The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-06-19
~. ~. ::..1heatres
PROVIDENCE OPERA HOUSE.

At the Providence Opera house las,
evening the III. l.. Williams Opera COM
pany produced double bill. which will
be repeated for the balance OF the week
with matinee tomorrow.
''Pinafore the long familiar, yet never
old. masterpiece of light opera was done
In simply stunning fashion.
The Williams company chorus, for this
occasion sailors and cousins and aunts
showed up to splendid effect. We men
ton the, chorus first because the VIII
lians chorus Is conspicuously good
background for a group of principals who
are conspicuously good.
Notoriously the two elements are not
always found In the same combination.
Some operatic aggregations rely on their
principal singers and others on their cho-
In a strictly first class 10th century ag-
gregation of course. nothing is supposed
10 be sighted. But In an opera COM
pany, like this. brought together for n
short supplementary season and offering
a round OF favortte and excellent musi-
cal works at popular prices the genius
or the directing management Is in no
way better illustrated than by the even
ness, so 10 speak, accomplished In the
organization.
Like the classic one horse shay. there
is no weakest part in this Williams oper-
attic machine. II is equally strong all
through especially now that that dash
ing leader OF the orchestra. introduced
To Providence last week holds his baton
imperiously over the whole assemblage.
Baton, by the way. ts used only I'm n
hgurative sense. Director Darling does
not swing one. He needs both hands
for the plano when his hypnotic right Is
not In action over the stage. or over his
players In the band box. Last evening
he swung Pinafore through Its varied
measures In splendid style
The orchestra played with n fine swing
and the people on the stage overrowed
va hA .lslN -
opera. Director Darling had n hand on
the reins as sure and true as n driver
OF a forty horse string team. Now in
his chair. now on his feet, sharp and
smart. but not at all ostentatious with
all his keen activities. he commanded IN
n way that must have been as stImuiat-
ing to the singers as Il served TO be 10
the audience. IL is interesting 10 watch
him locate singer In the wings. before
That singer comes in sight OF the audience
az his or her cue, and proceed to take
hold or the part and see that 10 gets .nto
the scene sharp upon the psychological
moment and In full action.
The cast as printed above IL it's own
endorsement. No one familiar I'm the
least with the work OF Mr.. Temnle Mr.
Murray. Mr.. Williams or Miss Deane.
need To be Informed that I'm the Pima
Tore characters they are bright and
shining stars An interesting pernor-
nance was that OF Miss Jane ShaIek
who. we believe. Is the younger OF the
two engaging young sisters singing In the
company. Miss Jane has sung little
roles acceptably during the season but
the "Hebo" OF Pinafore was rather more
pretentous. She sustained the tradl-
tions of that classic part and brought TO
u chann.ng individuality OF her own
Miss Wallace sang. acted and looked
the Josephine delightfully."-
Mascagnis one act tragedy. Cavaller1a
Rnsticana filled out the evenings enter
tainmcnt. IL was an astonlshingly fine
piece OF work on the part OF all the s:n-
gers engaged. The intcnse little opera
Is not often sung hereabouts and we do
not recall anything like so satisfactory
a rendering as that given II by Miss
Lane. Mr.. Bruce, AIR. Murray Miss
Bertha Shalek and Miss Deane last even
ing.
IL was a gem In every respect OF sing