Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1903-05-14
BEAUTIFUL
"PRINCESS BONNIE.v

presentation of Mr.. Willard Spencer's
charming American. Spanish comic
opera at the Criterion theatre Wednes-
day night, and an audience that very
nearly required the capacity of the
house were not only pleased, charmed,
delighted, but agreed without dissent
that the performance was the most
successful amateur attempt ever made
in this city, and it is not saying too
much to suggest that many profession
ais have unfolded the pretty story in
manner far less satisfactory. and
certainly not nearly so artistically.
The opera princess Bonnie'' has
been talked of for long while and
since announcementiwas made that it
would be presented here there has
been great anticipation, growing. in
creasing in interest all the, while, Gull
minating in decided financial suo-
cess, and the first performance has en-
rapturedsthe thousand or more people
who composed the first audience.
word as to people who were in
the house, an audience that repre-
sented the very best people of this
city and Millville, an appreciative
audience, an audience that might be
deemed critical, but the first scene in
the first act disarmed adverse criti-
cism and every one felt that every
moment of the entertainment would
be interesting, enjoyable, pleasurable,
and SO it proved.
The usually cold, unresponsive
Bridgeton musical audience was
quickened and fully alive to every sit
uation, and applause, merited appreci-
alton, was almost continuous, and its
nature indicated it's spontaneity, Oft
times a demand for the repeating of
some charming bit of the bright musi-
cal story. Not during the entire
evening was there prefunctory re-
sponse to the efforts of the performers,
and the genuine appreciation from the
usually undemonstrative music lovers
of this city can but be regarded as
highly complimentary commendation
of the entire entertainment.
Comment upon the performance is
another matter. How, in limited
space, will the critic deal with the
situation? To follow the usual laud-
atory phrases in affairs of home en-
tertainments will not suffice, is mad
equate to impress the true situation,
does not properly represent the re-
markable success attained by the ex-
ceptionally clever people who we're as
signed the places in the cast. The
story of the newspaper will not de-
scribe the work of the principals. the
support Of the canoeists, village girls,
bridesmaids, Spanish dancers, peas
ants and the charms Of sailors, fisher
men and students, the scene effects,
the beautiful costumes and the pretty,
happy situations. All that can be said
be said is too little, and much that
should be remarked is necessarily
omitted.
Bonnie" the princess, demure,
pretty, innocent child of the treach-
erous sea, saved, alone, from the
wreck by Captain Tarpaulin," was
interpreted by Miss Ada Soull. and
she was last night admirable. Her
wonderfully sweet, magnifcently
trained voice was at it's best, and it
was delight to hear her in the many
charming solos and part songs that
were assigned her. And her concep-
tion of the part was perfect. In her
happy. open air life by the sea, the
charming, winsome lassie, beloved by
all about her, she was sweetly charm
ing, blithe and gay in her happy love
for Roy Stirling,'' and her emo
tion was SO apparently genuine in the
scene where she is taken from her
happy home, that it appealed strongly
to the audience, and won for her a
genuine sympathy. Time and time
again:was she recalled, and two mag
nificent bouquets Of beautiful flowers
were sent to the stage for her. In
solos. duett, quintette, or chorus. Miss
Scull was a central figure and always
sufficiently strong to attract the atten-
sion due the star character.
Much of the charm Of the perform
anoe is due Mr.. Edward B. Rumbf, of
Millville, the delightful tenor who
assumed thelcharaoter Of "Roy Stir
ling the earnest, honest lover Of
Bonnie. He was particularly genu.
Inc in his acting, while his singing
was superb. It is difficult to antici-
pate any one else in his part, and he
was deserving of the commendation
showered upon his every effort. He
looked the part, he acted the oharao-
Ter, he sang the difficult, pretty music
IN ~ 10 h1a 10 -