The Washington herald., 1910-05-03
THE NEW NATIONAL.
Aborn ODera Company in "NIIIe. Mo-
dIsfe.D

dIste.D
The return OF the ever-popular Aborn
Opera Company 10 Washington was cele-
brated at the National last evening by
an audience large in numbers and en-
thusiastic in its applause. The bill Sc
lected for the opening week was Victor
Herbert and Henry Blossoms bright and
tuneful opera cOmique. Mile. Modiste. "
which had its premiere here several sea-
sons ago. and the appreciation OF the
audience showed that II had lost nothing
by its absence nor in the Interpretation
given by the capable company last night
The opera IS too recent 10 need any
resume OF the plot. and the music Is
too catchy and tuneful to need more than
a mention 10 recall t. The beautiful
waltz song OF the opening act. IF I
Were on the Stage" the two marches.
The Time. the Place. and the Girlr and
The Mascot Of the Troupe" the Night
irgale Song that Fin sings near the
end OF the piece, and the comedy inter-
polated in the Culture Club OF Keolxuk. %
That Awful English Language and ~
Want What 7 Want When I Want It"
are all too recent 10 be numbered with
those which have escaped the memory Of
the public-fckle though it undoubtedly
is. These and all the others in the long
score suffered nothing In their rendition
by the capable company that represents
the AbOrns here this season.
The name role Of the opera was taken
by a newcomer TO Washington. a Miss
Ada Meade. who Immediately captivated
the audience with her voice. her acting.
but, above al. her personality. To take
a part that was played here no more
than two years ago by FRITZ Schen
and sing and act IL in a manner 10 please
the house as did Miss Meade last night
is no mean accomplishment. She has
a sweet soprano voice Of good range and
well cultivated: her acting was we'll
done, but It was her magnetism that cap
tivated the audience After her Mascot
Of the Troupe" song. with the drum ac-
compartment. she received encore after
encore. and a large bouquet OF white
roses was presented to her after her
Nightingale" number.
The other parts in the production were
entirely up TO the standard set by the
prima donna-that is, all the speaking
parts. Robinson Newbold. a favorite OF
other years. received a large amount Of
applause on HIS entrance and his define
alton OF the part Of Hiram Bent earned
more for him. Josephine Bartlett, who
was in the original company. played the
part OF Mrs. Bent. in her own inimitahle
manner. Her song about the Culture
Club was one Of the hits OF the evening
Charles II. Bowers is the tenor. and his
two numbers show that he is the posses
sor of a good voice. George O'Donne1.
as the equity old uncle; Leo Herbert
White. as Castor; John T. Rogers, as
Lieut. La Motto. and Zoe Fulton and Ed
ma Mason, as the two daughters Of Mime.
Cecil. all contributed songs that pleased.
More than a word OF praise is due the
excellent work of the chorus. II must
be confessed that, in past years. the en-
semble work was not up 20 the standard.
but that Of last night was excellent The
chorus IS large. they have fair voices,
and they are eXcellently drilled and cos
tuned. But II the management could be
induced 20 omit the dance In the last act
by La Reve" the enjoyment of the au-
dience would be proportiCnately greater
Taken as whole the performance was
far above any that this organization has
given here. IN staging and in individual
and in ensemble work and the manage
ment IS to be congratulated on the very
creditable rendition that the company
gave Of an opera that is by no means
easy