The times., 1898-05-22
OPERA AT GLEN ECHO.
An Excellent Company Has Been
Engaged.

Glen tchO, on the POTOMAC, IS gong 70
be one of the most popular resorts Ibis
Summer that Washington has ever seen.
1t was great success last year with no
greater attraction than the scenery, the
cafe and the orchestra. which played in
an immense amDhitheatre every after
noon and evening The exliiaratng ride
up the river, disclosing some Of the wild
est and most beautiful scenery about
Washington. WAS in itself sufficient in
centive for the excursion. but this season
the attractions will be SO numerous, va
ried and interesting as 10 be almost ir
resistible There win be an opera COM
pany, an electric theater. an amusement
village. including all the popular Sum-
mer resort pastimes. and several other
novelties which viii be introduced from
time TO time. In short for a period there
viii be a yeritable little woTlds fair
amidst the shades and glades OF Glen
Echo.
The place will be under the manage
ment of Messrs Allen and Towers, who
have secured a ten years lease on the
property. Half a million dollars has al
ready been expended in improving and
beautifying things. All the natural
charms of the spot have been carefully
conserved. and with solid stone build
ings. walls and towers. rustic bridges and
shady walks the resort is undoubtedly
one OF the most picturesque places to Be
found in the country.
The modern and the medieval in archi-
lecture are said to have been blended
there 50 cleyerly that the visitor should
be constantly discovering new beauties
and points of interest There is the big
central building. in which are the Offices.
cafe and casino. surrounded by pictur-
esque towers and fanked by heavy walls
like frownng fortilcations. the vast am
phitheater. IN which 10000 people may be
seated. with 500 on The stage and under
meath ii, the grottoes a veritable laby
rinth of queer hooks and passages bor-
dering on a little brook which ripples and
dashes down the rocks. The scene paint
er has been called upon TO pain new sur
prises here this summer, and whereas the
place was formerly full of uncanny mys-
terry Illuminated throughout by electric
ity it will be one Of the most interesting
and entertaining caves of magic ever con-
structed. Across a chasm which is
spanned by rustic bridge is the hall of
philosophy, perched on The side Of the cliff
and looking for all the world ike Rim
ish castle. What the managers intend to
put in this is kept secret for the time be-
ing. but il is safe to say that 1t will be
some novelty we'll worth the climb up TO
the main hall.
The Amphitheater will be the strong
hold of the Parry Opera Company,
which has been especially organized for
this season by William Parry, stage
manager of the Metropolitan Opera
House, New York. The organization he
has selected certainly indicates his inten-
ton OF giving Glen Eeho's visitors the
very best. 1t numbers fifty people. be-
sides an orchestra of twelve pieces. under
the direction of George Towle, of The
New York Casino. The list of principals
includes Marie Coleridge, an accomplished
prima donna: Airline Crater. who played
the title role in The Ballet Girl; Viola
D'Armon, Selma Rough and Marie Tohey,
the dancer Then there are Frank De-
shon, Oscar Girard. George Broderick
Jay C. Taylor, Walter Cunningham and
the original Herald Square Quartette.
The chorus, which Mr.. Parry declares to
be one of the strongest he has ever heard.
will number forty, and several dancers
and specialists will fill out the list The
company will arrive in Washington the
24th and at once begin rehearsals on the
new stage Of the Amphitheater where
it will open on Saturday, May %, in THE
MikadO." Following they will give "OH-
vette," "Chimes of Normandy" and the
whole repertoire of popular operas, which,
while they have been rather sighted by
recent operatic organizations, still live in
the public memory.
The Electric Theater. which Will be
duplicate of that recently exhibited at the
Madison Square Garden, New York city,
will be open day and night, while the
Amusement Village, in which every novel
entertainment of the seaside resorts will
be found, including an immense merry
go-round Of the same dimensions as that
running in Central Park should prove a
great resort for ladies and children during
illuminated both day and night, while the
fountains will play under colored electric
lights, and a castle of magic will be
among the special attractions.