The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-10-25
THE WILBUR GIRLS HERE
PERUCHI BELDENI COMPANY AT
METROPOLITAN.
GOOD AUDIENCES FOR FIRST NIGHT
Said Pasha" at the Academy Of Music and
"A Western Judge" at the Metropoli-
tan. Week Engagements at
Both Theatres.

There will he no excuse for the visitors
to the Fair not being amused this week.
There's the Fair by day, with its eX-
hibits. races and sideshows; and by
night there's the playhouse, with its
song and dance and funny farce.
When | say funny, / mean funny
really funny; for there are two such
shows in town this week-one at the
Academy of Music and one at Metropoli-
tan Opera House.
They are not the sort of thing-theSe
Shows-at which you force yourself to
smile or giggle i'll order not to appear dis
agreeable or hepatic or crossed in love.
You sit contentedly in your seat, ana
laugh till your sides ache and find your
self wondering all along what's coming
next. and so interested do you become
that you don't even care to leave your
seat in the entr'ates. Then when you
do go out YOU don't have to remind your
self to look pleasant to keep from Offend
ing the manager or making people think
you've committed Il crime.
peruchi's ingenuity and mirth puts one
into the humor that unhorses care and
bids the world go hang. THE Western
Judge" presented by him~last night was
a novelty in the contrivance and imagin-
alton, the dexterity and absolute ao-
surdity of the situations.
And the Wilbur Opero Company-you
do not need to put yourself into ii vein
TO reve in the fun of it. Just push
yourself into a bald-head row seat and
Harvey will do the rest. 1t exhilerates
like new love or very nearly.
The Wilbur Opera Company are old
acouaintances here, and / predict they
will receive II hearty welcome this week.
Even last night-the first night of their
enga cement-T good house greeted them.
The opening bill was Said Pasha,'
Richard Stahrs tuneful opera. This IS
one of the strongest in the company $
repertoire, and it was presented in
manner which could hardly be excelled.
That the audience appreciated It. was
evidenced by the frequent and rapturous
applause.
Miss Kirwin, Serena, was as great
favorite as ever with the audience. Her
voice has lost none of its sweetness,
while her acting is as clever as ever.
There is Il charm about Miss Kirwin's
voice that thrills and wins and holds one.
J. Clarence Harvey, who has more
genuine comedy in him than half Il dozen
other comedians, is still with the com
pany and enacted the role of NOkey.
Mr.. Harvey has large - ok of humor
on hand and will uncork it this week.
His side partner, George MuZZy, as Ha-
dad seconded him quite cleyerlg in dis
pensing jollity. They are genuine come
dans. They only look ut the audience
and wave of laughter sweeps over the
house. Harvey's every action is unny.
and he injects an enormous amount of
originality into his lines.
f.. A. Clark is one of the new princi
pals. He was cast for the title role, and
right cleverly did he acquit himself. He
has splendid baritone voice.
Miss Margaret Baxter was cast for
Queen Alti Miss Baxter, who became
favorite last year, has fosT none of
her charms of voice. manner or looks.
Miss Louise Roberts, as the Rajahs
sister, had a most difficult role, but rem
dered it in the manner of the true artist
she is.
Charles A. Fuller, whose powerful bass
voice fits him to sing and act the part
of Rajah made a decided hit.
Mr.. Wheeler, as Hassan Bey, did re-
markably well.
Harold Gordon, who replaced Mr. Fer
guson as Terrano, has a good nigh tenor
voice, and he's decidedly valuable nc
QUESTION TO the company.
Then there was the chorus. Oh it
was fine! And pretty girls-you never
saw the like. But good looks and per-
feet forms were not all. There were
fine voices, blending IN one glad burst
of music. But of these more anon.
Between the first and second act the
"Old Glory Animated Song Sheet was
shown. This proved a novelty and it is
certainly highly interesting diversion.
The Wilbur Iivi-".s pictures have ma
tional reputation. They were given last
season and this seasons are as fine and
as realistic, and that's saying n great
del.
During the week Boccaccio. H:ikado.
Carmen, Fra Dravolo, Merry War, Two
Vagabonds, ETC., will be rendered
The Metropolitan Opera House was
crowded last night to witness the open
ing performance of the Peruchi- Beldini
Company. They presented the WEST
ern Judge four act comedy drama.
1t is a clever troupe and the audience
was thoroughly pleased
Mr.. Peruchi. in the role of Judge
Ananias Loyetoddy, was Il splendid piece
originality and genuiness that stamped
him an actor of ability.
Miss Hazel Carleton is a pretty and
talented little actress She took the part
Of "Triss' and threw a brightness and
snap into the performance that made
her a favorite at once.
The other members sustained their
parts well.
A number of specialties were intro
duced between the acts, which were well
.ooa:,,oJ Tho dopcipp of tho r,,Io+r,,