The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-01-16
With Russian Symphony Orchestra to Appear at
 Smiths Theatre.
Will Render "A Midsum- mer Nights Dream" Mon day Evening Musical and Dramatic Feast of Un- precedented Brillancy - An Event Never Before Known in the History Of the Local Stage.

Monday night brings the lmpor te'ii' performance of "A Midsummer Nlght Dream" acted by the Ben Greet piaS CTS, and with the exquisite Meliuei' sof1n music played by the 1arnous nus sian Symphony orchestra or Ne" tot of fifty men, at Smiths theatre. occasion which has been antlclpaleu ,v;4b the greatest interest by both mu- .;. lowers and theatre boers, promises . h. ono of the events of the season ; every way. It is expected that by +ha time Modest Altschuler raises his haton Monday night for the wonderful oyerture-which Mendelssohn composed when he was only seventeen-hardly seat will be unsold. The advance sale has been very large, due to the double attraction of a great play and a splen- did symphony orchestra for the lnc1- dental music. In fact, no opportunity just like this has ever been offered hafore and the novelty and artistic va1ue of such a combination has proven 2 potent attraction at the box office.
 Ben Greet has the happy faculty of identifying himself with absolutely nnioue and novel performances, but the performance in which he is to take the leading part Monday night eclipses in interest anything he has hitherto done. Not only is it upon the high artistic plane to which he is accustomed, but it is. at the same time, of enormous popular appeal. It ooes not take g. cultured musician or a Shakespearean student to appreciate such a performance as is to be given. To see the greatest comedy of phantasy ever written played or acted in won derful musical setting. Is an occasion that appeals to every one.
 To accommodate the large orchestra nrrhRGfra stalls will have to be taken out, and even then the Russian players will be somewhat cramped for room, In or- der to give the performance, not only does the complete dramatic production have to be carried, but it is also neces- sary to carry a complete set of music stands for the musicians.
 Over one hundred persons are neces- sary for a performance of "A Mid summer Nights Dream" such as will be given Monday night. The Ben Greet Company has been especially en- larged tor this tour. In addition to the players themselves, there are a group Of children for the fairy dances, a quartette for the songs, Grace Clarke Kahler for the solos. and Lou Wall Moore, the we'll known sculptress and dancer. for the Greek dances.
 The performance will last two and one-half hours. The play is given in
 
 outdoors by Ben Greet. To this end a beautiful stage setting, designed and painted by the well known mural paint CTS, Troy and Margaret Kinney, is used. The music runs practically through the play. and the effect thus gained is said to be most pleasing, the tempo of the acting and the tempo of the orchestra being in the incest har- mony.
 Although they have not toured as much as the Ben Greet players, the fame of Modest Altschuler and his Russian musicians has preceded them, and the musical public will be out in force to hear this remarkable orches- tra Interpret Mendelssohn's greatest and most popular music. This orches- tra was formed among the musicians themselves for the purpose of render ing Russian music at Carnegie Hall, New York, and in the brief six years of it's existence 1t has won an enviable place for itself, and one that has en- tireiy outgrown its first restriction to Russian music. It has recently come into great demand for expositions and symphony tours, and its reputation is equally strong among the lovers of popular music and those whose taste runs to the highest class of melody.