Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-01-21
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MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.

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Both society and the musical contingent
OF Kansas City were well represented at
the Coates opera house last night OF the
occasion Of the Apollo Clubs first concert
for this. the eighth, season Of that popular
organization. The theater was filled. but
there is nothing new in that. The audience
was enthusiastic. but that is also a matter
of course. The stage was handsomely set.
That, too. is something expected OF an
Apollo event. Indeed. the public has learned
to expect big crowds. much cheer and COM
Portable detail at these concerts.
There was, however. one new feature last
night. 1t was the first appearance III this
city of Mrs. Katherine Bloodgood. con-
tralto. and, as she supplied about one-half
due her. Mrs. Bloodgood Is a thoroughly
interesting concert artist. She is '.uncom-
mon tall" handsome and stately. She has
posture was not the least disturbed by the
frequent ENHANCEMENT Of her beautiful but
fragile gown with various obstacles on the
complacently upon several rents In her
skirt. and sang with as much ease and re-
pose as though dresses were fashioned only
to be thus rudely unfashioned.
Mrs. Bloodgood has eight numbers on the
programn .. not to speak Of several encores
that We're insisted upon. Nearly all of
these selections were light in character and
familiar to the concert public. There was
nothing that would have been called am
DlllouS, Ct llCIC va SLouCh ~ ~
pretty clearly denote the singers powers.
She sings with remarkable ease. Her voice
is of medium strength. pure In quality and
sympathetic. 1t is peculiar in the variety
of Its effects. Its range is not more than
it should be for a serviceable contralto.
yet within this range there are three dis
than natural tones. Her first number, the
familiar Nevins' song. oh. That We Two
Were Maying," was sung in low. subdued.
pure contralto tones. George Henschers
pretty Scotch song, %"Shouggie Shou. My
Bairnie,' with the exception of the last
few notes. was sung In pure mezzo. While
extremes. Yet there We're no breaks
between these different voices. The trans
itions were very deity made and might
easily have escaped any but a closely at
ten.ive ear, especially in a programme so
| selected that few of the numbers covered a
! wide range. But if Mrs. Bloodgood Is
prano, she is nevertheless a delightful
| singer of ballads. Her voice appeals I'M
failingly to popular taste. and her personal
| style is most agreeable and winning. She
was particularly happy in her two German
songs, and in the familiar lullaby which
she sang for an encore and which had to
be repeated.
The Apollo Club is not quite so large this
season as it has been in times past, hut
the average strength seems to be about
the the same Giras,,o The Of cl w.. is Es siRs11s " weI kr p !
| who is an earnest, intelligent and conscI-
entious young conductor. Last nights pro-
eramme did not include anything especially
Eumoresques. which have formerly been
given as direct concessions to the more or
Ing Of the Bar" written by Mr.. Arthur
Foote for this club. proved one of the best
numbers of the evening. 1t is a most beau
of Tennyson, and was especially well sung.
Nessler's Ave Maria" was likewise one
of the especially well given numbers. A
| feature that met with much popular APP
| nrOval WaS sTha AnpPluS' from Victor
| Herbert's opera. The Serenade,'' sung by
Mrs. Bloodgood with chorus by the Apollo
was the first time the number has peen
sung with male chorus.
Mr.. Kreiser and the members Of the
club have reason to congratulate them-
concert. There were times when the sing
ers did not seem to assert sufficient spirit,
Meil ' hang programme aG IS Z yh Iarc GaL very
London. Jan: 2o.-Arthur w. Pinero's new
was produced tonight at the Court thea
ter. 1t is a brilliant rlay, mirthful and fam
tastic from first to last, beaming with close
sustaining its authors reputation.
The acting was excellent. Miss. Irene
Van a,Bs ru al, INA made de-, 2 " %insoms and ideal
British peer to adopt the actors profession
for a livelihood. bore himself with great
sincerity.
iHSiS was dH CASSeniHSiy sHoII duul-
ence, largely due to Earl Rosslyn's debut.
Such a crowd of aristocrats looked on that
it was almost useless to particulariZe.
The play had an enthusiastic reception,
Mr.. Pinero and the principal members of
the company being called before the cur
tain. The critics. in their reviews to-mor-
row Of the performance, will be fairly IA
vorable in their comments upon Earl Ross
Ign.
Lord Rosslyn appears in the cast of the
play under the nom de theater James
Erskine. He has acquired some reputation
as an amateur actor and was impelled to
turn to the stage as a vocation through
the wreck of his fortunes.
The young earl came into the title in
1890 and since then has managed to incur
debts amounting to more than 100000.