Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1908-09-23

| It's of the company alone deserve a
| crowded house. Last nights perform
ancc was most auspicious opening of
the theatrical season in Prescott for
! 1905.
Henri. Narquic Of Bonneville. who
| has been since childhood, owing 10 civil
! war. an exile. returns 10 his ancestral
nome pn tine occasion Of the great an
null fair which is being celebrated IN
the village that receives IT, name from
his chateau. u is one Of The old fash.
toned Normlu Villages Of the seven
tcouth century
IN thc first ort. t.io curtain rises ON
1u t>.omhlagr of village gossips dis
GUESSING scandal aud small talk Scr
polctr. e eros. between Fauchon aud
Buui,fto. b. 'hr topic of conversation
among the bellies of Corncvilc. She
comes BOO Just ~ time 10 turn the tables
900 thc 1tpor-. and changes their tuuuts
into' expressions ~ rage. Gasplrd. an
uii u' ser. Wishes 90 marry his niece.
G"rWauc. 'n thc principal magistrate
~ tine district. the Bpill This ar
riugcmrnt does not suit Gctmanc. nor
% Young fisherman named Jean Greui.
chouN. who prctcnds that he has saved
her life from drowning on a certain oc.
ca~iou. 70 escape from the power of
old Gaspard. Gcrmaine takes advantage
of the privileges Of the fair On similar
scene To- that IN the first net of " Mar
tha, y and becomes a servant of the
Marquis. Her example is followed by
Grenicheax and Scrpolcttc.
The second act is taken up with the
Il l..
the Castle of Bonneville ~ long an oh.
lect of dread. Henri determines To
find out the real character Of these
ghostly appearances. and discovers
that il j. all the work of the old miscr.
who mas concealed his treasures in the
chateau. The discovery drives Gaspard
crazy, especially when he hears the
bells of the chateau ringing for the
first time since the iligh, of the old
parquis.
The third act represents the grand
fctc given in honr Of the return "a.
Henri To ais ancestral home. Serpul
cite arrives NJ n marchion"ss, ~ some
papers, found in the chateau. indicate
that she Is the lost hciress. The miser.
however. RECEIVERS his reason. and
shows that Germaine il the true mar
chioncss. \ love duet between her
and Henri, and the reconciliation Of
all parties. bring the romantic story to
close
II would hc hard. indeed. to special
lcz any one character in the principals
~ the opera which was better inter
preted than another Charmingly sung
was the duet between Garmainc Mrs.
Kirkpatrick) and Grcnicheux (Mr. ".
@. Barncs). r. Francis Hughes in his
solo. "Dh Careless Maiden. - was in cx
cellcnt voice and sang with rare sym.
PATTY and understanding of the part.
Mr.. Hughes acting was also delightful
Henri. Marquis of Corncville could not
have been placed in better hands The
armor chorus. deeds of the Mighty
Past was one Of the finest numbers
of the whole opera and deserveily
earned vocifcrous applause. Mr. Kehr
~ the Bailii, and Mr.. II. j. Tilley N
the Miser acted and sung with the
abandon of professionals and had the
audience with them from the rise Of
the curtain.
Miss Helen Edwards rs Serpolette.
the Good for Nothing. and Mrs. j. q.
kirkpatrick a. Germainc. the Lost
Warehouses, were beautifully costun
cd, sang beautifully and barring slight
attack of stage fright ut the beginning
acted their parts excellently. The op.
era from beginning to end was n reve.
lati0n of local talent which must have
been source of pride and gratifica
tion to every loyal resident Of Prescott
in the house.
Too much cannot he said in praise of
the baton work of Mr.. J. Homer Grunn.
His solo piano numbers AT the concert
In Prescott some weeks ago were "A
revelation Of musical genius. His work
rs conductor last evenig was IA revela.
ton OF the versatility of mis- genius.
His future will surely take him into u
far greater field than the whole south.
west affords. Taken into consideration
that Mr.. GrunD had his company in
training only three short weeks. the
completeness of last nights perform.
ance can be considered little short of
marvellous in accomplishment.
The chorus Of forty voices deserves
especial praise. The costumes were in
excellent taste picturesque and in
toucn with the characters and the set.
ting of the play. Mrs. Southworth and
Mr.. Tilley are deserving of high praise
for their successful efforts in singing
the opera. The orchestra was all that
one could desire.