The herald., 1896-01-28
AT THE THEATERS


ary company had been looked forward t.
with pleasurable anticipation, and although
the threatening weather somewhat thinneC
the ranks last night, the house was com
fortably filled by an audience that gave th,
clever company of artists distinctly flat
tering welcome. The very favorable i'm
preston that Mr.. Pratt's organization ha!
made on musical Mexico bids fair TO be
confirmed here. The audience last night
eminently representative of the culture o
the city, were delighted with the rendition
of Aida, and the recognition of talent anC
merit at the proper moments was indica
tive Of appreciation and intelligent criti
cism.
Aida was written in Verdi's maturity
ana was appropriately first produced il
Cairo about twenty-five years ago: it is 6
masterpiece of delicate elaboration both ir
the general scheme of the opera and in the
details of the orchestration. Never SO pop
ular as ii Trovatore or even Traviata the
opera has always appealed to the lover oi
music. The story is one of great dramatic
power and the elements of love, jealousy
patriotism. glory and disgrace, successfully
combine in developing most interesting
theme. The subject may be called that o1
national epic, recounting the struggle OF
the Egyptians and Ethiopians.
MI Iidtt HIS Edluereu tOpetueT a very
strong and even company. The chorus is
well balanced and their work, especially
that of the tenor and ballet, was pleasing
throughout. Herr Carl Hartens' skill as a
conductor cannot be overestimated and he
leads well trained and skillfu orchestra.
Madame Marie Tavary. who so success
fully essayed the title role, is the possessor
of a voice that wears wondrously well, and
though there is tendency to overindulg-
inv rtrat hn nil ~
clear and beautiful.
The prima donna is also one of the most
accomplished artstes on the operate stage
and makes the finest use Of her grand vocal
powers.
The very exactng role of Amneris, espe-
cally from dramatic point of view. was
splendidly undertaken by Nine. Thea
Doree, mezzo-soprano of an exceptionally
wide compass. Besides possessing the
virtue of charming voice. Nine. Doree is
a beautiful woman. and the fine dramatic
fire that she instilled into the tragic scene
of which she was a central figure won
from the audience enthusiastic applause.
In the second scene of the first act, when
Aida and Amneris discover each other s
passion for Radames, both Tavary and
Doree excelled themselves.
The hero, Radamer, was comically por-
trayed by Chevaler Guile, tenor of Euro
pean as well as American renown. Gliille's
vocal powers are magnificent, and to them
he lends the utmost skill of erudite train
ing. His opening solo, "Celeste Aida,''
ELECTED q rapturous encore, and he was
also the recipient of a beautiful floral
wreath tied with ribbons of the French and
American colors.
The part of Anon AFRO was very satis-
factorily sung by the lately imported bari
tone, Max Eugene, whose voice is of fine
timbre. The remaining principal charac-
ters were in the capable hands of Mr.. CIV.
Schuster and Signor Abramoff, the latter
the possessor of an imposing presence and
a grand bass voice.
1t must be owned that the effort of lis
tening to three different languages in one
opera is trying, not to speak of the incon-
gruity of the prima donna singing in Itai-
ian, the tenor in French. and the baritone
in English. Otherwise there was no
fault to find in the very pleasing rendition
of the opera, except indeed the discord-
antly shrill tones of one soprano in the
chorus, who perhaps, is over-anXioLs to
make herself heard.
Madame Doree, who created such very
favorable impression last night, will be
heard tonight as Carmen, and will be sup
ported by Mo,lie LIGHTER. Mr.. Payne Clarke,
tenor. and Max Eugene as The Toreador.
Tomorrow The Hugenot2, with Nine. Tav-
ary and M. Guile in the caste, will be
heard.
BURBANK THEATER.-Love and Law. a
realistic and powerful drama depicting life
in the Italian quarter of New York, was
given by Milton Mobiles and his company
at the Burbank last night. Cont, an or
gan grider, a sweeper of a shop fer the
purchase of stolen goods. and a general
aliaround brute, is the master of Rita, who
is ostensibly an Italian and street singer.
Rita is in reality an English child, the
daughter of wealthy parents. and was
stolen away in her early youth by Cont,
who was employed by another heir of the
same house to destroy his infant rival.
Felix O'PaH, an attorney of New York,
late of Dublin. falls in love with Rita, res
cues her from the clutches of the villain
Gus Cont, places her in charge of worthy
young lady and provides for her educa-
ton. Craddock, the villain, who wishes to
get control of the girls property, employs
Jimmie Nipper, London crook, to assas-
snate the girl. The attempt is frustrated
by the skill of the police and detectives.
Jimmie Nipper reforms and becomes a
lawyers clerk in the office of Attorney
O'Paf to help him secure the girls prop
erty and falls into the trap set for him.
Mr.. Mobiles persouation of the Italian in
order to obtain proof against Craddock was
an astonishing denouement.
AS Felix O'Paff, the Irish lawyer, Mr..
Noble is evidently in his native element.
His ersatility is apparent in every SEN
tence and his graceful portrayal OF the
big hearted lrishman is true to nature.
Dolly Mobiles as Rita was dainty and
Her street songs were touch
ingly tender and well merited the hearty
applause with which they were received.
Rose StIlman as Helen Montague was
stately and dignified English lady.
George Woodthorpe played the part of
Kitty O'Rourk very cleverly.
Grace Pierce essayed the dual role of
MRS. TarboX and Old Rosa, and was ex-
cellent in each part. AS Old Rosa she did
some of the best work of the evening.
The irrepressible Michael Hooly as Jim
mie Nipper did some of the cIeverest work
that that very clever has yet done.
The entire support was good.
Love and l. lw is by far the most artistic
production yet given by this company. 1t
was we'll staged i'll every way. The situa-
lions are very striking and realistic. 1t
will be given all the week. with Saturday
matinee, and should draw crowded houses
at every performance.
y II II
ORPHEUM.-Whlet there is but one new
team Oh the bill az the Orphenm for this
week, the program is new-each of the
holdovers changing their act from that of
last week. However, the new team is
worth half dozen ordinary people. Cason
and Herbert, the newcomers, are billed
as grotesque acrobatic clowns, which they
prove to be in all that the words imply.
Their act is a whole show, or rather a
circus, by itself. Their act is most difficult
to describe in way that the reader would
gain fair idea of just what it is like. AS
acrobats they excel, yet even their aero.