The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-01-07
ALMOST DISAPPOINTING.
Bostonians Sang aThe ViceroyS Under
Many Difficulties


Under many difficulties it was that the
BostoIians presented for the first time
here their newest operatfc success. IT he
VicerQy," Saturday night The cast was
so filed up with alternates and under
Studies owing to the Illness, accidents
and Tnisfortunes that have crippled the
company since its engagement in Den
YER which only terminated ten days
ago, that 1t was to their credit to give
q satisfactory performance here at all.
The fact that a double company is car
ried TO provide for emergency enabled
the opera. to be sung without hating,
but with all the time-tried comedians
could do it suffered DerceptibIy in the
rendition and was disappointing It was
decidedly 1op-sided for all the female
principals but one were out of the cast
There is humor IN the piece and
melody Plenty of both. Henry Clay
Barnabee carries his IS years remark
ably well, and is still nirnble on his feet.
II anything his voice seems stronger
and more tuneful than a few years ago.
His topical song in the last act was re-
peatedIy encOred. He was lna,le up as
a most comicaI looking pirate, which
perhaps helped out, but his doleful tell
ing of his weird experiences as he
bfeAthleSSly impaired the confidence
that 1t was a wonder he ever lived TO
tell the tale was so FUNNY that no
one can call him a has-been for some
time to come
The ouarfette Of comedians Barnab bee
Mcdonald, Martin and Fitzgerald. who
are banded together to burgle a house,
constitute a great big suggestion Of the
local administration. There is an cpl
de.nic of crime in Palermo, and the
viceroy is dashed numerically by the
local papers for permitting it to con-
tirue. He and his suffering chief of
police disguise themselves and descend
into the worst hauntS of the criminals
in order to familiarize themselves with
Crime with a big @. The viceroy and
his captain of militia burgle a house
with much ceremony and noise enough
for a Fourth of July celebration They
dc not get anything of course but their
valuable experience, and are chased out
of the house.
Hilda Clark was missed-very much
missed. Miss Mabel Pierson, who eS-
ss.yed the part Of Tivolini, was a great
deal of an incongruity for pirate
cllieftain, still she sang her numbers
with some show of strength for one 50
frail. Josephine Bartlett retains her
usual prestige in the same kind of a
part that she always gets in the BoSto-
MAN productions, but it was rather ted1-
trotted out in the role Of a Dutch Jailer,
as usual, in an Italian setting. And It
was CALLING to hear him in but one solo,
and then have him disappear from the
play for good.
Mildred Rodgers displayed a. fine con-
tralto singing as F'ioretta, in place of
Miss Rafter, who is left behind in a
Denver hospital. The cleverness Of her
work seemed to be greatly overlooked
by the audience.
vernon Stiles was put on in place of
Albert Parr, for some reason or other,
and the beautiful ballad Just for One
Day suffered in consequence, besides
depriving the audience or another
singer whose praises in advance had
made him eagerly looked for.
MeDonald's rich baritone was the life
of the music throughout. 1t led the
catchy We've caught you at last. Two
lini.'' and gave a dainty swing to
Eyes are Black and Eyes are Blue
John Dunsfnore released his powerful
bass also to most excellent effect, and
was given an ovation in the last act
1.-THE Viceroy' is a good vehicle for
the. diversified talents OF the Bostonians.
What was given of It here showed that
very conclusiveIy. It's jokes are ex-
cee.dingIy crisp, some of them nearly
DRY. enough to blow away. It is a pity
that the regular cast could not favor
Topeka. but 50 it was to be.