The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-10-06

The Salt Lake Opera company pre-
sented THE Wedding Day at the The
atre yesterday afternoon and last even
ing before two of the largest audiences
of its career. If it were not so much
matter of individual opinion it would
be stated here that the work is the
most brilliant the organization has pro-
duced with the possible exception of
The Queens Lace Handkerchief"
That II is the most pretentiouS and that
last nights triumph was broader and
more distinct than any other, there is
no room for doubt.
1t has often been remarked that the
element of surprise has much to Go
with the success of any dramatic or
musical production. The fact that the
opera was to local play-goers new and
unhackneyed. and in this respect unlike
scores of the immortal but oppressively
familiar works that have held the stage
for several generations, must have been
partially responsible for it's magnifi-
cent reception. The composer, Julian
Edwards, having an interesting Hbret-
to to begin with, has put a distinctive
mark on it. In the first act he seems
to have confined his efforts to crowding
into the score the sweet. dainty melo-
dies, usually termed catchy" but
which are. as a rule, more than that
In act II he became more ambitious.
working through a serious scheme to a
climax that approXimateS grand opera.
And how the company gave that second
finalel The most devoted patrons of
the house declared it was the grandest
of the cOmpany's long succession of ac-
complishments. The chorus all through,
in fact was heard to better advantage
than ever before. demonstrating the
fine efforts of Director Mcclellan with
his band of singers. The writer wit
messed a nRrfnrr11 ora Of
Day" at the Tivoli in San Francisco,
but heard no such singing, a condition
which may be attributed to the avari-
cious inclination of foreign managers
to engage chorus on its appearance
rather than voice.
The opera furnishes abundant COM
edy for Mr.. Spencer, whose PoIycop will
rank well with his best creations. The
house was in an uproar whenever this
susceptible caterer had the middle of
the stage. His Luralee song in the
first act is one of the operas hits. Mr..
Goddard's experience in rendering army
generals, dukes. barOns, etc. meets
with a material addition in the role of
the Due de BOuillon. He also was ac-
corded warm recognition. Mr.. Piper
has been seen in better parts than that
of the NiscOnte. but he loses no OPP
poTtunity that presents itself in the
current production and was in splendid
voice last night. Mr. Graham is A
comical Planchette, but unfortunately,
the character foregoes even a single
chance to display the fine qualities of
his voice.
OF the women of the company. too
much cannot be said. Miss Clark's
second appearance betrayed a vast i'm
provement in her acting since "Fatin-
ltza' and her voice still has the charm
which reaches a responsive chord in
the possibilities of an audiences en-
thusiasm- Miss Luella Ferrin, the new
member of the organization. made an
unusually pleasing impression on this,
her first appearance. The young wo-
mans art will be developed from a
beginning full OF promise. Her voice
has certain delicacy of tone that ha
not been heard in the opera company
in late seasons. The most praiseworthy
pit of acting on Miss Ferrins part was
her scene in the first act with the gen
eral wherein he falls before her be-
witching smile, the smile being. by the
way, not vague symptom, nor vet an
requirement by the stage managers
dictatiOn. In this scene Miss Perrin
ran away from the instincts of the
amateur and became engulfed by the
demonstration Of approval from the
house. Miss Edna Dwyer returned to
the company as Madam de Montbazon
leader of the Fronde. Her reception
was most hearty and her performance
'NNN liz AAAOoN al NASAlC III the enIlfG
cast.
Four of the girls. Misses KidweH and
Barrow, Mrs. Browning and Mrs Peter
son, perform dance during one of
Spencer's topical songs. The dance
could be put on in the tabernacle with
out great improperly. but its barren
ness OF the spice to which play-goers
are accustomed seemed not to detract
from its popularity Another big hit
was the soldiers chorus from Err
mimic, rendered by Miss Clark and
ensemble.
Standing room only was obtained be-
fore the doors opened last night Man
ager Whitney is authority for the
statement that financial records We're
broken all to pieces. 1.-THE Wedding
Day" VIII be repeated tomorrow and
Tuesday nights and next Saturday af-
ternoon and evening.
A large audience attended the enter
tainment at the New Grand last even
ing, which was under the auspices of
the st. Paul's Ladies Guild for the
benefit of the parish home fund. The
musicians who performed were Pro-
lessor H. +. Giles. pianist; Mr.. Scheid
and Gertrude Damon. vocalists. and
Miss Sibyl Anderson, violiniste. Wal
ter Jenkins and Mrs. Putnam were the
accompanies.
The concluding feature of the enter
talhmeht was a one-act farce entitled
"A Happy Pair" cleverly performed
by George Westervelt and Mrs. Charles
richards A good sum was realized
from the event
The first organ recital under the new
arrangement. which provides for these
popular events at the tabernacle kculy
on Sunday afternoon. will be given by
Organist Mcclellan at 1870 today In
addition TO the organ numbers. il is
expected that Professor Weihe Will
render a violin solo