The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-11-15
FOR SWEET CHARITY
The Opera Priscilla at The
Academy of Music.
A COMPLETE SUCCESS
PRESENTED BY PORTSMOUTH
DRAMATIC COMPANY.
The HOUSE WAS LITERALLY PACKED
Few Professional Organic atoms Would Hav
Given More Clever Productions. Mrs.
Edw rds the Star of the
Evening.
Evening.

If every night were like last night at
would indeed be pleasant one.
1t makes one feel somewhat contempti
BILE to be continually sitting in judgment
on the work of artists, of men that arc
aflame with enthusiasm, men that rsI
so much upon the caprice of a careless
public, and so often find these works al
unsatisfying and Intellectual.
But l do not seem to be approaching
the subject of my article very rapidly.
III is the opera Priscilla.
To say that it was good would be to
use hackneyed term, meaning nothing;
to say that ii was the theatrical event
of the year in Raleigh would not be too
high praise, and to add that it was al
together one of the most thoroughly en-
joyable operas ever seen here, would not
be too much to say.
OF course there have been attractions
here in which there were better trained
voices and more experienced actors.
But / am not one of those who pretend
that the charm of such an opera as
Priscilla is dependent wholly on the man
ner of presentation. The lily owes but
little to the beauty of the vase that holds
it, a gorgeous brocade may delight the
eye irrespective of the grace or awk-
wardness of the wearer Correct cos
tunes, the light effects. the pretty young
faces, the graceful forms, such as We're
seen in the opera last night count for
something-for much.
Tho r1Iav ic Of tho fitna af ctarn Duri-
tan days. But this is soon forgotten,
for there's love and beauty and singing
in this opera-things the early New Eng
Ianders affected to despise. Indeed the
first act is hardly well begun before the
world trips lightly, with no sentiment
stronger than a love-knot and morals no
heavier than swans down. The plot
abounds in exquisite devices of all kinds
-tenuous as tiffany and as fiimsy too.
and all ablaze with sparkling speech and
gay caprice.
And how easily it is all carried along,
and how near most of the company APP
proach to distinguished excellence in
their representations.
Priscilla on the stage is not what she
is in fiction. The fair-faced girl of'whom
Longfellow wrote is morbid hysterical,
mystical. The Priscilla l saw last night
was fair as Longfellows maid, but her
life was sunshiny as the New England
hills and her disposition an echo of the
song birds in its pines. The gnawing,
creeping sensibility that gives the flesh
little shudders in Longfellow's poem
were, in the opera, dissolved into a hap
py-hearted love. hey-day girl-life that
sent tremor into the blood and vague
dreams into the eyes.
Mrs. j. Griff Edwards personality is
one that makes her, to my thinking the
ideal priscilla" as she was the ideal
princess Bonnie" The earnestness
and spontaniety of her acting, her genius
for suggesting a very glow of pathos or
gladness, her subtle mischief. and her
infinite tenderness make her an actress
of unusual magnetism and of large flu
0ture should she ever choose the stage as
"a career. "
Y A clear soprano, filled with sun-she
puts into her words a fervor and a
meaning that make them ring in the
soul. She is telling John Alden of her
love and upbraiding him for his unseltish
surrender of her to Miles Standish. Her
face is in profile, fair and sad as Il
saints. Like bird calling to it's mate
in the early morning comes the first
clear note. The harmony steals a potent
influence over you. The notes rise and
float through the place, now signing like
a requiem, now swelling forth proudly
and martially like summons to a prince
ly feast.
Under the spell of the music a change
has come over John Alden. He forgets
his unselfsh promise to plead with
Priscilla for Standish, offers his owr
hand and heart, is accepted and plights
his troth with kiss. This part is taken
by Mr.. T. j. Anderson, who acts it well
He has vibrant, well trained voice and
is thoroughly at home on the stage.
And Rollicking George McDermott, as
Hatebad Higgins, was simply immense
so funny that one couldn't help laugh
ing all the time he was on the stage, and
little while he was off, just to catch up
And then when it was all over comedian
and audience could have shaken hands
over the footlights and have felt that
they'd had a good time all around.
He inspired me with a quick admira-
tion of his conception of his environ
ment. his power of personal disguise and
his consistent and deliberate theatrical
methods. Mr.. McDermott is a comic
fellow. really funny comedian.
At first there was some disappointment
ut the fact that Mr. James n. Ander
son was unable to be here and take
the part of Miles Standish. He has
done so much to entertain Raleigh PEG
pie, has so often been the life and sou
of comic opera it was at first feared
that Priscilla wouldn't be half a go
without his merry antics, But it was
He sent a good substitute in the person
of Mr.. Hazard who impersonated thu
character of the doughty captain to per
lection.
Then there was Mr.. j. I. Dunbar, al
William Bradford, governor of thu
colony, and Squanto, a reformed Re,
Man. and Barbara, Faith and Prudence
three May Flower Buds.
But none of the company acted bette
their part than did Miss Lena Ma.
Edmonds, who appeared as Resignation
middle aged spinster. She has ad
mirable emotional force and throw
herself unreseryedly into the part sh