The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-12
THE THEATRE CROWDED
THREE SOLID HOURS OF MUSIC
AND FIN.
IT WAS PRESENTED BY RALEIGH PEOPLE
The performance Was Equal TO Any Ever Given
Here by Professionals viii be Repeated
To night for Benefit Of the
HOSPITAL.

Perhaps Il was because it was done
by home-folks-for IL prophet is not al
ways without honor in his own country
Perhaps it was due to the many
pretty faces and graceful forms III
strange costumes upon the stage. May
be II was owing to the number of bright
lifting songs and ridiculous situations.
Or. peradventure it was the very com
mendnhle cause for which the opera was
given.
Whatever it may have been-any or
all of these--the presentation of the
Mikado last night proved to he most
remarkable success.
How much of the very real fascination
excrted by this delightful comic opera
was due to its local interest, and
the haze of semi-orientalism that en-
folds it, is not easy to determine. That
the same incidents, clear of their pic
turesaue settings, portrayed by strangers
and void of the faithful presentment OF
Japanese tones. SdIDS anu
might possibly not stir us is incontesta-
HE. Yet it is also iiieontestable that this
simple story of love and its follies last
night held packed house with sub
tie power and delighted with its bright
music. may dances and ridiculous situa-
tions.
In the first half of the first act the
volume and quality of tone may not
have been quite what they should, but
always the singers enumeration ana
nhrasing were expressive and correct.
And in the perfection of picture any
defect was lost sight Of, and as whoie
one could really wish for nothing hetter.
The fun was continuous. When the
audience were not laughing at some an
surd dollery, they were intentiy nsleh-
ing to the wondrons music OF MISS
Tucker or Mrs. McKimmon, or raptur
ously appIauding n splendid chorus.
throughout the whole opera there were
bright topical songs, local hits, nashihg
wit. delicious gayety, mlschieyous CO.
auetry and graceful dances and ghdih2
marches. 1t seemed to me as II could 90
on forever feasting my eyes upon the
SCENE and my ears unon the music.
ished. still more grieved as | saw the
second drawing to close and quite IN
consolable when the curtain went down
for the last time and people began to feel
for their hats at the end Of the perform
ance.
.'Oh. it was just grand" every woman
in the house said, and for once ! agreed
with them.
80, yntn
more than one member of it giving hint
of a latent ability to do something more
than conventional acting.
The title role was taken by Mr. Ed
ward L. Boykin, who deserves a word
OF praise for performing the part in a
most clever and interesting way. Ills
impersonaton of the foolish Mikado was
anything hut bad.
OF course Ko-Ilo, like the poor. We had
with us always and talking all the time.
But he never became a bore, for the
more and the longer he talked the fun
ner he got. This character was taken
by Mr.. Albert l.. Baker. whose acting
was perfect. Mr.. Baker looked much
like Harvey the comedian in the Wilbur
Opera Company, who was such favor
lite here. This. with his peculiar voice,
made all that he said and did seem very
funny.
Then there was Pish- Tush, represented
by Mr. Albert +. Bauman, a sensible
and sympathetic young actor; and Mr..
Everard Ell. Baker. who most admirably
played the part Of Nanki-Poor, the lover.
though. he showed lack of emotional
power in the love duet in the first act.
OF the male characters it is not too
much 10 say that Dr. Hubert Register.
as Pooh-Ba was the best As an Of
fice-holder Pooh Bah is success He
can even beat Loge Harris; and as a
user Of big words and bad pronunciation
he can see a colored Methodist parson
and 20 him several better. DIR. Roys-
Ter, throughout, assumed that naturalness
characteristic of the born actor He
has deep pleasant voice and personal
magnetism that makes anything he says
worth listening TO.
The public in general and the Hospital
Aid Association in particular owe a no.
table debt to Mrs. Chas McKimmon
tkatlSha) and Miss Minnie Tucker
II UNI YUM. These young women con-
slftute the vital fascination Of the opera
that Raleigh last night so greatly en-
Joycd and so raptur0usly applauded.
In so far as the part of Yum Yum
gives Miss Tucker opportunity for dis
play of dramatic talents she shows her
self most natural and charming ac-
tress. And her singing more than once
aroused a very storm of enthusiasm.
Nothing could have been finer than the
song she sang with such ten.
dorness and simple grace at the
opening of the first act, after she
bad been made ready for her wedding.
Mrs. McKimmon gave TO her inner.
sonation Of the character of Katisha a
poetry and fervor that rose almost Ia
genins. As Songstress she is most
eloriously equipped and can always
command the worship of her auditors.
Then there was Yum Yum's charming
sisters, Pitti-Sing Miss Sadie Duncan
and Peep-Poo Mss Mamie NowelD-
but why go on particularizing? The
whole cast was immense, and the oDera
went off in manner entirely creditablt
10 all concerned. The chorus of .Japa
nese n0blemen and of Yum Yum's school
mates seconded the leading character.
most ably and were at all times deli