The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1903-03-13
OPERA HOUSE.
Foxy CUTLER

It's pity to mar great comic
opera like Foxy CUTLER by placing
an entirely incompetent comedian in
the title role. Richard Golden's at
tempt at the Opera House Tuesday
| night before one Of the best audiences in
| the history of the local theater to pres
ent that Incomparably hu morous and
| unique character was nothing short of
| failure. He could not sing, his ar
ticulation was miserable many of his
best lines being lost to his listeners.
and in almost everv way his work is
measured he was incapable. He
sailed through the entire performance
without doing anything worthy OF
praise with one possible exception.
and that was his ''Smile song, which
he did with considerable cleverness.
There were many other things in his
work that were objectionable; for in
stance. his introduction into his lines
of Jokes of a local nature. When one
goes to Corsica in comic opera he
does not care to stop and discuss the
need of pavement on Seventh street
in Columbia. or course, they pro-
duced laugh; but they had no place
in the opera, were entirely irrelevant
to it, and should have been eschewed
Mr.. Golden is about the only come
dian, at least the only one in the
writer s knowledge, that luterJects
local gags into a comic opera. Evi
IDENTIFY he received his stage education
in the minstrel business. Another
criticism is his interpolated lines to
the art of "Quiller" which the author
never thought of putting into it. Mr..
Golden may be wittier than Harry B.
Smith, who wrote the book for the
opera, but not many will think 80, and
the new business he brings out is ex-
ceedingly fiat. Those who have seen
Jerome Sykes present the great detec-
tive burlesque groaned in the flesh as
they watched Mr.. Golden last night
some OF the characters 8 best |
parts. and utterly fail to fill the role. |
And despite the numerous assurances
from Mr.. Golden that Foxy CUTLER
had arrived, rney were very much
inclined to doubt it.
But in spite of Mr.. Golden's poor
work. one had to laugh and laugh often.
The character of IF. Qulller, the
qu1ntessence OF human intelligence,
the laundering. conceited detective, is
really one OF the finest characters of
recent comic opera work. 1t simply
overfiows with tine richest of humor at
every turn, and in spite of the poor
it received, it kept the
house in a continuous roar of laughter.
It is one of the really funniest charac-
5ers ever conceived in light opera. Its
music is catchy ana thsre are some
splendid scores in IT,
Fortunately for the production, there
we're some in the cast that were really
capable of filling their roles. and they
lid it. and that saved the opera.
Henry Leone, as Paganino, the Corsi
AN with vendetta on his hands, sang
ind acted his part splendidly. He has
fine, we'll trained voice, and in every
inc carries his part most satisfactorily.
Miss Rosemarie Glosz, as La Colon
10, who helped in the vendetta bust
less, was admirable. She looked,
Icted and sang the part almost to per-
ection. She has an excellent soprano
,oice, of remarkable and exquisite
weetness and fine range. She is q
woman of handsome figure and does !
II her work with conscientious care. 8
Ter singing ut the end of the second
ct was 80 good that she was forced
o give four encores. And 1t would be Z
ard to find more pleasing Daphne
han Edna Bronson. She Is a most
harming little lady and has stage
resence that Is exceedingly captivat-
ng. She has sweet voice and sings her
art well. She has great deal of
ersonal magnetism which draws one {
D her and makes one admire her, and c
er pretty face and figure and unusually i
7insome manners. with her voice, will q
AXE her some day up among the stars o
q comic opera. Is
The work of little Adolph link. the \
lliputian kleptomaniac, captured the
ouse. He Is an exceedingly clever
title comedian and does much to en-
ven the performance. Everything
9 does Is funny And' the amount Of I
business he inJects INTO his part is
,narkable. He WAS ably assisted in
reducing fun by VIM. Conley, IN the
art Of Walcinghsm Binks, a neg
,cted genius. Mr.. Conley did some
ne comedy work, which met thorough
ppreciation.
MED Royster,' the handsome young
"a captain in love with Daphne, was
taken by Melville Collins,
no looked the part, but has only
lir voice.
The opera was we'll staged, but the
,stumes were ordinary. too well
orn. The final act, however. show
* tho guards of the Governor Of
orsica was q very pretty scene, the