New-York tribune., 1898-11-29
MUSIC.
LA BOHEME" IN ENGLISH

The people OF the Castle Square Opera Company
who perform operas OF all kinds in the rular
the American Theatre quite often delightfully."-
surprising 10 the critical listener they are dis
tressingly disappointing. Zeal they have a-penty.
and voice. and honesty: but ever and anon the in
telgence. the poetic feeling and the taste of stage
manager conductor and singers seem to go to sleep.
and then srievous harm is done to a well-earned
and steadily growing reputation. and works OF art
are outraged II is n pleasant duty to record that
inc latest experiment ventured upon by the COM
pany, though In respects the most daring in
It's record did not belong to the dscouraging roper
tory An English version OF Puccinrs LA Boheinc"
was undertaken. the first anywhere so far as our
information goes and in several particulars the Ita-
IAN performances OF tho work which have been
given here were surpassed There were wel-con-
suuced pictures those OF the second and third acts
being so admirable indeed. compel pretty trib
utes Of applause from the audience but that does
not call for discourse. Effective stage pictures
at the beck and call of even mean and hard -hsted
management In these days OF advanced mechanical
technique. and the management Of the Castle
square Company Is not mean and hard-hsted Much
more TO TIE purpose far as the desires and hopes
OF all the lovers OF opera who are looking forward
10 the habiitatlon Of the English tongue the mu
steal stage is concerned. was the demonstration
which was made of a growth Of intelligence. an ad-
vance In appreciation OF the poe:ca contents OF the
"o'k undertaken. an improvement In the methods
without which honest zeal and voice and ingenious
stage furnishings of avail The Castle Square
people came pretty close 10 a vivid exposition OF the
dramatic ani musical contents OF Puccinis opera.
They drew some OF its lines coarsely and left out
some that put severe test operate capabilities.
1t is much easier to put down stage directions for
IL hurly-burly OF incidents than 20 carry them out
with the clog OF music chained them. for II s
less the province OF music depic: incident than 10
comment on its effects: and Puccin has asked more
than be given In his second act. But where
play and music ran into a common channel the COM
pany displayed commendabe capacity and there
were numerous glimpses OF the leart of the com
poser's thoroughly unconventional and striking ere
alton. For most OF these credit belonged 10 Miss
Yvonre de Trevile. whose artistic equipment is
excellent that II not all surprising last night
to observe that II won the warmest admiration of
Nine Melba. whose latest purposes concerned
with the role OF Mimi. In the matter OF action Miss
Villa Knox provided effective foil for her but
muscally her performance distressing. provid-
ing an antithesis in this TO Joseph Sheehan's i'm
personation Of Rudolph who looked and acted ike
anything but poet Of the Latin Quarter. At
future representations during the week Miss Ade
laide Norwood and Charles O. Basset: 10 alter
nate with Miss De Trevie and Mr.. Shechan There
were good points. too in Mr.. Stewards Marcel Mr..
Witherspoon's Coline and Mr. Buffers Tchaunard.