The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-24
LOTHROP's OPERA HOUSE.
The New England Opera Company Makes
Decisive Hit.

The New England Opera COMPANY.
at Lothrop's, last night, gave the big
gest 50 cents worth of opera that has
come Worcester's way for years. The
bill was 1.-THE Isle of Champagne" and
Jollier, brighter piece could not have
been selected for an opening number.
1t was put on as sumptuously as at
the original Seabrooke production. the
scenery being exactly copied, even
down to the two brilliant TRANSITIONAL
ton scenes of the second and third
acts. The costumes seem to be real
silk and velvet instead of bearing the
cottony appearance frequently seen in
low-priced opera, or high-priced. too
for that matter, and Manager Aborn's
protest that the mounting of the piece
cost him $4,000 is probably not over 400
per cent exaggerated.
The opera was given with scarcely
mutilation, only two or three unim-
portant numbers being cut, and in adj
dition the principals contributed a
budget of songs and the chorus an
Amazon march that was cleverly de-
vised and admirably executed.
In individual praise for the excel
lence of the production this same
chorus should come first. There are
about 20 of these and they pour out
volume of melody for twice that num-
Der. Pretty, shapely and graceful all
! embryo prima donnas the chorus of
the New England Opera Company is
an organization for its management to
be proud of
Frank Deshon, the comedian, is sure
not to let the fun lag during the week.
AS King Pommery Sec'nd, he unayoid-
ably comes into comparison with Sea-
brooke and not entirely to his disad-
vantage. Mr.. Seabrooke is not a great
comedian, but he stands pre- eminent
in one respect-he can sing a comic
song better than any man on the stage.
Mr. Deshon in the musical numbers,
and notably in the Song of all ma
tions," failed to arouse the enthusiasm
that belonged to his predecessor: b1t
in his lines and particularly In the
tomb scene, he can give Seabrooke
cards and spades In order that fine
audience might not grow tired of the
monotony of the music of a single com
poser, Mr. Libby, the baritone, inter-
polated large number of ballads to
the huge delight. of the audience. Mr..
Libby sings superbly and acts equally
well. Charles p. Byers more than
satisfied his friends in this city by his
work in the tenor role of Kissengen,
Ida Mule, who Is years ago dawned
Oll Tic ioOdl puiJllC III as the
daintiest little Phyllis Imaginable re-
tains all her former archness and con-
slderably more than her former
weight. She made piquant, even If
chubby Diana. and was one of tha
chief delights of the performance
Kate Trayer, the Soprano is a pretty
girl with strong and clear singing
voice and a careful method. Her an,
pearance strongly suggests Irene Muir
nhX. VINO WAS for
favorite here in light opera. Marion
Chester amusingly exaggerated the
character part of Abigail.
AS a favor to Manager Wilton, Mil
ton Aborn appeared in the small mart
of Meet, although he is not usuallv
cast In the opera. He was warmth
welcomed and made the most of his on
portunities. W
The first matinee of the companv win
be given this afternoon, when "Tbe
Bohemian Girl will be sung. said
Pasha" is tho bill Tor tonight. N