The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-05-19
'Mikado" Is Most Capab|y Rendered
 By Local Singer:

Before a large audience at the Park theatre last evening, the famous com
 ic opera of bygone years, Gilbert and Sullivan's .Mikado'' was capably pre- sented by a cost of local singers and musicians.
 Not only was the body of the house filled with the audience, but practice ally all of the boxes were occupied, a very unusual occurrence in so large theatre as the Park.
 For an amateur performance it | went off with ease and finish. There | were no hesitating waits. There was a smoothness, a dash, and sometimes real enthusiasm on the part of the cast. The work of Joseph F. Weller | was pretty close to professional stand ard all the time. The Yum Yum" of Miss Ada Tuck was of the brilliant kind. She had both the face, figure, The work of Mrs. Lucien T. Warner as Katisha," was one of the real artistic hits of the performance, both in her acting and singing. We have mentioned the three stars of the performance. Their work was of that kind that should be judged from a professional standpoint. If MT. Weller could dance as we'll as he can sing, what a. great artist for the comic opera stage he would be. As he is going to be a deputy sheriff shortly the dancing-or side-stepping will come to him later. It is so hard to pick a flaw in the work of Miss Tuck or of Mrs. Warner that we will pass them.
 Brilliant Support But the stars had brilliant support. William F. Tomlinson, as ''Nanki-> Poo,'' the wandering minstrel, had a part that suited him perfectly. His singing was all that could be desired, but there were times when his acting showed that he was not used to the stage. It was simply flaw that sev- eral duplicate performances would | have worn off, and whether or no, he justly deserves to share the honors of the other three.
 Stage Management Good. That there was hard and intelligent stage management back of it all goes without saying. In the first place there was an ample orchestra. There was we'll drilled and attractive chorus. It was we'll balanced. but the female voices overshadowed the male voices which is a common oc- curance in most musical perfor- mances. The choral work would have been ample for the best stars in the country for '"The Mikado" cast. It was handsomely costumed. One may go further, and say that some of the costumes WOIO CASCpLAO1ldlly OCdOl4- full and new.
 The work of the chorus showed a lot of conscientious training. Those who had that work in hand must have been gratif1ed by the fruits of their labors.
 Stanley N. Beans was the "Mikado." He sang well, but not all times loud enough for the audience. But it was evident that he was familiar with his part. In the manner of his ac- ton he was thoroughly equipped. Good Work Done. John $. Finch as Pooh Bah" was one of the pillars on which the suc- cess of the performance rested. Be- ing a grave High Lord of everything in sight he lacked the comedy of MT. Wieler, but men holding high office never have humor. unless they go to congress. His singing fitted his part at all times. As "Pish-Tush'' Mr. Eugene Hebbard had not so much to do as the others, but he was fully equal to his part in voice and ac- tions.
 Three Little Maids. It brought ones youth back to hear the three little maids from school sing the old refrain. Miss Tuck was ably supported by Miss Elizabeth Spencer, who, by the way, was delightful in everything that she did, and by Miss Florence Cate. Her selection was a good for the cast of "Peep-Boo."
 Mrs. Warmers Fine Work. What brought the performance up to such a high standard of excellence was the singing of Mrs. Warner of "Alone and Yet Alive" when she be- gan at the side of the stage and moved to the front All was so artistic and finished that it would have been ap- plauded for a professional; the sing ing of Miss Tuck, in her rendering of "The Sun Whose Rays Are All Ablaze' Cor was 1t '"The Moon CelestiaP), ek- ecuted with so much spirit, and with such full and true soprano voice, that she won the great applause that greet ed her efforts, and the singing of Mir. Tomlinson in Bright Dawns Our Wedding Day." and other parts cast to him.
 Many Floral Tributes.
 At the end of the first act there was a procession of floral tributes passed over the footlights. That was the anna teur part of it and it was so appre- ciative and deserving. In all it was a glorious performance. Whoever was the stage manager, either MT. Stanley N Beans or the Rev. E.. J. Craft, are deserving of all the praise that can be given them. The only regretable fea- ture of the presentation of "The Mi kardo' was that it is not to be re- peated It should run a week.