor-
row at the Metropolitan is an event of
more than passing interest. 1t is the
initial operatic engagement of the sea-
son. and for this reason, If no other,
should be popular. 1t is, according to
present bookings, the only opera of the
season, and finally, it marks the intro
duction of week stands by good COM
panies at popular prices.
Mr.. Grau's company is to test the
feeling of Sacramento in regard to long
seasons of comic opera at popular
prices. It has been identified with
operate productions of high order for
the past twenty years or more. He
brings with him what he describes as
the most complete organization with
which he has been been identified, fully
equipped and presenting a repertoire of
decided novelties. Chief of these are
Paul Jones'" the opera which made
Miss Agnes Huntington famous. Grau
produces it with the original costumes,
bought by him from Miss Huntington.
THE Tar and Tartar is another we'll
known and successful opera, which
Grau alone has now the right to present,
while added to these two there have
been selected for the Sacramento en-
gagement THE Bohemian Girl" BLACK
Hussar," "Beggar Student" Fra
Diavalo' and Ship Alloy" To properly
produce these gems requires company
of exceptional strength and marked
versatility. There are well-known sin
gers and comedians in the list, and
among these may be named Miss Alice
Johnson, who is possessed of a fine So
prano voice, and is also favored by ma
ture with attractive stage appearance.
She last year was the prima donna of
Palmer Cox's famous Brownies" The
prima donna contralto is Miss Alice
Carle, whose fine voice and lovely per-
sonality have endeared her to patrons
Of comic opera; Miss Gertrude Lodge is
comedienne and character actress of
ability. The tenor of the company is
Robert Dunbar He has a sweet and
powerful voice and good stage pres
ence. Sylvani Langlois, the baritone,
received his training in grand opera
and is a superior artist. The comedians
are in a great measure responsible for
the success of the company. Gilbert
Clayton was the leading comedian with
the Pearl of Pekin Company, for three
years principal support of Francis
Wilson, and also with Lillian Russell,
Charles A. Hoyt and a. NJ. Palmer. He
is character actor whose methods are
legitimate. Stanley Felch Is well
known as a fun-maker; he has an ex
tensive operate experience, and made a
big hit at the Tivon. Robert Lett, a
young man with a good baritone voice
and ability as a comedian, was last sea-
son with the Lady Slavey at the New
York Casino. These artists are sup
ported by well-trained chorus and or
chestra under the direction of Eugene
Rolhenberg. The stage is superintended
by Jules Grau. Seats are now on sale
for the entire engagement Popular
prices. 25c, SOC, 75c. The opening
opera will be that ever charming Beg
gar Student" in which opera handsome
Alice Johnson will sing her Baby
Baby" which is the hit of New York
and Miss Carle will introduce her recita-
tion of the glove.
''The Old Homestead" is a great fav-
orite with all the attaches of theaters
excepting the treasurer and ushers.
People who know nothing about the
theater have a hard time knowing what
they want, and harder time selecting
seats, while the ushers complain that
people that go to the theater once in
five years, and others that have never
been there before, ask to be shown to
their pews, and as soon as they are
seated, look around for a hymn book.
The play viii be at the Metropolitan
Theater December 29th-
The marvellous flying ballet is one of
the unique features in c. B. Jefferson,
Klaw & Erlanger's big spectacle, Pal
mer Cox's Brownies" which will be the
great attraction at the Metropolitan
January 18th and 10th The flying bal
let was secured at the Folies Berge, in
Paris, expressly for THE Brownies, >"
and 1t has created a sensation every
where. It is danced in mid-air, and 1t
is quite impossible to detect how the
dancers fly about in all directions
through the air with the necessary
means of support. The flying ballet is
the most mystifying as well as the most
beautiful stage-iIlusion ever invented.
Ladies Will not forget, we presume,
that during the opera season of this
week such as attend will greatly en-
hance the respect of men for them If
they will, without exception, appear In
the theater hatless.
Sibyl Sanderson, over whom the Ital-
Ian papers go into ecstacies for her
work In the "Escalarmonde" opera, Is a
native of Sacramento. The San Fran
cisco Calf says she was born in that
city, an error on it's part.
Kaoly, the acrobat from the Orpheum.
San Francisco, is to be at the Ciunie
Opera-house all this week playing in
with the stock company, which will pro-
duce Confusion" The entire COM
pany and orchestra have donated its
services, Manager Todd gives the use
of the Opera house. all the house alta
ches give their services; in fact, all bus
inesses connected with the Opera-houss