The times., 1898-06-14

acter work. and most OF them were i'm
proved William IngersoIl played the dif-
ficult part of John Fleming with a skill
and subtlety which fully sustalns his pre-
vious reputation His acting was always
strong. but never mel0dramatic- James o.
Barrows has seldom had a better part
than that Of the quaint and lovalble old
Professor. and two or three OF the situa-
lions in which he figured were simply
side-splitting. Alexander Kearney, as the
fussy and innocent old Major Bunker.
set the audience laughing every time he
showed his remarkable wig on the stage.
while John Lancaster, as the German.
Baron Won Spiegel. and ]. R. Furiong. as
DR.. Sterling. were entirely satisfactory.
Edward Mackay. as Win Tracy. was rath-
er melOdramatic and decidedly common
place.
Miss Maude Haslam presented the role
OF Grace Fleming in a sympathetic and
dainty way which won the favor of the
audience at once. She did some really
strong acting in the second and third
acts. Elenora Browning. as the adven-
turess. proved herself remarkably clever;
Margaret Mayo, as Miss Fftzgiggle. look
ed the character with complete success,
and was very effective in her acting: and
Agnes Ffndlay played the part of the
professors wife with her usual success.
MISS Marie West. as Martha, and Mr..
Frank Ball, as Robert, were TWO new
members OF the company who acquitted
themselves with credit. and give distinct
and emphatic promise OF future excel
lence.
One criticism which might be made on
the business of the play as a whole is
that there is rather too much embracing
in it. OF course some OF this is ueces-
sary, because of the exigencIes OF the
plot, but there is such an excess of it
that one grows a little wearied.
Glen Echo-"Chimes of Normandy"
In the entire repertoire of stock opera
there is no piece more beautiful than
PlanQuette's Chimes OF Normandy" and
there is none that has been more direful-
iy abused. Under its more familiar title.
that of The Bells Of CornviIIe." il has
been executed and otherwise murdered
by nearly every third-class organization
in this country. Mlscast and poorly
staged. any opera would appear to
wretched advantage and through this sort
Of handling many have come 10 regard
as old and tires0me what only seems SO
when badly given
As a matter of fact there few mu-
steal products, either OF that period or Of
this, that can vie with THE Chimes in
tunefulness and general excellence. It's
hbretto consists OF a most remarkable
blending OF the humorous with the Dic1ur-
esque. the former element DeIng uoheId
by several really witty lines and rare
opportunities for comedy Of a broader or
der, while the latter is punctuated with
some Of the most consistent OF character
drawing and q plot that is thoroughly le-
gftimate- The music is in turn bright AMI
dramatic. always abounding in spirit and
IN charm. There is a rhythm ard Swiug
10 many of the numbers that forced tham
into popularity Immediately after the op-
era first production The choral and in
dlviduaI selections are both of a nature
TO be carried away with other pleasant
memories of the performance.
THE Chinese OF Normandy has not
been given here by q professional cast
| for some time and rather displeasfng re-
| collections of former renderingS made all
the more delightful the manner in which
the piece was sung by the Parry Opera
Company last night at Glen Echo. Its
| numerous opportunities for rich and eIab-
crate costuming had all been taken adj
vantage of. while new scenery and cleo
trical effects were utilized in each of
the lNO dEtS. IHe CuOTuS E1Ne LIS usual
efficient aid. adding greatly to the ef-
fectiveness Of the production both by
appearance and voice. There are forty
supernumeraries and the body is trained
| vocaIly and physically to perfection.
| George Towle's orchestra, too. preserv-
| ed the reputation it has made in its ac-
1 compartments with its careful work
! throughout the evening
There were few surprises in the pre-
Eshed itself with its productions Of The
| Mil9adO' and ''Olivette" that nothing less
| than the introduction of a CaIve could
! astonished those familiar with its excel
/ lence. 4 genuine sensation was created
/ last night. however. by Frank Desh0n' )
/ impersOnation of GaSpard. Mr., DeShon is
! an accepted comedian of great ability
| and those who have laughed at his broad
! humor could not have been otherwise
/ than startled by his wonderful character
work. Without OVERRIDING in any particU-
! lar he made the nliSer at once so lifelike
/ and so disagreeaiole that one was shock
| ed at his detail and studiOusness- Alleen
! Crater was a delightfully."- vivacious and
| convincing SerpOlette. Her singing Of the
part was good and her acting 50 much
| better that praise seems scant when one
| remembers its fineSSe and naturalnesS.
! Charles Hawley and Jay C. Taylor sung
the roles of Henri and Jean with unusual
| ability. Both have fine voices OF great
power and resonance
Viola D'Armon succeeded in making
Germaine pleasing and pretty. while the
i part lacked nothing in vocal require
| ments, and George Broderiek and Thomas
! Daily extracted no end of humor from
those officious officials, the BaIh and ths
Notary. Selma Rough. Lizzie Winner
| Primrose Archer. Annie Clay. Guy Lis
penard and Frank Stevens did the re-
~
isfaction of the audience. The entire en-
tertainment was superior in every way
and fully deserving of the general appro
baton II received