The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-12-12
.PR|SC|L A PLAYED
TO A FULL HOUSE
One of Most Charming Amateur
Performances Ever Seen Here.
SPLENDIDLY TRAINED CHORUS
Pretty Opera Clever,y Played, Hands
someIy Staged and Well Sung.
Mrs. John Murphy Made
Charming Priscilla.
SPLENDIDLY TRAINED CHORUS

The comic opera Priscilla, book by
Henry D. Coolidge and score by Thomas
w Surette. was deliberately mounted,
capa.blv acted and delightfully."- sung at
the Academy last night for the penelit o.
the McGill Catholic Union building tuna.
An audience of colossal proportions
greeted the home talent winch had us
innings and scored very heaVliy. l ne
theatre was packed to the ooois' anu u
more enthusiastic gathering mas never
been seen under similar circumstances
The opera is bright, pretty and tune
full It's intrigue is based on LonSleilo"
"Courtship of Myles Standish
It tells q beautiful little love story con-
corning Priscilla the fairest of the Puri-
tan madens. All the Pilgrim youths are
deeply in love with her, much to the
neglect of the other girls ehe, now
ever, shows a preference Tor John Alden
who also loves her distracteulE, out Is
too backward to press MS sult. MSles
| Standish. the brave and doughty captain
is also smitten with Priscilla, but claim
| jne- TO have too little time to do his
counting he enters into a compact with
Alden to do it for him. This Alden re-
d,lctantly agrees to do seeks Priscilla
and pleads the cause Of his TREND Pr1s-
ella becomes highly indignant to think
that Standish would not take time to GO
his own woong, and will not listen TO
such an arrangement. Alden IN MS 1er-
vent love for that maiden. forsets MS
friend Standish, and. without knowing it,
he declares his own passion to Priscilla,
who at once accepts him. Standish be-
| comes very angry, but is finally softened
| nv Priscilla's prayer. and he forglVes all
| and settles on Barbara for a wife
| The opera we'll defines the character
the strict manners and the simple mode
| of dress of the Puritan folk. IheE We're
| extremely severe in their IDEAS or pro-
| priety, and in this respect greatly re
| senbled the Quakers. who afterwards
| settled in Pennsylvania me Purltans
| were a hardy, Industrious people, and
were among the most successful of our
| early colonsts.
| The opera is in two acts With twenty-five
| musical numbers. The music IS diStlict-
" above the average, though it IS doubt
| full if it will be fully appreciated by the
| lovers Of the lighter form OF entertain
| ment. The dialogue is rhymed ana at
times very bright The piece was staged
| with care and the costuming. winch was
| historically correct, lent an atmosphere
| to the scenes which was quite charming.
The performance itself rejected the
| highest credit on MI. Melville Oanleis,
| under whose direction the opera was
I
charge OF the music. / twas one OF the
| best amateur performances ever given
| in this city That the credit IS mainly
I due to the conscientious work and IN
| telIicence OF those who took part goes
without saying, and the performance
marks a distinct advance along the lines
| Of amateur endeavor. The chorus. which
| numbered seventy-five voices, is one of
| the largest ever seen upon the Academy
| stage In volume in attack and in pre-
| cision there was really nothing lett to
| desire.
Mrs. John Murphy. who was featured
! on the programme and in the advance
| Advertising fully realized the eNpecta-
/ tons OF her friends and gave one OF the
cIeanest cut performances ever presented
J nv an amateur She has 4 Voice of
| slIperb quality and she uses it with skill.
| Mrs Murphy made a charming friscl "a
| and there was not moment When she
| was not quite convincing.
! Miss Annie Newhiser, as the middle
aged spinster, gave evidence OF marked
| comic ability, and the three Mayflower
| buds. played by Miss Mary Manning,
| Miss Fssie Burnett and Miss Agnes Sit
terding, were at all times dainty and
| pleasing.
MI. Alvin Smith made a very impress
| sive 1Iyles Standsh, and sang his part
we'll. Mr. c. a Canepa made an eX-
| expectation. Mr.. James Cowardian
sang and acted the part of VIII am
Bradford with marked ability. Mr.
George McDermott was very amusing
and clever as Hatebad Higgins. and Mr.
John Murphy made the most of the
small part OF Squanto.
The performance as a whole would
have done credit to many professional
organizations. statement that is not
remarkable in view OF the fact that the
onara has been in course of preparation
/ for several weeks. and has been most in
telligently directed.