Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-12-18
TALES OF THEATRE

Manager Cox, of the Illinois. scored
hit when he secured the great Mas
cagni with his opera company of 100
people, and orchestra of 81 for Christ
mas night. Dec. %. Rock Island has
never before been offered an attrac-
ton equal 70 this in Importance and
will surely appreciate same. TO hear
the famous musical drama inter
preted by company under the baton
of Mascagni is something that Ameri-
cans have perhaps been hoping for
but scarcely expecting to realize, for
years. And now that Mascagni is
coming to Chicago the papers there
are falling over each other to pro-
claim the fact with big headlines.
1t is said that Mascagni has sur
prise in store for those whose only
ideas of Italian opera have been gain
ed from performances by companies
composed of singers of several ma
tionalities or from the various Italian
organizations which have toured this
country from time to time. y full
Italian company of the highest class
has never been brought to America
and the composer of "Cavalleria
such a one as would be greeted with
acclaim at La Scala. Milan, or the
Lostanzi, Rome. Elena Blanchini Cap
pelli, one of the number signed, is Il
dramatic soprano who perfectly COM
bines pure tone production with vo-
cal and physical Interpretation of the
text and situation. Her Stantuzza will
be a revelation in tonal beauty and
hiStriOnic force TO those whose only
idea of this intensely dramatic yet
lyric role has been gained from per-
formances in this country. Pietro
SchivazZa, one of the leading tenors.
is held in the highest esteem by his
musical compatriots. He is n protege
of Mascagni and in some quarters is
held to give better promise of being
the successor of OomagnO than any
other man in Italy. Americans of the
present generation do not know what
great Italian basso is. One of the
high class has not visited these shores
in a decade. francesca Nevarrini,
one of those secured by Mascagni, will
be a revelation. He has resonant
deep voice of unusual feasibility and
mellowness. Nirgilio Bellatti, the
leading baritone, will compare with
any who ever came to America.
Crowded houses are more than
likely TO witness G.. +. Eltlon's comedy
success, "A Hoosier Daisy" at the
Illinois Saturday, matinee and even
lung. The play is out of the beaten
path and tells the story of an awk-
ward, gawky, half grown girl in lit
tie Indiana town, who has been taken
from the poor house by a prominent
lady church member 50 the child
could get proper home trainin'.
We see this "HOosier Daisy" in all
phases of her life. the little country
waif with the poor house slang, her
first inspiration of love at sight of the
young minister, her goodness of heart
in saving the tramp from arrest. See
and hear her quaint songs and dances.
her awakening to the homely spec
tacle she presents, her demand for
long dresses. and her final return
from boarding school. the eNquisitely
gowned young lady who puts her
enemies i'm confusion. 1t is Il charac-
ter entirely new, distinctly unique
and original to- the stage. Around this
character the author has woven Il I
play that abounds in heart interest
as well as comedy, introducing such |
types of character as one finds in
little Indiana towns, making u good, |
pure comedy that will live forever.
In those days of suggestive come
dies without any plot or reason for
existence it is gratifying to know
that the residents of Rock Island are |
to have the pleasure of witnessing |
the successful three-act musical farce
over the Fence" the work |
of c. Herbert Kerr, prominent among |
farce writer's of the present day. This |
latest bid for public favor is entirely |
free from vulgarity and suggestive
lines that are too frequently used to
create laughter, and there is every |
reason why the tour so far of Over /
the Fence" has met with such unquali-
fled success since its initial perform
anpe some wReks a1o ss0yer the /