The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-10-15
AT THE THEATER

Last nights performance introduced
to Savannah theater-goers for the
first time The Wizard Of the Nile.
The burlesque. for that is what it is.
sparkles with bright witty dialogue.
ard tuneful music. and the audience
enjoyed every moment OF 1t.
Kibosh, THE Wizard is the star
part. intrusted1 to Mr. John Hender.
scn. who takes the best Of care of IL.
and is just funny enough TO make the
fur enjoyable.
Mr.. West as the King" is excel
lent. while Miss Balch Miss Niven and
Mr.. Smith all have leading parts that
they portray with marked ability. The
leading voices are we'll selected. Miss
Drake has a fine soprano voice, of
wide range, and Gaer singing was re-
peatedly encored.
The chorus Is made up of handsome
girls, and their singing is meritorious.
The Wizard of the Nile" will b:
the attraction again at to-day's mat
inee, and will conclude its engage
ment tonight, when 1t will no doubt
be accorded the patronage which 1t
| deserves.
| Those who heard and saw the opera
| last night cannot fail to commend it,
| as one of the brightest, catchiest and
| funniest light operas that has been
seen and heard here in a long time,
| and Its production was all that could
| be desired.
Charles B. Hanford has devoted
| great deal Of care and study to the
| costuming OF his productions Of Much
Ado About Nothing and The Tanning
| OF the Shrew," in which he will be seen
here Tomorrow matinee and night.
Although Shakespeare selected foreign
| localities as the scenes for his come
| dies. there was no need for him to go
| out of his own country to seek models
| for their attire. for the elegant ladies
and gentleman of Queen Elizabeth's
| time chose discriminatory from the
| sartorial elegances Of all Europe and
| made fashions their own. There was
no absolute arbiters Of fashion as there
are In the present day: it was a gor-
| geous go-as-you please race for finery
and, however fantastic the result might
| be. 1T was justified If the effect was
startling and the material gave suffi-
GENTLY convincing evidence that money
| was nc. object. Mr.. Hanford, who has
always been an enthusiast in the mat
| ter OF stage properties, has made an
! especial study of the raiment which
| graced the person Of Benedick and his
contemporaries. These little touches OF
details have been mnutely watched by
| Mr. Hanford with the delight of the
enthusiast, and his costuming of the
| comedies he produces reflect the spirit
| or the times in which the characters
| are cast as accurately as does the dia-
| Iogue. The company that surrounds
Mr.. Hanford is equipped with costumes
which fully carry out this elaborate
and respondent scheme of historical
accuracy. The Tanning of the Shrew"
Will be presented at the matinee and
| Much Ado About Nothing" at night.
A souvenir will be given away to every
lady holding coupon for a reserved
seat at either performance. Special
matinee prices are as follows: Adults
Soc. children admission to the balcony
2ec; Regular prices will prevail at
night.
| When Emma Abbott died the South
lost songstress which 1t was thought
Tor long time could not be replaced.
She had won her way into the hearts
or Southerners with her remarkable
arr after fashion which many people.
ocnversant with the characteristics OF
the people of /. the South, said could
| not. be replaced
| The Richmond papers. the other day
Wnen Miss Shay appeared there. went
| out or their way to declare that a re-
markable artist-in fact, a far more
remarkable woman. had again made
ner ADVENT on, the Lyric stage. Miss
Rose CECILIA Shay. these newspapers
Vehtureo TO assert, had a certain win
sorneness In her art: a. certain broad
ness and volumne to her work. to saw
hothlns OF voice which has beauty
anu sympathy and range. That it has
1
are treasured up with more than usual
sentiment by Impresario, J. Saunders
4ordon, under whose direction the Cor
oon-Snay Company is touring. Mr..
Goroon was well pleased with Miss
Shays remarkable success in New
| York, but 1t has been his purpose and
desire TO have her win her way in the
SCUM and West. The theatrical taste
OF NeW York does not call for grand
opera to-day. Women in semi-nude
Unset and plays of character which
| would not be tolerated: or even tenn
| pCrfzed with in the South, are fads IN
Gotham to-day. The old beauty and
love and affection for things that are
really worth the while seems to have
died out. so. Mr.. Gordon really appre-
ciated and realized that IL he was TO
make future for Miss Shay It would
naturally have to be in the South and
West where people still have some con-
ception Of art and the true beauty Of
music: Hence. 1t was with infinite
| pleasure that Mr.. Gordon perused the
| newspapers of Norfolk and Richmond
| with their elaborated and extended no.
tees and 'critioues Of Miss Shay and
the company which accompanies her.
| : (This full appreciation has so en-
couraged her management that in the
last few days several artists of inter-
national Importance have been added
to the roster of her company. When
1t is considered that the company has
| a.chorus, nearly one half OF whom were
taken from the Metropolitan Opera
House in New York. some idea may
be gathered of the character OF the
organization. This added expense win
suffice as an illustration OF the expen-
diture to perfect the company. The
orchestra. which is made up of must
clans from the several symphony or
CARNATIONS of New York. and Boston.