El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1897-03-03
THE OPERETTA.
1.-The Merry Cyclers' Draw a Large
Audience Last Night.

| Merry Cyclers was given in the opert
house last night, by large aggrega
tion of local talent under the direction
of Mrs. j. A. Nabb, the well known
vocal instructor, and before a large
house. 1t was considerable of an under
| taking to organize and drill SO many
amateurs with the limited number O1
| stage rehearsalS that have been held,
| and considering the necessarily limit
| ed attention within the comparatively
short time in which the operetta has
been gotten up. the company did we'll,
and except in two or three instances,
criticism should be dealt out by "troy
weight rather than by avoirdupois
| measure.
The argument of the operetta is as
follows: Leander wealthy party of
unknown antecedants, is in love-
''clean over the fence' with the queen
of cyclers, wants her to fly to his ecru
shirt front, and offers her wealth, fine
| coach and borses and cochero with a
bug on bis hat and all that sort of thing
along with a box at the Metropolitan
opera house every night in the season.
But the queen only gives him the mer-
ry but chilly ha-ha, and tells him to
chase himself off the m matrimonial grass.
Frederick, another dude and champion
bicycle trick rider, further entangles
the situation by going mashed over
only to find that her high social posi-
tion knocks his chances out cold. Then
according to the argument. two other
ingredients are without explanation
mixed into the dose in the shape of two
men, of course in high social positions,
who appeal to the city council Ell
Paso uncil bly-for greatly
needed local improvements only to find
the aldermen sporting the usual heart
Of t,,tn an, hni ,ot C1 q rl1n
then says, Educators and reformers
in their work find the hearts of the peo-
pie barred and bolted.' All, but now
we have it. Love, the key, opens the
way, and all things become possible;"
or words to that effect
The connection between all this,
that, these, those or which, is not en-
tirely clear that is, the logical con-
nection, and the association of ideas
with the consecutiveness of the same
But then dearly beloved reader, that
doesn't matter. In comic opera, people
go to hear pretty music, and the het-
erOgenity, heterdOXy or heterO-what-
ever else you have mind to call it,
don't count The music, not "the plays
the thing"
The 'opening load" was pretty
scene of a crowd of little girls, some of
them hardly more than babies, dressed
in white mother hubbards and white
night caps, dancing and prancing
around a sylvan bell. They were fol-
lowed by an equal numb ber of little boys
dressed as brownies, who
also capered around to their hearts
content while the little girls gathered
in two groups on the floor and watched
them. The uncertain movements of
the smallest children created much
merriment, particularly the child who
wand erred out onto the stage to watch
the curtain fall. The kids Immediately
took possession of the boxes. and ruled
the roost in that quarter for the re-
mainder of The evening.
This scene was followed by the ap-
pearance of the chorus of about
twenty-five or thirty young people in
bright bicycle attire. The ladies
looking especially we'll. The make-ups
were better than is generally expect
ed from amateurs, and Miss Maud Do
ane as dashing blonde was a tremen-
dous success. Aud not only deceiv-
ed many of her ladies friends but c,us-
ed a marked tluttAr beneath many a
manly chest. who is that handsome
and stunning blonde?" asked one lady
of another iu the dress circle. The
party addressed did not know until
some one back of them learned over
and whispered "GraciOus sake
alive" calculated the first speaker,
who'd have thought it, The chorus
did very we'll and entered into their
work with pleasing heartiness, show
ing that they put their best foot for
ward. True there was a little timidi-
ty shown, but that was pardOuable,
and the ensemble singing showed
that with little more experience, ef-
forts of marked excellence might
rea asonably be expected.
Mrs. Newell as the queen, sang in
her usual clear and pleasing voice. 1t
is not OverstrOng, but as she seems to
be correctly schooled, study will great
ly strengthen the carrying powers of
her voice. She was prettily dressed
and her make up was artistic. Miss
Phelps has also a not over strong. but
sweet soprano voice, and in her duo
with Mr.. Beach it blended very well
with his Miss Phelps is good music
ian. Miss Winds r had no difficulty
in filling the auditorium and her
soprano is of pleasing quality that
showed off to good advantage in her
duos with the tenor Mr.. Beach. Miss
Windsor is always a favorite on the
local boards. Miss Robinson appeared
for the first time in local opera with
credit to herself. She is a very pretty
as well as an intellig ent girl, and while
in her talking dialogue with DR.. Mon
agin she did not speak loud enough for
all TO near, yet ntr enuncldGIOn WAS
entirely without affection and showed
she had very agreeable speaking as
we'll as singing voice. Miss Robinson's
middle register notes are a 5 rich and
as heavy as contraltOS, and she
appered to advantage in the lady
Quartet She was attired attractively
and in taste. Mrs. Thomas as usual
was a host in herself. Sne was perfect
ly at home at all times, and added
much TO the life of the evening by her
sprig b illness. She makes an attract
i've figure on the stage. Mrs. Am s
was very pleasing in the lady quartet
and was bright and vivacious, and Miss
Doane's almost bass contralto was as
usual effective and appreciated. All
the other lady singers carried out their
parts satisfactorily, and Miss Spencer
in her recitation as Mrs. Josiah cap
tured the house with one of the best
things of the evening. Little Pearl
Penniman and Miss Edwards proved
prime favorites last nigh ht, little Miss
Penniman doing exceptionally well for
one of her age, while the little dinner