Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-05-21
AtW York Opera Company De-
lights Big Audience.
SEASON HAS AUsPIC|0US OPENING
Manager Shaw Presents an Organize.
ton in Stock Which is Far Ahead
of the Average Regular Season
Companies.

Every promise made by Managers
Booker and Shaw for the New York
Opera Company was fulriled-aul
more than fulfilled-when the sum.
mer stock season at the Academy OF
Music opened last night ana well.
pleased audience that nearly filled The
playhouse heard THE Mikado" sung
as 1t has never heen sung before in
these parts. That the house was
delighted was amply demonstrated by
the hearty applause for the exquisite
singing, and splendid training shown
IN ensemble work, and the merry
laughter which greeted every move
of the comedians.
If the present stock season is not
success financially. there will l., M
use Tor further trials-the city may
as well accept the situation and real.
ize that 1t 10 not equal TO the task
OF supporting good stock company
me iorty people who have been col.
lected by Manager Shaw and his as.
sociates for this season make I'M n
company that compares favorably
with the very best regular season at
fractions, and is far and away ahead
OF the average musical show which
theatregoers are asked to nav dol.
lar and a half to see during the
winter. Not one of the light opera
productions seen here during the sea.
son just closed carried so many good
voices among the principals, and
those with choruses 10 equal this one
We're few and far between, Indeed.
Under the competent direction of
Frank Ranney. "rhe Mikado" is ex.
ctn nj
ing in the way of accessories and
costumes AS was stated IN these
columns Sunday, nearly everybody
heard Gilbert and Sullivan's sprightly
: opera, but probably only compare
lively small number of those in last
nights audience had ever had thu
pleasure Of hearing il in such capable
hands. The score was well rendered
by the Academy orchestra, directed
by Frederick Intropidi, the musicai
director of the company.
1t would lie hard to say just who
made "the hit" of the show-possibly
1t is especially hard to make
such distinction because these PEG.
1s!e are going to be with lis for some
weeks. Then, several different kinds
OF hits were made, and 1t would lie
unfair to say that one was more de-
cided than another.
George w. Leslie was eycruciating-
~ funny In the part. of Koko, the
Lord High EXecutloneer of Titipu. He
made the most of q part Astounding
in possibilities, and kept the house
ripping with laughter. He is n
clever comedian and sings n comic
song in inmitable fashion.
Beautiful voices are possessed by
Misses Laura Willard, and Della Nj.
ven, who were Yum-Yum and IA
tisha, respectively. Miss Millard's SO.
prano has great range and is re-
markable for its purity ana sweet
ness. Miss Niven has an operate
contralto, the like of which is seldom
to be found in comic opera; it is rich
and powerful as well as musical.
Both voices have been highly cult
waited.
Fred Knights, the Nanki.Poo of the
production and leading tenor of the
company, has a robust tenor; clear,
strong and magnetic. The company
is not lacking i'll other male voices
William Brown, Poo Bah, has great,
mellow bass, and Wallace Brownlow,
the Mikado of Japan, has n strong
baritone and enacts his role cleverly.
William Pullam, Pish-Tush, too, has
a good baritone.
= Miss Georgia Campbell, Petti-Sing,
one of the three little maids, is
delightful little parsonage. She gives
life to any scene with her dainty vi.
Vacity, and sings delightfully."- with a
sweet soprano. Miss ELY Spellman,
Peep-Bo. the third of the little maids.
appears 10 advantage in very small
part.
s And Frank Ranney's LIT must not
be forgotten. for although the stage
manager was i'll sight only very
few minutes, he had everybody, even
his own orderly chorus, convulsed
with laughter during that time. His
makeup as the Umbrella Bearer was
simply beyond description, and the
few sounds he made while on the
stage were in keeping with his APP.
pearance.
The chorus is all that can be de.
sired. Most of the girls are good to
look upon and all of them are per.
fectly drllled-and they can sing
There are nine men, composing good
male chorus and balancing we'll with
the sixteen girls.
The company is 'A1' and deserves
the support which last nights recep
tion indicates will be given.