The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-03-16
Music and Drama
Coming Attractions for
Wichita Amusement Lovers


WILBUR-KIRwIN OPERA COMPANY.
All Wichita is interested in the forth
coming opera season announced to begin
at the Crawford tomorrow evening. The
time IS ripe for a season Of opera, and
il is unfortunate that the organization
which Manager AIartling has secured is
not better known. locally. This is due TO
the fact that The Wilbur irwin Opera
company has always been an eastern or
Eanization its few western appearances
being confined to the largest cities There
are some in the citv. however, who have
seen the company in Kansas City, and
5n the cast. and others who have heard
of the orga nizatiOn. These speak Of it
I'm high terms as does every press every
where. so lovers of opera have no reason
10 feel any apprehension concerning the
attraction.
It seems strange that so little IS known
locally Of the Wilbur irwin Opera COM
pany in view OF its unique history. Its
founder A T. Wilbur of Boston, lays
claim to having been the originator Of the
idea Of operate productions at popular
prices This idea took tangible form in
The Wilbur-Kfrwin Opera company p
years ago. in the intervening period the
organization has passed through the
Nicissitudes Of time unscathed. Il has
made many fortunes ana after all these
Years visits Wichita Tor the first time,
oddly enough, practically unknown to
local play-goers.
The company is under contract TO re-
main in Wichita for a week, producing
Jack and the BeanstaIz- on Monday night
and a repertoire Of light and comic opera
on the remaining evenings The repre-
foire has been announced, but is subject
TO change If the public makes known its
wants in the form of requests. In order
30 arrange the contract a guarantees fund
was necessary. This has practically been
realized through the energetic efforts Of
Miss Downing. treasurer Of the Crawford.
The plan adopted for securing subscrp-
tons was unique indeed Six parquet
tickets. good for any night and having the
first choice of reservations, We're given
subscribers for 81. In this way many of
The leading citizens became interested
and contributed generously to the fund.
The subscription sale viii continue at
Howe's jewelry store until O'Clock Mon
Ray evening.
The Wilbur Kirwin company Is en- route
10 Kansas City from the Pacific coast.
The tour having been made over ono. night
stands with the extravaganza Jack aud
the Beanstalk as the exclusive production
at a dollar and a dollar and a half
prices. Newspaper notices attest that
the organization gave excellent satisfac- /
lion and produced TIE musical travesty
with The same equipment and precisely /
as il was put on during its three year
run in New York Chicago and Boston /
From Kansas City the company goes to |
salt Lake City TO play a return engage
ment OF fourteen weeks. including the /
period of the Grand Lodge meeting OF 1
7ho Elks Last summer the attraction I
played for the benefit Of the AIormons and
The thousands of visiting tourists at salt
Lake for "a run Of sixteen weeks TO very
profitable business
In referring TO the Wilbur enternrise /
the Pittsburg Dispatch SAYS editoriallv:
The history OF the Wilbur Opera com (
5sany is unlike that of any other anuse- /
anent enterprise ever organized. In Point .
of existence no dramatic or musical or
sanization can compare with IT, For
twenty-five years Wilbur has been before
The American public rs purveyor of
comic opera Never has The COMPANY
like hundreds of others. been stranded.
even temporarily on tho shoals of fnan-
cial disaster. \ skinful heisman has
stored IT'S destinies between the two
great oceans and between the Great
Lakes and tho Gulf and the Wilbur OPERA
company is known throughout the land
as synonym Ter good. clean enter
1ainmenL 1t sives most palatabIe menu
at popular prices. 1t produces the gems
OF comic opera. interpolated with the
newest ana brightest things in vauda-
willie"