The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-06

Roots Cantata Given in Excellent
Fashion at Ranke's Hail.

Roots Cantata Given in Excellent
Fashion at Ranke's Hail.
The production OF Roots cantata, The
lawmakers" at Ranke's hall last night
was a liberal rural education to the
crowded audieEoA and from the rise OF
the curtain. disclosing the bare, uno>ca-
pied Interior OF farm house. 10 IT'S falling,
upon View OF brightness in the sunny
field, the city folk" were transported TO
the heart of the rural districts and lived
for few brief hours down on the farm
The audience was appreciatiye. x worked,
ate and slept with the singers. The farm
hands and maids with such delightfully."-
clean clothing and carefully trimmed I'm
ger nails swung their brand new seytnes
and manipulated the pitchfoTks and rakes
so deity, no one would have suspected
that many had never seen such .nstru-
ments before their Introduction at the re-
hearsals. The slow, heavy chorus during
the storm. when the heavy bases rivaled
the rolling thunder. and the piercing voices
OF the sopranos added new terrors 20 the
dazzling lightning, was rendered with ex-
ceilent effect.
The stage grouping when the dinner
hour was announced, and the monday
meal. devoured with true country free
dom and appetite, was most natural, and
made one OF the prettiest views shown, its
rival in the appreciation of the audience
being the scene at evening when, after
drowsy lullaby, good nights" We're Spoken
and each weary laborer sought his couch.
The stage management OF Miss BESSIE An
derson was excellent not hitch occurring
TO mar the beauty of the performance.
or the individual singers Miss Emma Al
len, as Mary, the farmers daughter. was
excellent both in singing and acting. Her
soprano solos were clear and strong, the
few hsh notes undertaken being without
apparent e.fort, and her enunciation was
clear. Air C. W. SAUNDERS was the portiy,
self-satisfed farmer 10 the life. and his
baritone was well adapted 10 the recitative
parts that fell 10 his lot. Mrs. w. FL. Whit
tlesey. though handicapped with a severe
cold was in good voice, and her solos were
heartily applauded. As Snipkins. a young
man from the city. who is the yictimized
dude, Mr.. @. A. Edmunds was at times
quite clever. His voice. while not strong
enough TO till such a large hail, was soft
and pleasing. His expressed sentiment that
some folks like the country; don't, that's
all. - was the key 10 the character Mrs.
j. II. Farrell was cute dairy maid, and
her voice, though hardly of sufficient pow
er. was sweet and sympathetic. Her song,
"A Dairy Maid Am t. was encored.
Messrs. +. l.. McAllaster and w. Carkeek,
who acted the parts of assistants on the
farm, were entirely capable. Mr. Carkeek
sang bass solo with strength and power.
despite a very evident nervousness. The
lovers serenade, which was to have been
sung by Mr.. McAlAster. was at the last
moment turned over to Mr.. c. f. Bow
man, who. after very hasty preparation,
rendered IL very creditably.
Miss Alice Trile's magnificent contralto
voice showed TO good advantage in the trio
with Mrs. Whittlesey and Miss Allen. She
has a fine range. and her voice while far
reaching, carries with 1t no suggestion of
harshness. Miss True was the only one
who did any acting, and while she showed
a good deal of ability it was slightly out OF
place. since no one else INDUCED in il. \
cantata differs materially in that respect
from an opera, and beyond certain point
acting is not customary. Mrs. T. III. Cam.
jr, got in a clever bit on several occasions,
perhaps unconsciously, by adapting the
characteristic attitude of a farm maid.
with arms akimbo.
The orchestral accomplishments were
deserving of especial mention. They were
played with great precision and expression.
The cast follows:
Anna farmers daughterl. ...............
..................M Mrs. W. H. whittiesey
Mary Farmers daughtero. ..............
Dairy Maid. -. Miss Jessie Hilton Farrell
Farmer. ................Mr Mr.. c. w. Saunders
William (assistanD.. Mr.. f. L. McA,laster
Snipkins "a young man from the city,
..................M Mr., George A. Edmunds
Mrs. E. c. Kilbourne, Mrs. Florence Be-
garous, Mrs, T. II. Cam. jr., Mrs. ]. L.
Dawson, Miss Alice True, Miss Rose
Hegardt, Miss Marie Hegardt Miss Bessie
Inglis, Miss Alice Thorndyke. Miss Eva
Campbell. Miss Maud Bailey. Mr.. Reuben
W. Jones, Mr.. c. l.. BOWMAN, AR. John
Edwards, DR.. c. A. Smith Mr.. George A
Colman, Mr.; William MeAdam, Mr.. Gil
bert Smith, Mr. b. w. Johnson. Mr.. +. +.
Simpson. Mr.. John A. Whalley, Mr. W. +.
Anderson. Mr.. l.. j. CONAN.
Musical directorate. Charles C.. Engle-
hard. choirmaster st. Marks church.
The members Of the orchestra were:
+. Lobe. DR.. l.. NJ Lessey. DR.. F. s
Palmer, Charles c. Euglehard and Conrad
Bieber.