The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1899-05-25
THE OPERA PINAFORE
LOCAL TALENT AGAIN DISTIN-
CUISINES ITSELF.
WAS A BRILLIANT SUCCESS
The Congre gational Church Give Per
Torrance of P1na1ore which is Superior
in Every Respect-A Large
Audience Attends.


Kenosha is certainly becoming justly
famous as a city of local operas. The
two splendid performances during the
past six months have sufficiently proved
the fact that Kenosha has ample vocal
talent of high character to supply itself
with the most entertaining operate
performances. The good, old, time worn
opera of Pinafore, given at the Rhode
Thursday evening by the Congrega-
tional church was a brilliant success.
1t even surpassed the expectations
aroused by the excellent presentation
Of the Chimes of Normandy by the ST.
Matthew's society few months since.
It was a little after schedule time
that the curtain rose on the first act,
out the wait caused the audience only
emphasized their appreciation of the
music. In the first scene Mrs. Miller
made her initial bow to Kenosha
audience as an opera singer in the
character of Little Buttercup. Mrs.
Miller has clear, sweet contralto voice
of considerable strength, under good
control. She strengthened the cast
very materially. Her representation Of
Little Burtercup was graceful and up
to all the requirements.
Fred Parkhill as Ralph Rackstraw
also made his debut upon the operate
stage last evening. Mr. Parkhill has a
tenor voice Of fine quality, fully
adequate to the role he played. In
one or two instances he tiatted, but it
was plainly not through inability to
take the note, but rather owing to a
little embarrassment. On the whole,
however, Mr.. ParkhilFs work was very
pleasing. After the strangeness has
been overcome by little experience he
will make an ideal Rackstraw.
F. L. Ellsworth sustained his reputa-
ton. Notwithstanding the role as
sumed was quite the antithesis of the
role he had previously appeared in, he
was eminently successful. As Sir Joseph
Porter he gave humorous interpreta-
ton of the typical First Lord of the
Admiralty.
Capt. Corcoran, Commander Of Her
Majesty's ship Pinafore, was favorite.
Keck Wheeler has never appeared to
better advantage. Both in solos and
duets his voice showed power that
was quite surprising. Keck has ap-
peared in numerous performances of
one kind and another on the local
stage, but he never before sang as we'll
as he did last evening. His solo in the
second act and his duet with Mrs.
Miller were both heartily encored.
The leading role of the opera, that of
Josephine, daughter of Capt Corcoran,
assigned to Miss Head, makes several
rather severe demands upon the voice
and affords opportunity for splendid
work. The part was admirably sus-
tanned by Miss Head, her voice showing
a power and volume quite superior.
The ensemble work of the chorus was
very good. The stiffness apparent
among the gentlemen of the chorus at
the beginning gradually wore off. The
tars' impromptu rendition of the Lord
AdmiraPs song was a decided hit.
Indeed the entire performance from
start to finish was excellent No
doubt few Improvements could be
made with greater familiarity with the
stage, but the tout ensemble leaves a
very pleasing impression. The Con-
gregational church and Prof. Compton
should both be congratulated on the
unquestioned success of the perform
ance. 1t merits full house this
evening.