The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-04-06
Columbia Thealer.

There is change in the bill mt the Col
umDlh Iheater this week and instead of
the ordinary vaudeville program the
Providence Opera Club gives its an
nual opeCtic presentation. This season 1t
Is the opera OF the Mikado' that is pro-
duccd and great credit is due the club as
well as the director, Mr.. Fred :. Gurdi-
ncr, the Well known tenor, for tho excel
lent manner In which the piece is pre-.
scnted
It has bcon some time since the
Mikado" has been seen in this city. so
long ag. In fact, that tho audicncc last
evening was able 10 laugh at the old
Jokes, weep once more with Pooh Bah
and his "Tit-willow" and enjoy tho
catchy strains of tho opera Just as fully
ms they could II they had never seen it
before Ii was more like stranger than
an old friend and those who were at the
columbia last evening enjoyed the opera
accordingly
Ii is seldom that Providence amateurs
have staged a play as well as the pruvi-
dence Opera Club has staged "Mikado'
this week. Not only are tho stage arrange
ments realistic but the costumes are truly
Japanese and no feature that would add
to the attractlyeness of the pictures has
bcen neglected.
Mr. Robert O. G Llnlse Is the Mikado
of the cost and be- Is an ideal Mi<adC
His height and his voice both nt him for
the part which he renders In a most artis-
tic manner. AS Ii -Ko. MIR n. L'G.
Sfrague Is an artistic success. MIR
Sprague hns had considerable experience
In amateur thcatricals and whilc he has
good voice this Is not the greatest OF tho
attractions OF the part as Inc Irescnts IT,
Tor MI Spraguc dons the character with
his makeup and presents Mr.. Ko-Ho as
nc certainly would have been If he had
ever lived. MI Sprague Is particularly
well fitted for tho part and he fully de-
served all the oncorcs that hc received
Mr.: Harry Bullard played the part of
the lover, Nanki-poo. and he plays IL
well, his work with Yum Yum being
particularly excellent AS Poo Bah Mr..
j. William Critchlcy won no little ap-
plauso and il would bo difficult to find
any amateur suloist who coull an the bin
more acccptably. MIR, Gilbert +. Hay
ward appears as Pish-1ish, and he both
sings and acts well, while Knee Ban. Mr..
Frank III. jackson. .Ir.. is 50 irrosistibly
,ri funny that r q Is able to regrct that his
katisha, the elderly lady who is i'm love
with N0nki Poo, is taken by Mrs Flor.
cncc Batcheldcr snow She has a sweet
sol rano Noito which is always heard TO
advantage and her characterization of the |
antique maidon who ycarns for love was |
hy no means poor acting. Misses Angela
Mulvcy, Alice Morgan and Lizzie Mulyey.
the three littlo maids from school, were !
very bcwitching and their work was cpr-
tainly one ~ lie ic lures of the pcrfor- |
nance. As Yum Yum Miss Angel |
Mulycy had ample opportunity todi,play |
her voice to advau t,ige, while Miss LiZzie |
Mulyey was an attractive Pccp.Bu, aud |
Miss Morgan ~ the graceful latti sing |
could scarcely have found her equal i'm |
tho ranks Il professional PLAYERS
Tie characters in the east are assisted |
by - chorus ui about 80 voices, and this |
presentation of the popular Gilbert aud |
sullivan opcrn can bc compared lavorably |
with any that has been given i'm prov- |
deuce.
The "Mikado - will be presented this |
and tomorrow evening with matinee |
tomorrow.