The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-06-01
COMIC OPERA
MAKES A HIT
Local Singers Make a Grand
Success Of the "Narragan-
set Pier" Production.
MUSIC AND LYRICS OF QUALITY

Lyceum theatre was crowded to tn
doors with fashionable audience
Tuesday night which had gathered t,
hear the first presentation of tn,
comic opera Narragansett Pier" al
original production in two acts, tn,
words of which are by the well-knowr
writer, van TasSel Sutphen, and thu
| music by ]. Sebastian Matthews, or
lganist and choir director of ST. Peters
church of this town. The opera
proved decided success and the bis
audience was more than pleased. The
parts, taken by local amateurs, among
whom we're numbered many people
prominent in Morristown's social life
were all we'll taken and several dis
tinct hits were made. The proceeds
OF the opera are for the organ fund Of
st. Peters church and the opera was
repeated Wednesday evening for the
same cause.
The big orchestra was under the di
rection OF the composer of the music
Mr.. Matthews. The action of the
piece takes place at the present time
at Narragansett Pier. The first scene
shows the lawn and piazza of the
casino with representation of the
waters of Narragansett Bay in the
rear, the time being in the afternoon.
The second scene, evening, shows the
courtyard of the casino.
Miss Minnie A. Parker, as Diana
Dashaway, was the leading soprano,
and her many friends attested to her
popularity by most generous ap-
plause to her we'll executed verse and
song. Mrs. Clyde Potts, as Mrs. Prim,
the chaperon, sang in rich contralto
voice which with her ease and grace
full stage action added much to the
performance. Mrs. Harvey l.. Will
liams, as Vanilla Peachblow, added
much to her popularity by the charm
ing manner in which she took her
part. Miss Clara Katherine Leek, who
took the part of Imogene Marshmal-
low, is well-known to Morristonians
and her portrayal of the typical sum-
mer girl was perfect. Her dance and
solo in the second act was roundly APP
plauded.
| Warren @. Biggin, as Bob Sparkler,
sang in rich tenor voice and capti-
waited the audience by his humorous
and witty sayings. He also sang two
duets with Miss Parker which were
pronounced by musical critics as per-
feet. Harold Leslie Myers, as Planta-
genet, and Phineas B. Myers, as Parks,
added much to their already well de-
served regulations, and were we'll re-
ceived. Homer G. Ayers took the
part of Slimwaiste and received we'll
earned applause. The chorus parts
were perfect, particularly the lullaby
Sleep pretty Sleep in the first act,
and the Contra Dance" IN the second
act which was admirably strengthened
by the special dance arranged by the
Misses Taylor. The costumes were
very beautiful.
The principals in the cast were AZ
follows Miss Diana Dashaway, a
young lady cottager, Miss Minnie A.
Parker; Mrs. Ridgly Prim, a profess
sional chaperon, Mrs. Clyde Potts;
Miss Vanilla Peachblow, a hotel board
er, Mrs. Harvey l.. Williams Miss
lmogene MarshmaNow, asecond young
lady cottager, Miss CLARA r. Leek !;
hFitzroy Plantagenet, a, gentleman
/ from England. Harold Myers: Bob
Sparkler, a sales-gentleman,. Warren
O. Biggen; Augustus, Yarde- Sticke,. a
second sales-gentleman, Homer g..
Ayers ; Cholly Slimwaiste; third
sales-gentleman, William i. Johnson !;
Cecil Featherweight, a fourth sales
gentleman, Frederick p. Boniface !;
Parks, a Yale6r p. Barton Myers. In
the chorus of young lady cottagers
were Mrs. Howard Butler, and the
Misses Armand Ayers, Annie L. Bates,
May e. Bates, Emma Boniface,, Rita
A. Brown, Emily A. Carroll, Leah NJ.
DeGroot, Isabella Drake, Alice Bill,
Helen B. Hoffman,, Elsa M. Moodey,
e. Frances Myers, Frances " Sim
clair, Nellie ID Slater, Ida M. Taylor,
Isabel A. Taylor, Edythe Timmons,
Florence A. VanWyck and Enid
Schenck WiImerding.
The chorus of sales-gentlemen In
cluded Joseph ]. Ambrose, CHARLES H.
Corwin, Stuart M. Ford, Harry A.
Grove. Edwin S. Ford, Frederick II.
Guerin, p. Barton Myers, jr., Ernest
j. Parsons, Joseph A. Preim, John Fl
Rosevear, ir. i; George II. Sherman and
'Harold B. Viedt.
| The production was most handsome.
| ly staged, special scenery having beer
painted by Arthur Voetglin and cleo.
trical effects by William W. Dean.
During the first act a ballet de rae
lquet, under the direction of'Prof. Car
Marwig, was danced and was one O
the sensations of the evening. Thu
dancers we're the Misses Doris Bissell
| Beatrice Carpenter, Nina r. Chisolm
Winifred W. Ohisolm, Alice d. Foote
Helen Garretson, Dorothy t. Hayden
Emily de L, Potter and Mary L. Stur
gis and Harry Q. Beste, Charles
Dean, Alfred Macy Thomas Potter