The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-04-28
PROVIDENCE OPERA HOUSE.
Mr.. Hopper and His Company Give an Excellent
Performance OF The (harlaian


To say that DE Wolf Hopper is popu-
, lar with Providence audiences is moth
ing new, but il is doubtful II he ever
met with a more cordial reception than
was accorded to him at the Providence
Opera House last evening, when he
made his first appearance here in Sou
sa and Kleins new comic opera, THE
Charlatan," and as far as Mr.. Hopper
and his excellent company are con-
cerned. all the applause bestowed upon
them was more than deserved.
OF the opera IL can be said that Mr.
Sousa appears to have recognized some
OF the defects of his previous operate
work, and has endeavored 20 remedy
them. IL can i'm truth be said that The
Charlatan," musically considered, is his
best work, and there is a marked and
welcome absence of the boisterouSness
which is so evident in "El Captain
In spite. however. of the superior quail
ity of the music, II Is doubtful IL the
new opera will attain the place in the
popular taste that "El Capitan" did.
The fact seems to be that Mr.. Sousa liz
too limited as a march writer 10 be-
come a successful composer of light
opera music. although in THE Charla-
tan" there is evidence of seriousness
which shows a marked Improvement In
his work. =
The lbretto prepared by Mr.. Klein
will compare favorably with the ave-
rage OF such works. and II is superior
to some that have been heard by Prov
| idence audiences. There lis not m h
humor i'm the libretto. but 1t is clean in
| it's absurdfty and also clever. bright
| and sprightly.
OF course. Mr.. Hopper was the life
and soul OF the performance and, after
IA. Ia n
moment that he was not in evidence.
He is a comedian who knows how to be
funny and succeeds in amusing his
audiences by his excellent rendering OF
the spirit of the character and by his
peculiar facial expression and unique
gestures. Mr.. Hopper is graceful in his
movements. effective in his makeup.
quick -witted and ready to seize upon
every opportunity offered to amuse.
fakr he has a part which suits him
admirably. and 60 say that he is funny
hardly expresses IL.
After the first and second acts so pro-
longed was the applause that Mr.. Hop
per was Obliged 10 make two speeches
and they were, OF course. in his usual
happy and witty vein. In his second
speech he took occasion to pay de-
served compliment TO the management
OF the Providence Opera House and ex-
pressed his delight az the beautiful as
pect of the theatre at the present time.
OF the other members uf the COM
pany the most pleasing Is certainly Ed
mund Stanley. who possesses an agree
able and powerful tenor voice. which he
knows how to use. and then comes Al
fred Klein, who as Jelikoff. is particu-
larly funny. not so much. however, IN
what ne says, as i'm general appearance
and gesture. while his facial contor-
tions are something remarkable. OF
the women In the cast Miss Nella Ber-
gen is the best vocalist, but while ~
sessing voice with good range. there
| Is a lack OF expression I'm her solo work,
which is more or less disappointing.
| The other characters do not have much
to do beyond taking part I'm the con-
certed pieces. and this they do well.
The chorus. both male and female. IS
n remarkably good one. and in the
march at the end of the second act the
work was some of the best ever heard
here. The opera is magnificently
mounted as to scenery. costumes and
furnishings in general. and the whole
performance is another deserved tri-
umph for Mr.. Hopper. "The Charla-
tam will be repeated this and tomor-
row evenings, and at the matinee to-
morrow.