Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-03-06
IN IN, y. M11oShfiI CIRCLES
First Stage Rehearsal of 'Priscilla" Proves
Hecidel Success.
The Opera t9 Be Given by Amateurs
for the d. AsR-Other Inter-
3.p4s Items.

for the d. AsR-Other Inter-
}.p4af Items.
The first dress 5aehearsal of the new
comic opera. Priscilla, took place yester-
day morning on the stage of the Colurn-
bia Theater, apd it was attended by quite
a number OF Invited guests. who were loud
IL their praise of both the opera and the
performers. The rehearsal was conducted
by Mr.. Macomber in a spirited style. The
overture is bright and pleasing, and the
opening chorus consists of about thirty
maidens, who sing The Pilgrim Daugh-
ters Here You See." Priscilla appears
next, followed by the signing love-laden
John Alden. and in her opening song
Ga1nst Puritanic Ways" gives vent to
ner rather worldly view of things. Alden,
perpetual1y seeking an opportunity to de-
care ms love, at last finds her alone, and
Is Just about to do so when one Hatebed
algglEs, crafty, sanctimonious busybody
| comes in eavesdropping, and being discov-
sfed' spoils all for the time being Hig
gins, with all his villainy, proves a very
iunny 1elIoW. He has two enemies-Miles
otandish, the Sruff warrior, and Squanto,
reformed redman. He imagines Standish
IN love with Resignation. 4 romantic spin
ster OF doubtful age and corkscrew curls,
anu IN sheer spite for some affrcnt. re-
solves to revenge himself the worthy
captain by supplanting him in her affec-
IONS. He meets Resignation later on and
~ one or the most fetching duets in the
E ~ Woos and wins. Standish. desperate
~ IN love with Priscilla and too bashful to
uisciose the secret, is surprised in a sollo-
guy one day by the very object of his
atieciors. With much stammering and
nogetlng he aWkwardly manages to tell
f ner he loves maid and fears to WOO
Sne, all unmindful whom he has placed
ms directions, laughingly suggests that he
carry On courtship by proxy. The sug-
| sesuch hnds favor and thus is begun the
| IAN Gus proxy Woong'' immortaized by
Longfellow. The ardent Miles seeks out
| SohE Alden and explains to him the pc
culiar terms upon which he PROPOSES to
win bride. John thereupon discloses tnat
ne is In love with Priscilla also, but doubts
II the sentiment is reciprocated, and after
| mueh entreaty he engages reluctantly to
| make love for Miles, and departs upon his
| mission. The scene of this courtship AT
nIlsciila home Is pathetically funny
The duet is beautiful
| 1t leads up through Johns declaration
| endng Love Standish, L implore thee
| ana Prlscilla's historic reply why don't
you speak for yourself. John?' to a mutual
plight1ng of troths and an affectionate en-
brace. Al this point they are rudely inter-
| rupted by Standish, who enters discovers
| an and, followed by the whole company
| denounces Aldens perfidy in tones of thun-
| ger. me scene here Is quite dramatic
| tOiiueIHHS Alden 10 prison for
breach Of contract Priscilla and the
| chorus f1tercede; all is forgiven and all
ends happily. The Priscilla of Mrs. Shir-
Chr bids fair to outrival the work of many
professionals: The lady chorus numbers
many beautiful young ladies', and the work
| throughout was exceptionally good. The
| continental Hall committee of the D. A II.
have been. working faithfully to make
| Priscilla tina pcial success. The first
dates, March I'd and 9Th, were postponed to
March . and Ia. and in order to accommo-
| GATE many who cannot well come at reg
| ular matinee hours the performances are
| to commence at DIM.
All holders Of coupon tickets have been
| notified that the same will be perfectly
good, the March 81 tickets for March .,
| and the March s. tickets for March 10.
| being ordered by the most prominent people
In Washington, among whom are Mrs.
Vice President HOBART Mrs. Stevenson
Mrs. U. S. Grant, Mrs. Lindsay. Mrs. West
inghouse and Mrs,s Huff. The cast and
chorus have been .npted and their names
| are sufficient guarantee Of brilliant per-
those just mentioneaiare Mrs eolney. Mrs.
Justice. Brown MEs. John Sherman. Mrs
Carlisle, Mrs. Bries, Mrs. Mitchell. Mrs
Lindsay, Mrs Lamont, Mrs. Gibson, Mrs
| Vest, Mrs. Logan, Mrs. Scranton, Mrs Gen
| Miles, Mrs. Newcome, Mrs. Davis, Mrs
Virginia Miller, Mrs. Claude NJ. johnson
Mrs. Blanchard Mrs. German, Mrs; Wal,
Fuller, Mrs Letter, Mrs. Cafrey, Mrs
! Quay. Mrs. Boardman. Mrs. Chas. B
Bailey. Miss Harriet Lane johnson. Mrs
| Horstman.
Miss Fanny At Lee, who has been per.
manently engaged as soprano soloist Of st
| Matthews choir, will enter upon her new
duties tomorrow morning. She will sins
on this occasion the prayer from Merca-
dante's Seven Last Words and the Ag
nus Del from Gorza's mass.
The Erminie Circle gave it's first enter
tainment last Tuesday evening at I'LL S
street. Two choruses were rendered by
the entire circle. THE Rusty Miller" from
Rob Roy and March Onward by Gel
bel. The rest of the program consisted OF
a piano solo, Miss Irma Ruess; contralte
solo, Sweet Genevive," Miss Adele Nye
duet, 'Dusky Night" Miss Henry and
Mr.. Craigen; soprano solo, "A Winter
Lullaby" Miss Blanche Landom; baritone
solo, "Asthore," Mr.. Claiin; trio, In Old
Madrid" Misses Henry. B. Landon and
Adele Nye; contralto solo, Miss Katherine
Hendricks my Home is Where the Heth
er Blooms" duet. Misses Clarkson and
soprano solo, "Merrily 1 Roam" Miss Effie
Henry; soprano solo, "A Gypsy Maiden 1.
Miss Nye. Miss Buckley and Mr.. E. B
several Rotations. Miss Nye deserve.
great credit for the rapid growth and i'm
provement Of the organization.
The Phiiomel Club met last Monda,
morning at the home of Miss Facius. Tht
following program was given: "Dedica
tion," Shuman-Liszt. Miss Gardner
Gould l." Tosti, Mrs. Watterson Smith
''I'l Not Complain" Shuman, and Blue
Eyes" Bohm. Miss Nye; "Still as tn.
Night" Bohm; Miss Facius: .'Werum?'
ters; Snowflake" Cowen. Miss Rueckert
still as the Night" Goring Thomas. Mis-!
, Levers. The next meeting will be held a
the home of Miss Gardner on o street
The entire program will be of Shuman'.
music, and sketch of his life will b,
! given by Mrs. Smith.
The anniversaries of the birthdays o
, Gade and Haendel having occurred las
week the Sunday Night Music Club cele
brated them at the residence of Miss Els:
Ulke on street playing the Ossian Over
ture and the sextet of the former and tn
Fuer music and an Oboe Concert, arranged
, as viola solo with piano and string quin
tet Compartment, of the latter composer
In addition to which Miss BERTHE Reichen
bach sang some selections.
The Boston Instrumental Club, assiste
}, | by Mrs. Frank A. Gardner. will give one O
their choice classical matinees at the Co
| lumbia TheateT Wednesday,, the afternoo