The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-02
This Weeks Attractions.

! This Weeks Attractions. E
N
eEATTLE THEATER Eeturn en-
easement Of Del C0nte GRAND Itali.
N Opera Company. Saturday, jan
.sary ., double bill "Cavalieria
Rustfcaaa- and ~ Paiiacci.-
THIRD AVENUE THEATER-.sThe Gay
Matinee Girl" Week.
JEFFERSON THEATER-Csnsie Opera
sLa Maseotte.r Week.
PIKE STREET THEATER-Meivt. q.
Wtnstoek's "a Wcatern Politician
Week.
PEOPLES THEATER-vaudevi
The event OF the past week has been the
engagement, at the Seattle iheater OF the
Del Conte italian Grand Opera company
which Is now In a fair way to establish
itself al one OF the most reliable. IL NOT
brilliant. opera companies OF this country
Nusicaily. IL Is strong organization, al
though the personnel OF It's principals does
not contain the names OF any great artists
or. In fact. the names OF any artists that
are well known In this country. To peo-
pie who keep abreast of musical affairs
and who watch with interest the develop
menf OF European talent there are un-
donbtedly members OF the Del Conte COM
pany whose names have been spoken In
connection with the lyric stage. but to the
lay member Of society II Ii doubtful II any
OF them we're ever heard Of before am
told that the company was gotten together
IN Milan for q South American tour, but
fhrt revolutions. riots and yellow fever,
which our cousins TO the south OF US are
annually afflicted with or subjected. led the
management to so to Mexico instead, with
the further idea OF touring the United
states. In Mexico the business was re-
markaby good. but upon crossing the in
ternationai line there was . falling of In
receipts. and certain internal dissension
followed. This resulted In a reorganization.
In which the principals agreed upon a shar-
Ing interest and which led to 4 satisfactory
arrangement for backing by Nine Gem
ezra Johnston Bishop which explains
that much-admired woman's connection
With the enterprise. The active manage
ment Of the American tour has been placed
In The hands of l.. NJ Crawford. Of To-
peka. Kas.. who conducts big circuit OF
theaiers In the middle West, including
May OF the best toEns west of the Mis-
souri, river. 1t IL not the first time that AIR
Crawford has been associated In big the
atrieAi enterprises. and in the little story
told last week. concerning Scslchi Patti
and Col Mapleson. and the army OF hang.
ers-on, might have mentioned the fact
that Mr.. Crawford was the manager who
booked In the time for the Mapleson COM
pany and who accompanied II on q part OF
the tour. That I'm large measure accounts
Tor the thin hair that decorates Mr.. Craw-
fords upper story. II anyone can make
the Del Conte tour success IL Is the To-
peka manager. and predict that il he
carries out his present idea Of long sea
sons In the Eastern cities. with an aug
menied chorus and orchestra and better
stage management, that the company that
mas Just closed an engagement here will he
heard from again. Mr.. Crawford also
booked the Western tours OF Emma Abb
boit when that clever woman was alive
ana has sent any number OF good attrac-
Tons 10 the Coast.
The stage management; OF the Del Conte
company has been fearfuliy ragged and
uneven. The chorus. while singing the
score with undouhted correctness. has
been painfully shy In its business" and
While some OF the groupings have been
effective. II seems TO be the result Of chance
FATHER than good stage direction. First
rah color schemes have been part OF tho
ensemble. but that Is a measure OF art
that Is so akin 10 music In the tempera-
ment OF the Italians that II Is not TO be
wondered at. Those posings and the move
2 ment or large numbers OF people auxiliary
TO The principals In the succession Of pict-
arss 80 usually associated with American
productions are entirely lacking. anu the
general effect is Just that much weaker
ID exits OF the chorus they simply tumhled
eet over one another in a sort of flight from
NE observation OF the audience, Then an
american stage manager would keep the
entrances clear. but the Del Contn chorus
vas allowed 10 crowd Itself partly into
s'es when its absence would have been re-
srsshias. They peeked around the edges
q The wings. watching performers and
seoience, and impressed their presence
shd personality upon scenes TO their dis
advantage, Now this is said in all char
Nv, but the chorus of the Italian Grand
ofefa company is no: pleasing 10 the eye,
40 matter what its Importance may be %
.he harmonic section of the production.
u TACT. am sure tina, they are chosen for
.aeir singing. and not for looks They are
undoubtedly consistent. though. and as
PEASANTS. citizens and the general rif-ran
% towns and villages they are fair re-
TEX OF The authors intentions. IL may be
iAcs OF consistency on the part OF Amer
Ean managers 20 select girls with voices.
ahd the additional accoTna anlment Of
Pretty faces and shsrsly figures for the
saeras. bus that IS the American and En-
saisA idea. or courss the judgment as 20
soed looks is from thu AnxIo-Ssx ken stand
f0int. The rather greasy looking people.
aaay With a disposition TO stcutness. may
% ne Italian eye be as beautiful as the
Eek and white creations. all curves ard
u'npies. which we associate with cur
sacfrseS. S'.a when we think CT - Gil.
ear pretty l;tls girls IN the seickest ana
sasnnsst o. dresses tor uncressese. with
nesaings and lace and all that sort ef
.alaE-datnty 10 q degrees nos A reflex OF
~. ny tine IN this cid worlds history. and
uef are neither fish, flesh nor fowl. nor
200 REQ herring as far as consistency IS
.asuoerned. hut Just ths artistic Ideals Of
zee men who design the costumes. as much
y sisaiay Na:4res endowments as TO fur
ssh coverings Tor the round little things
sao sins ans dance ana make the picture
.IAHie that surrounds that enviaele posi-
IN knewn "a theatre parlanee as 'the
Enter Of the stage" II we ara no, con-
1s,snt because We make cur pes SAINTS
.N citizens" good 10 LOOK upon. we are
:. greater measure more arts
han scs the Italians Just for
rsascf.. Wa DO not suborai-
49, 80 tae vo,ce3. but we re<s,'trs a corf-
s aAton % lNoks and music thAt is greatly
cur advantage. Sig. Del Ccnte has
80 Us some rare good music. but re has
- saoNn ~ now hcm%ly-sc Use An ex-
s.esssen That aescI. hes jhe cc1dtsfca-~a lot
- saosus PEOPLE can be gathered together.
:. se TAD Sent cougieTs - the fonr corners
sae earth - secure The most indifferent
.hs Chorus R~ople they could ana.
'asy could 10; have been mere successful
:. :. :.
,.ne pesple who sa: n The audience and
~ .NcSue2j up5n the performances
80 oe sdFpr.sed-St least many % them
A.. se iesra that great deal % the seen
assa ard carried by the Del Conta
s,pahy Is made et paper. Instead OF he
:. ss''ed around rae country n the shape
as SID dgErS ara Ct sres II Is tust