The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-07-13

company arc directed by master hand.
Their splendid performances were a de-
light and surprise to the music loving
people OF Providence who possibly ex-
pected something OF an ordinary charac-
ter, from the fact that the operas are
given at popular prices; they discovered
.Aat Col. Wendelschaefer is presenting
them with dollar and a half opera per-
formances at prices ranging from II TO ~
cts. The productions scenically also mer-
its the highest praise They are elabor-
ate and handsome, and show every evi-
denee OF good Judgment, good taste and
the greatest care.
The opening OF the season with Gilbert
e. Sulivans tuneful and Witty opera
THE Mikado" proved ten-strike. IL Is
so long since this opera was produced I'm
Providence that It had all the force of
a new opera. Its success was one of the
most immediate and pronounced ever
known I'm this city. The audiences were
charmed and delighted and not one dis
sentient opinion has been heard, from
either press or public I'm regard 90 its un-
usual merits and attractiveness.
Almost before the second nights per
formance requests for It's repetition be
gan 10 pour I'm on the management. u
could easily have been Kept on for the
entire week but as arrangements for "a
was impossible; and II was decided to
please tie popular desire by repeating IT
the last half OF the present week. The
first half OF the week beginning Monday
night. will be devoted TO Planquette's
charming opera "The Chimes OF Nor
mandy" The cast of this and The Mika-
do will include all OF the principals who
made such hits in the. operas last week,
and also two others who have not yet
had an opportunity OF showing their met
tie The one Is Mr.. Robert Dunbar,
well known baritone. with long years OF
experience. who will play the MARQUIS OF
Corncvillc. The other newcomer is Miss
Rosemarie Campbell who viii play
"Katisha" in the "Alkado." She Is a fine
contralto, aud sang for several seasons
with the Castle Square Opera Company
- Since it's first production IN 1871. the
Chimes OF Normandy has proven one OF
the most popular Of operas. one that al
WAYS receives a willing hearing. II has
maintained q degree Of permanent popu-
lsrity achieved by few comiv opera com
positions Its story tells OF Henri Mar
quis of Corucvillo, who has been since
childhood. owing 90 civil war an exile.
returns 20 his ancestral homo on the oc-
casion of the great slnual fair which is
being celebrated IN the VILLAGE that re-
CCives It's name from his chateau.
II Is ono OF the old fashioned Norman
villages of the seventeenth century. I'm
the nrst act. the curtain rises on an as
Scmhiagc OF village gossips discussing
scandal and small talk. Serpolette,
cross between Fanchon aud Boulottc H.
the topic OF converse ton among the
bellies OF CorncVillc. She comes I'm lust
in time 10 turn the. tables on tho 9TH
crs. and changes their taunts into cX-
pressions OF rage. Gasnrd, an old miscr,
wishes 20 marry his niece, Germainc, 90
the principal magistrate OF the district
the Balm
This arrangement doos not suit Gcr-'
maine. nor a young fisherman named
Jean GrenicheuN. WHO pretends that he
has saved her life from drowning on
certain occasion TO escape from the
power Of old Gaspard. Germainc takes
advantage of tho privileges OF tho fair
"a similar scene to that in the first act
Of "Martha'D, and becomes the servant
Of the Marquis. Her example Is followed
by GrenicheuN aud Serpolette.
The second act Is taken up with the SUI
pcruatural visitors who have made the
castle OF Corncville 20 long an object OF
dread. Henri determines 20 find out the
real character OF these ehostly appear
ances. and discovers that II Is all the
work of the old miscr. who has conceal
cd hls treasures i'm the chateau The
discovery drives Gaspard crazy. especial
ly when he hears the bells or the chat
eau ringing for the first time since the
light OF the old Marquis
The third act represents the grand fete
given I'm honor OF tho return OF Henri 10
his ancestral home. Serpolettc arrives as
a Marchioness, as some papers. found I'm
the chateau, indicate that she is the lost