Los Angeles herald., 1908-05-05
~ - The CAST

]
chasl William Balfe. sung last night at the
Auditorium theater by the Edgar Temple
opera company
THE CAST .,-
Count Aruheim ............. John $. wilson
Thaddeus ...-.......... AIRED MacUanan
tlOresteln ..,.,.......,.... Laura Nahhce
Devilshoof ......... ....,., Harry eastman
Captain of the guard. Robert Leonard
airline ..''..'....''...'. :Eieanor kent
Queen of the Gypsies. Grace Vance
BY FLORENCE BosARD LAWRENCE
In presenting "The Bohemian Girl
Mr.. Temple has deviated from his an
nounced purpose to present unhack-
neyed opera to the public of Los An
geles, but he is to be forgiven for the
change since he selected an opera at
once so tuneful and so romantic.
The training work of the past month
is most noticeable this week whenever
the chorus is on the stage. Always
possessed of volume of tone and an in
dividual merit, the members of this
organization now present an ensemble
so finished, so picturesque and so
united in all their numbers that they
prove triumphant factor in the stag
ing of the opera. Mr. Temple has been
most happy in directing this body of
singers, and their rapid progress along
artistic lines is a liberal commenda-
tion of his ability in this respect.
For the principals, the opera offers
an excellent opportunity to Miss Flea
nor Kent who sings the role of Airline
with magnificent art. Her voice. which
has already proved equal to all the de-
mands of light and popular opera, in
this role finds more trying work. There
is no place, however, where she does
npt show herself fully equal to the re-
QuirementS of the part Dramatically
expressive in every move and gesture
Miss Kent has a warm magnetic per-
sonality which attracts and holds her
audience, and this added to the charm
of her full liquid voice, makes her one
of the favorites of the cast. Much
has already been written in these col
umns about the splendid method which
enables her to use her voice with such
fine discrimination, and the constant
vocaliZation which this opera requires
of her only emphasizes those virtues.
The music of Thaddeus was little
high for Mr. MacGahan, especially in
the love songs, although in the more
robust songs and in his concerted
work he was dominant figure on the
stage.
Harry eastman does his best work
of the season as Devilshoof and as
usual convulsed his audience, during
the pantomine in the third act.
John p. Wilson, who was cast as the
count, was called upon to take the part
upon twelve hours notice. He gave an
excellent delineation of the character
and has a smooth, pleasant voice.
which last night was slightly lacking
in volume. This may have come, how
ever, from his unfamiliarity with the
part.
o,,~a Uyo1Iooo oxxoo.o, - r,,
stein, although 1t is quite unusual to
cast woman in the part of this little
dandy. She was quite mincing and
affected with her foppish ways, but
omitted the lisp which is one of the
time honored traditions of the part
With the exception of Miss Kent and
Mr.. MacGahan, the company is hardly
adequate for so ambitious a venture
as that which Mr.. Temple has pre-
scribed for them this week, but the
delightful music of the opera will serve
to make up to many listeners for any
deficiencies in the rendition of the
work.
Mr.. Temple will sing Thaddeus at
the Wednesday matinee and Miss Mai
son will sing the Gypsy Queen this
evening and at alternate performances
thereafter.
Manager Charles York of the Los
Angeles theater received a telegram
last night from John Court in New
York, canceling the engagement of
the Earl Burgess melodramatic stock
company, which was to have opened at
that house next week. Plans for the
future are indefinite.
There's full value and a little more
in the current Fischer offering. Elona
IL.
same clever character change act pre-
sented here before, opening with a roll
licking cowboy girl'' song in costume.
next presenting Highland Scotch bal