The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-05-26

Roou tuste. nlf. McDOnhlu Dhu pic-
turesque part and the music allotted To
him was rendered artisticaly. Miss Davis
was an artist constantly In her interpreta-
ton OF the vixen Dame Van Wrinkle
she sang superbly and she acted with
her characteristic earnestness and salts
flying finish. She was In every way
equipped for the character. Miss Nelson
made hit as RIPS" daughter, Minna
Her lark song was "A gem and she sang
1t beautifully. She also sang the sweet
song, Love Comes, as though she was
in love with IL. She seemed TO be the very
embodiment Of the character. Mr.. Froth-
ingham had q dual part but there was lit
was amusing and Mr. Philip mado good
looking, manly lover. His duets with
Mipna were rendered .agreeably. Mr..
Dover, an amateur Of this city, also made
a hit In an unimportant part. His solo In
the beginning was rendered with profes-
sional abandon and 10 was the nrst success
Of the evening The parts PLAYED by the
children were delightful and little lola
Dodge created great deal of excitement
by her precocious singing and acting.
The News docs not say that Mr.. Jor-
dams opera approaches perfection, but IL
Is IA remarkable work. considering tho
necessarily limited experience of the au-
thor In this field OF endcayor. lie has the
disadvantage of an old story and the pre-
vious establishment OF the kind Of people
10 be seen in the Catskill village. Ho
has however, made n valuable cOntrlDu-
ton TO the music of the day, something
that entities him 20 the respect OF his fell
low musicians and the melody loving
public. He has added considerable TO the
music producing ability OF this little state
and for this. II for nothing else, wo say,
all hail Mr.. Jordan
The chorus of tho =" Bostonians' was
assisted by the following local singers
-. ~ III. ftH,
Florence Il. Jordan, Mrs Isabella sails
bury, Miss Hilda Kindquist, Miss Nellie
North. Mrs. Louise Bardsley. Miss sadie
Dalrymple Peck, Miss Elizabeth III.
Grant, Miss Mabel Root, Miss Esther Rice,
Miss NJ. Isabelle Cook. Altos-Mme
Emma Lemaire, Mrs. May Nichols, Miss
Eva Thornton Evans, Miss Elizabeth *.
Gardner Miss Evelyn George, Miss Ella
Bowen. 1cnors-Mossrs. Samuel f.
Brown, Fred II. Potter g. A. Freeman,
William Rogers. +. Huthwaite, John
Holt, Thomas Jacques, w. ID. Evans,
Harry Rawson, Lester Albro, Lawrence
Farrel, Harry Holmes, Walter ii. HUI
lard.
Mr.. Jordan in summarizing his beauti
ful work presents the following argument
as synopsis:
Act I. The opera opens with scene
of carousal at Vanderdonks Tavern.
Amid the pleasure Of pipe, beer and cards
"A call for "a song is made. The tavern
keeper produces some music roughly
penned and the men sing the refrain in
good style, Nick Nedder taking the solo
1t is discovered that Rip Van Wrinkle,
most clever with gun, fish line and liquor
flask, is the composer. All agree TO give
him hearty welcome. Rip appears and
joins his festive cronies. While the riot
Is at its height Dame Van Wrinkle comes
into the court yard and hearing her hus-
bands voice berates him aud promises TO
quickly return with a stick
Young Granier rushos into the tavern
with rumor of war. He is highly excited
and declares his purpose 60 become sol
dier. All the men endorse the sentiment,
saving Van Bummel, the schoolmaster,
who proves a coward and most un-
worthy claimant TO the hand OF Minna,
though encouraged in his suit by Dame
Van WInkie. Van Bummel runs away.
Rip, half in cups, sings drinking song,
"Oh Drink Divine is Ruddy Wine. "
The village maidens troop In the yard TO
find Rip, who is TO head a fishing excur-
sion on the morrow
Minna hears the singing, escapes from
her mother and joins the happy throng,
ell welcome her and she is coaxed TO sing
the Lark Song" Nick Vedder protests
against "Sniveling Children" coming on
children, no Rip" All is made satisfac-
tory, when Dame Van Wrinkle dashes in
on the scene and captures her maudlin
husband. While she is irving To start him
bomeward the village folk comfort Minna
who fears she cannot join them on. the
morrow. All arrangements are made,
however and Rip, who has broken away
from his wife for q moment, returns To
promise attendance. Dame Van Winklc
recapturos him aud all is confusion.
Act III. The villagers are In glen
at the foot of the kaatskills enjoying all
the pleasure of "a fishing excursion. With
deep reverence and admiration for the
beauty of surrounding nature they burst
into song. Hail Forest, Broad and
Mighty, during the song trivial reference
Is made to Hendrick Hudson. whom Rip
superstitiously reyeres as the mountain
deity.
Fishing is then indulged In and all fol-
wv Rips ad, ice as be is admitted master
of tho piscatorial art. A dance Is called
for and as Minna il both IA clever dancer
and the proud possessor of pair OF new
shoes, she is selected to perform alone.
whereat she executes the clever sketch,
Il Love To Dance in My Wooden Shoes "
The party disperse and Rip is left with
the children for while.
Dame Van Winklc appears. She has
with great difficulty reached tho rendez.
vous and is il possible more enraged than
ever. She conceals herself ut the approach
of Minpa and Granier who have eluded
tho rest Of the party and returned 10 tho
glen-the young man TO tell the old, old
story; the maiden 10 listen with will
ing ears Rip's advice Is sought and he
counsels early and secret marriage. The
Dame interrupts the plotters. A family
quarrel ensuos which reaches such u
height that the people in the woods return
and join in the ensemble The Dame
vents her wrath blindly but during the
TRADE the people with Rip and Minna slip
away and the Vixen, bafflled at every
point starts homeward The children
troop back and Rip returns just in time
To settle q dispute on the question of
fairies. He observes tho indications of "a
storm and blows horn for the "hone.
ward bound" The villagers reply from
the distance and finally assemble in the
glen.
There is yet time for dance, which Is
INDUCED In joyously. The storm comes
on apace, everything is hustle and hustle
and all hurry home. Rir, who has strayed
In the woods To ward off imaginary evil
IL left behind. He meets Daliken, tho
dwarf and bond servant Of lIendriGk Hud-
son, who invites him to ythe mountain
In,