The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-10

The first act opened with a boxing
match on deck and the crew eagerly
watching the contestants and en-
couraging their favorites. The boxers
were two little boys who displayed
some real art in the fistic combat and
| several neat little jabs were made.
The singing at this point at once
sealed the success of the men. Their
voices blended beautifully and the
harmony was the best heard in years.
They did not go off in pieces like the
college glee clubs, where each man
does his best to drown out his neigh
Dor. The chorus sounded at one end
of the auditorium just like it did at
the other. No terrifying tenors or
bubbling BASES were there to give
their individual impression of the
song. They all sang in relation to the
other and with over fifty voices in
this respect the result was an i'm
pressive one.
When the maidens came on the scene
the harmony was even more dominant
and the 125 voices sounded very little
like amateurs. Careful training ano
constant practicing has rounded all the
and in every scene last night, not only
the singing but the acting was given IN
a creditable manner.
Between the first and second acts a
speciality consisting of the two Katzen-
TANNERS and the william was given. II
was another sparring match and nc
blood was spilled. 1t might be men,
toned here that the little sailor boys
on deck were busy all the time. Dur
ing the chorus singing they were-2i-
ways on hand and spent their time
among the maidens untying their bows
and stepping on their trains. During
the touching love scene between Ralph
and Josephine they peeped out behind
the turrets and had there been a foxy
grandpa on the scene the funny paper
III IS acted ont
to the dot.
The only encore of the evening was
given to Little Buttercup and Captain
Corcoran who sang Things Are Seldom
What They Seem" 1t is a swingy little
duet and requires a large amount of
clever acting to make it complete. Pro-
baby the most beautiful melody and
chorus in the whole opera happened in
this scene when Ralph, Josephine, the
principals and then the whole chorus
sang Farewell My Own" 1t was a
touching scene, the occasion being the
parting of the two lovers. one going
to a dungeon cell. Another scene that
required careful acting was the at
tempted suicide at the end OF the first
act. Ralph is about to kill himself on
account of being rejected by Josephine
when Josephine rushes on deck and
throwing herself in her lovers arm
admits her love. This brought ire
mendous applause from the audience.
Miss Ona May Miller as Little But
tercup' and Miss c. Brunette Walter
as Josephine deserve special mention
among the principals Mr.. f. l.. Rob
bins as the lover acted his part in true
style. The other principals who made
good were Mr. w. G. Taylor as the. adj
miral Mr. P. B. Hamlin as Captain
Concoran. Mr.. Lynn w. Bloom as the
Boatswain, Mr.. NJ. F. Hardin as the
villain, Mr.. J. G. Rodemeyer as the
Boatswain's Mate, and Miss Verta V.
Wiley as the leader of the maidens and
Hebe. Mr.. NJ c. Holman directed the
singing, Prof Petrovitch Kissing direct
ed the orchestra, Miss Lima Wyatt di-
rected the stage. Mr. w. F. Roehr act
ed as organist and Mr.. Theo. Mueller
pianist.
The Topeka Oratorio society is an or
ganization designed to promote chorus
work especially and in ifs entertain
ments during. the season will endeavor
to suit all classes. The proceeds of all
entertainments after expenses are paid
go to the Pipe Organ association to as
sist in reimbursing the 20 philanthropic
citizens who assumed the organ debt.
1t costs nothing to join the society and
an invitation is extended to those who
sing to join and help along the good
work.
Pinafore will be repeated tonight and
Queen Esther is the bill for tomorrow
night