The herald., 1898-02-08

consequently a good opportunity Tor
the introduction of picturesque cos
tunes, including peasants, brigands,
soldiers, monks, novices and nobility
Mr. Barnabee has a part in which no
particular demand is made upon his
vocal powers, except in the way of ut
tering facetious sayings, in which art
he is a past master. Eugene Cowles
was in excellent voice and sang his prin-
cipal song, in the second act, THE Monk
and the Maid" with such fine effect that
it was vociferously redemanded.
The new soprano, Alice Nielsen, is
captivating little woman, with light,
flexible voice. of great purity and sweet
ness, and thoroughly at home in the
business of the stage, her only promi-
nent defect being a careless and indls-
tinct delivery of her spoken lines, as If
she did not think them of any import
ance. But she sings delightfully."-, and
the waltz song, Cupid and l." was ex-
actly suited to the quality of her voice,
the closing cadenZa being so brilliantly
rendered that she was forced to repeat
the song.
Mr.. Mcdonald looked magnificent in
his picturesque costume, and sang the
not very exacting music with his usual
finish and taste. Mr.. Philip received an
encore for his very agreeable rendering
of the song, II Envy the Bird" which
occurs in the third act and is one of the
gems of the opera.
The chief defect of the whole work
is that it does not give an opportunity
to see and hear more of Jessie Bartlett
Davis. She is as enchanting as ever in
her own compelling way, dazzling as to
costumes, graceful in every movement
and with a voice whose rich tones vi
brate with the same telling effect as
ever. She sings, with the chorus, THE
Angelus," which is no doubt consid-
| cred the principal number of the opera.
1t affords a remarkably fine blending
of voices and is much aided by the ex-
cellent orchestraton, the latter feature
being a characteristic of the whole
opera.
George rockingham and Harry
Brown had the low comedy parts of
the opera, it being essential that such
parts should be introduced according to
the unwritten law of construction which
governs such productions. But tbe
comedians were not, in fact, afforded
much opportunity for their funnyisms,
always excepting Mr.. Barnabee, of
course.
Josephine Bartlett had a small role
as the Mother Superior and had a hard
time in keeping control Of her crowd of
pretty little novices.
All told, the performance was highly
successful one. 1t reaches its climax
in the second act, which is decidedly the
strongest, the first act being weak in
the finale, while the third act seems to
have been tackled on without sufficient
reason but as 1t is very short it gives
but little opportunity for criticism.
The serenade, which affords the theme
for the opera, is pretty enough to be-
come decidedly popular. The general
effect of the opera, while it leaves a de-
cidedly pleasant impression, is that of
work that will not rank in lasting
esteem with robin Hood" which is
always as green in memory as the woods
in which it's scene is laid.
A CORRECTION.-Whe one has
committed an error no matter how in
nocently it may have been done, the
safest and best way is to own up at
once. The Herald, on Sunday, pub
lished an item which purported to state,
dIlODS Olltl tilllSS tIlV udtS VI Iilt year
in which the idol of the Bostonans first
saw the light Jessie Bartlett Davis it
was said was born in 1859. The state
ment was not only unnecessary, but it
turns out that it is untrue. 1t was a fig
ment from the press agents brain, and
as the misstatement is repeated in the
elegant souvenir program of the theater
itself, it is all the more to be regretted
-. 80 A.
for saying that the figures are at least
three years astray. 1t is perhaps need
less to say on which side they err
There is no instance on record of a
woman's taking exception to an under
statement of her age.
BURBANK THEATER-A fairly well
filled house witnessed the opening of
the second week of the Elleford COM
pany at the Burbank last night The
attraction was D. X. Higgins kid
naped." The piece which was presented
at the same house some four years ago
is we'll within the powers of the COM
pany, and the audience greeted it as
an old friend. The scenes are laid in
the two extremes of New York city-the
swell district and the slums.
Mr.. Elleford was at his best in the
character of Louie Rhinegold. German
dude, and he was ably seconded by
Jessie Norton as Maggie McMooney, his
sweetheart. The other members of the
company all displayed ability in the
lines in which they were cast.
From scenic standpoint this Is one of
the best things ever produced at the
Burbank; especially is this true of the
Brooklyn bridge scene. The kidnapping
scene, in which a real hack and horses
were introduced, called forth a storm of
applause. In all the piece is highly
realistic and was well acted by Mr..