Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-03-06
BIG CROWD SEES
N!V GRAND OPERA
Henry W. >'ayage's English
Speaking Company Produces
"Nadnm Butterfly"
oPERATIc EVENT OF SEASON
Fashionable Audience Greets Maen'f-
icent Production at the odeon
Thursday Night Rena vivienne
Sings Title Role Most Delightfully."-
Two Changes in Cast as Planned.

The much tall.ed-of and widely
Madam Butterfly. was given before
large and fashionable audience at
the odeon Thursday night by Henry
w. Savagc's company of artists form
ing the English Grand opera Com
pany. The production was the oper
attic treat of the season, and from an
artistic standpoint was eminently sat
isfactory.
In producing from Puccni's fascinat-
ing music and Lr ther Longs pathetic
story grand opera gem With its
faultless settings and sense of COM
pleteness, Mr.. Savage has shown his
master hand. Unusual pains have
been taken In staging this magnificent
production. and scenically no fault
could possibly be found with even the
slightest detail.
Mr.. Savage has produced many
operas, and his English company in
"Lohengrin'' was given to Marshall
town two seasons ago. Like many
OF the grand operas of the Wagnerian
period the great trouble has been In
their comprehension to an extent that
they would prove popular The music,
to the trained ear. was superb. but
acting was lacking. This. however.
was easily overlooked. Mr.. Savage
then conceived the idea Of building a
grand opera along more modern lines
sufficiently modern to make 1t bid
for popularity--and this latest work Is
his Offering.
Madam Butterfly" has been con-
structed for principals. and in this re-
spect it was very satisfactory. Miss
Rena Vivienne, the American prima
donna, gave a most delightful inter-
probation of the title role. Combined
with her superb voice was an element
seldom found in grand opera-good
features of undermining the grand
opera, and the artists of voice We're
also artists in dramatic impersonation.
Miss Viviennes role was most diff
cult one. carrying as 1t did the trend
Of the pathetic story of the Geisha
girls love for a faithless husband. The
role was Well acted and we'll sung and
was the most decided and pleasing
single feature of the entire produce
ton.
Two changes wers made In the cast
as planned for the Marshalltown pro-
duction. Herr Kuri. Donath, the Ger
man tenor, did NOT sing the role of
Pinkerton, the American naval officer.
This part was taken by William St |
Willis, who was very good. Carl Cant
WORT supplanted Thomas D. Richards
as Sharpless. the BARITONE role. and
while pleasing was not especially
strong. The absence Of a rich basso
in the makeup of the cast was marked
Miss Harriet NJ. Behnee, the Ameri-
can contralto. appeared as Suzuki
Cho- Cho- Sans maid. and gave a de-
lightfu and artistic Interpretation OF
the difficult acting role. Miss Behnce
has a deep. rich Voice
One of the real treats of the even
ing was the orchestration of the opera,
under the direction of Mr. Walter
Rothwell. of Vienna. Austria Forty
pieces made up this splendid organi-
cation.
The costuming for the production.
secured at heavy importation ex-
pense, was the source Of much admir-
alton on the part of the feminine eyes
in the audience
A great many theater parties from
out of the city We're present to wit
ness the grand opera
The WhitehiII Funeral.
The people of State Center and
many others from its vicinity and more