Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-22
ADJUSTMENTS.

afternoon. He sat In the leaders chair at
the National Theater and conducted his
greatest work. giving to it new life and
adding to the interest that has been felt In
that opera ever since 1t was first presented
here by Minnie Hauk many years ago. The
production yesterday was vastly dlnerent
from the first performance and in all re-
spects save one-it was tmmeasureaoly su-
perior.
Mascagni had the advantage of large
orchestra, which he had absolutely unoeT
his control and which he directed with
magnetic skill and discretion. He had
large chorus, well trained, but not Wen
balanced as to voices, three remarkably Ell
f1cient principals and scenic environment
that was all that could be desired. AS d
result, the opera was presented IN more
satisfactory manner than ever before, ana
new beauties in its reading were brongnt
out under the composers direction. Inns
was particularly noticeable in the overture
which has not heretofore commanded espe,
cial attention. but which yesterday was 1un
of color and splendid tone effects. 1t pre-,
pared the way for the story to follow anu
created an atmosphere of passion ana tragic
interest. The famous intermezzo was play
ed with wonderful effect, and It's 1nterpre-
tation aroused the greatest enthusiasm.
Of course it had to be repeated. The drink
ing song of Turiddu just afterWard was
given a new reading and the continued APP
plause compelled repetition, mucn' appai-
emily, to the surprise of the tenor, VINO
evidently did not expect an encore ana
hardly knew where to begin. Taken as
whole, "Cavalleria Rusticana was
great performance and Jul -iIled the ellIhu-
SiaSm it created
The weaknesses. of the opera were the Al
flo and the Mama Lucia, both of whom
were absolutely incompetent, the hrst par
ticularly as to voice and the latter as TO
action. After having heard the only song
that Alto has, which is at his first appear
ance sung by such a splendid baritone as
was Del Puente the effort of Signor Fras-
while his acting ana
that of Mile. Del Parto created consloeraple
amusement.
Mascagni as a conductor is wonderfully
magnetic and free from any theatre man
nerisms. He has perfect control over ms
large band and he seeks his effects by
forecful. but thoroughly legitimate means
He works up his climaxes in good iorIn'
and then he makes effects by suddenly
changing from fortissimo to pianissimo, his
men being absolutely obedient to the sway
of his baton. He is at all times earnest
and forceful, his beat is strong and decl-
sve but he never employs any Ulchery
or works for theatric effect.
The "Cavalleria'' was preceded by an
operetta called "Zanetto," which only en-
ploys two persons. Mile. Capelli and Nine
Mantelli There is a chorus heard back or
the stage at the commencement of the work
and then the score calls for only the two
voices, the soprano and contralto. Inc
story tells of a high-born woman who is
appealed to by a wandering minstrel LOT
shelter but she refuses him, and he re-
turns to his wandering after he has ap-
pealed to her love In passionate strains.
After he has gone she realizes what love Is
and that she has lost it. and the curtain
falls on her in despair Mile. CapelH was
effective and sang in voice Of good quail
ity, but in this operetta she was over
Swallowed by Nine Mantelli, whose arts.
tic Interpretation Of the minstrel made Of
the part everything possible. Both these
ladies were also in the "Cavalleria," and
Mile. Capelli gave to the character Of San
that it demanded. Nine Mantelli was eff
fective as Lola, both in her singing and
acting.
The audience which greeted Mascagni
was not large and this was probably due
to the high prices asked by his manage
ment. Five, four and three dollars is a
pretty stiff scale to put up. 1t is higher
than Mr.. Grau has ever asked for his col
lection of song birds and that includes the
best that be procurable. Yesterday
there We're none of high repute and the only
singer that was known was Nine. Manteli.
Mascagni was the real attraction, and he
created real interest, for though the au-
dierce was small, there was great enthusf-
asm over Mascagni and his work If he
comes here. again the management will
probably arrange different scale of prices.
THE BILLIONAIRE."- THE new Harry
B. Smith and Gus Kerker spectacular mu-
steal comedy, THE Billionaire," which
Klaw & Erlanger present at the National
j
that enterprising FIRMS greatest and most
successful efforts. The foundation of the
story is the character of John Doe, young
American Millionaire. who has SO much
money that he has to invent all sorts Of
schemes to get rid of 1t. The opening scene
Is at Nice. where he meets a dashing young
American actress named Pansy Good, Of
Bird Center Iowa, and proposes to her that
he will erect theater in New York and
write play, which will present her as a
star to the American public The theater
project takes the whole party to New York.
The second act opens upon one of the clev-
crest and most amusing scenes constructed
in long while. 1t represents stage upon
a stage, upon which vaudeville perform
ance is given. In connection with this cir
cumstance of the story many familiar hap
penings of a Metropolitan first night will
be burlesqued. The company supporting
Jerome Sykes will be one of the strongest
ever seen in musical comedy, and will in
clude julius Steger Harry Macdonough
Thomas G. Leary. Harr- Kelly, John T.
Kennedy, Fred Scott. May Robson, Eleanor
Kent, Nellie Follis, Mary Duro, Hattie Wa
tiers, Gertrude Sage. Sallie McNee. Vera
Cameron. Sadie Peters. Lillian Hudson and
Marion Bent. There will be a chorus Of
one hundred and an orchestra Of twenty-five
under the direction Of A. DeNovenis.
THE GOVERNORS sON."-The four Co.
hans and their company, who come to the
Columbia Theater under the guidance of
Fred Niblo, will appear there for one week
e.,
and presenting George NJ. Cohan's musical
farce, THE Governors Son." The farce
abounds In bright and catchy musical num-
bers, Is mounted in style most lavish, and
Is frightened by the many pretty faces and
forms of the chorus girls, better known as
the singing beauties" with the four Co
hans. Nearly sixty persons are required for
the production. Years of stage training have
brought the elder Cohans, Jerry J. and
Helen, to be artists of ability, and their
two bright and talented children, Josephine
and George. now young lady and young
man, have futures brighter than many who
have striven for fame behind the footlights.
They have surrounded themselves with a
company including VIII H. Sloan. VIM.
Keough James H. Manning, NJ. ]. Sullivan,
Hugh Mack Peter Randall, Ethel Levey,
Gertrude Rutledge and others. Many Of
the musical numbers new and catchy.
AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY
DAYS"-At the Lafayette opera house next
week Bolossy Kiralfy will present his new
ly constructed spectacle, around the
World in Eighty Days" The play is found
ed on Jules Verne's novel of the same name,
and it tells an interesting story, mostly in
pantomime. of the journeyings of one
Phineas Fogg. The play rebounds with
funny situations beautiful scenery and
there Is a company of unexceptional merit
engaged in the portrayal of the various