The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-05-17
ADJUSTMENTS.

AM USEMENTS.
! The subscription guarantee for the
Wakefield Andrews English Opera
Company has been thus far very good,
and the season is now assured of sue
cess whereat Manager F'icks smiles
with satisfaction, but still lacks a few
subscriptions to warrant the expense
IN the premises to which he goes in the
matter. Though the press notices of
the company are fiattering, Mr. Ficks
determined to wire to San Jose and
get an opinion from a near home point
Accordingly yesterday the editor of the
san jose Mercury sent an answer
by telegraph warmly commencing the
troupe, and declaring it to be one of
the best ever in that city. The Wake
field people, it would seem, are handi-
capped only by not being well known
here. They are new on this coast, but
at the East are widely popular The
season here Will be one of four nights
with these operas: Martha" May
2lst; "A Night in Venice" May 22d;
Fra Diavalo." May 23d; "Cavallera
Rusticana" and Trial by jury May
18th. The company has advantages
worth considering; its admission rates
are very reasonable; all its singers but
one are new to the coast, and this
creates curiosity concerning and gives
freshness to the work of the troupe
The box office Of the Clunie opens for
subscribers on Friday, and for general
seat sales on Saturday morning. The
Fresno Democrat where the troupe
sang last week to large houses, gives
EG oil fin1d A
dial Endorsement, and points out it's
especially superior work in certain
lines. notably in Martha" and in "A
Night In Venice" The Fresno Re
publican" declares that it is "a splendid
company and first Glass; one that is
seldom equalled by road companies. =
1t adds that the Fresno audiences We're
| well pleased, and enthusiastically ex-
pressed themselves. The Dallas TEX
News" thus speaks of the prima
donna soprano in Martha: Miss Ada
Palmer Walker as Martha possesses
such voice as is not often heard on
the local stage. 1t is highly cultured,
sweet, powerful and Of faultless intona-
ton, and her rendition of The Last
Rose of Summer was a revelation. 1t
Is equal to any rendition the song has
! ever received On the local stage. the
lamented Emma Abbott having been
heard notwithstanding. She otherwise
admirably filed the requirements of
her role, and was accorded many earn
est and deserved plaudits. A word of
praise is due the chorus for most thor
ough efforts. Their finest work was
done in the hunting scene'' The San
Jose Mercury" of yesterday said of
the Wakefield troupe: More than ad-
equate to meet all the demands made
upon it, and satisfactory in every par
! ticular. is the unanimous and lust YER
dict pronounced upon the company.
All promises We're amply fulfilled by
the opening performance last night of
Flotow's charming opera. Martha 1t
was beautifully sung and acted. effec-
lively staged and picturesquely cos
TUNED. All the principals among the
singers are Of established and wide
reputation, so it was small wonder that
their work was artistic and satisfac-
tory. The part of Lady Harnie was
taken by Ada Palmer Walker. the
Australian prima DONNA Miss Walker.
has a deliciously clear. LIQUID soprano
voice, which she uses with great skill
and discretion. She is also a charming
little actress. Miss Maud Leekley. the
contralto, sings the part of the spright-
ly Nancy, and more than that. she
acts it. Ine fact, there is nothing of
the warbling autcmaton about either
Miss Walker or Miss Leekley. The solos
of the willful, whimsical lady and her
merry y-in-waiting are made snir-
TIED and coquettish enough. Miss Leek-
ley voice is very satisfactory. partic-
ularly in the upper notes, and all of
her work was excellently done. AS
Lionel the Earl of Derby. Mr.. Par
merley has robust tenor voice which
he uses with fine effect. He made an
excellent impression. His solo in the
third act was especially we'll taken.
and brought forth enough applause to
satisfy almost any singer. Jay C. Tay-
Tor, as Plunkett, acted the part we'll
and put plenty Of feeling into his sing
ing. Mr.. Taylors voice is quite as
sweet and true as it was in the DAYS
when he was a prominent member of
the Carlton Opera Company, and it has
gained greatly in strength both in his
solos and duets, and showed a delight
fully sympathetic quality that won him
we'll deserved recognition. The we'll
drilled ranks of sturdy peasants and
pretty girls who not only move with
precision, but put a liberal dash of
swing and life into their movements
are as good an evidence of general
competency as any painstaking stag
manager could wish to have. The en-
sembles We're particularly good ON sew
eral occasions, and were applauded un-
til an encore was given The COMPANY
is far superior to the Grau Companv
which did such a large business here
and has singers as good, if not better.
than any in the Bostonians. Eyerv
body went away highly satisfied. A
/ big house is the outlook for this even
ing, for every one is ON qui viye for
the initial performance of "A Night in
Venice
New Harbormaster.