The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-02-21

CAST OF CHOCOLATE SOLDIER
Nadina Popoff 49,. Edith Singleton
Aurola Popoff -, Margaret Crawford
MaScna .--.... lion Bergere
Lieut.. Bumerli ..... John r. Phillips
capt. Massakrof Frank H. Belcher
Gouka ..s,...,.-..,..K Kathleen Burke
Stephen - Walter HaIbach
Col, Kasimir Popoff Edmond Mrlcahy
NAL AeNus Spiridof Harry Davies
THE Chocolate Soldier" proves 10 be
Ine one real musical treat of the season
10 paraphrase another's words, light
SI SSpera Is OF two kinds The Chocolate
ray OF talent that was enlisted In the
building and polishing OF this play, and
me superb cast that presents It. IL could
mar, hardly " be other Other than IL is. musical
gem oi the first water.
FIRST came Bernard Shaw with his
Arms and the Man" story the like OF
which only a Shaw could write. Then
comes Rudolph Bernauer and Leopold
Jacobson. who whisk the piece across the
oriny. clothe IL in German Garb. and
make comedy of it. Oscar Straus Cnot
Strauss) next takes a vigorous. masterfuI
hold on il. and ensnares the Bernauer-
Jacobsonized Shaw satire inlo "a compo-
sitc mesh of sparkling, soothing. allurlng
music, at times profoundly srotespue and
barbarlc In color. Such a splendid ac-
compilshment was not intended to shed
Its brilliancy on the Old World alone.
Ihe translation of tho opera into Eng
nsn followed as matter of course, and
lis Americanizing was inevitable. Slans-
iaus STANCE undertook the task OF trans
lation; his fingers were no less nimble
than those which had already made a
OF the play. The result was
the version of The Chocolate Soldier"
which swept Salt Iakers into the realms
OF essential harmony at the Colonial last
night.
With the rise OF the curtain. Nadina is
seen in the quietncss of her boudor,
about to retire. Nadna's mother and
brief portion OF the first act is given up
10 an interpre tative chorus sung by Ma
dina. Aurelia Popoff; her mother, and her
cousin. in which the war is alluded 10.
their manless existence. Nadina is then
left alone in the privacy OF her luxurious
sleeping chamber. On the wings OF the
roll roll, OF firing cannon, Lieutenant Bumerli.
nell into the room through the window.
having just escaped from "A squad of
bloodthirsty soldiers He is soon adored
by Nadina. then Mascha, and lastly by
Nadina's mother herself. Bumerli hides
behind portiercs and escapes. While he
sleeps away his fatigue. he is caressod
by the three fair women, each Of whom,
without the knowledge OF the others
fondly pens n loving note on the back
OF her photograph and slips IT In the
pocket OF Popon's coat. in which Bumerli
is disguised.
One OF the best situations. IL not the
best so far as the humor and comedy
are concerned, in the development OF the
piece. occurs In the second act, when
the fair trio endeavor TO recover from
Popoff's coat which he now wears, the
photographs they had given 10 the choco-
late soldier. but which he had been un-
aware of and had not removed 1t Is
here that the acme OF the fun making Is
reached; not tho rIff-raff material which
most Of the present-day. so-called comic
operas are usually overloaded with but
clean, hilarious comedy and humor which
grow naturally out OF the funny situ-
alton.
All through the three acts there is
captivating humor not only in the lines
and action, but subtiy present in the
music. StCaus reignS supreme through
out. from the eNhilaratlne strains OF The
opening chorus 10 the finale, The aria.
My Hero. is the motif Of the entire
score. the ,rousIng march movement which
Massakroff and his Bulgarian soldiers
sing, the several duets. and finally. and
most pleasing of all. the Letter Song"
in the third act. are all marvcls Of musi
cal strength and beauty The singers of
the Whitney Opera company are all so
uniformly excellent that it would be an
injustice TO mention one and not all. An
ceived. with its rich. compelling score,
demands singers who arc capable actors
as well. II extends its scope. also. 10
an orchestra Of nearly grand opera pro-
those under his direction feel what he
desires OF them.
Edith Singleton. who possesses q beau,
actress g s0''s snss se' Nadns Msn'' Her qeE Voice
is high and clear and she sings
as though her heart and soul were in
Ing lacking In his portrayal of Bumerlt
the chocolate soldier. His voice Is
true and musical. and his articulation is
excellent. lie brings TO his part fine
..ir ,F.1I hat
help TO make his reading most finished
one Hon Bergere appears as Mascha,
and exceedingly attractive: she
endows her part with grace and
cucc Her voice is rich, true, and OF rare
quality. Margaret Crawford is exceed
mother Her voice is true contralto,
warm and voluminous. Edmond Mulcahy
appears as the ioyial Popon. Large OF
stature. with a voice that Is full, rich
arc beyond criticism. The pompous.
highly -conceited AlcNius. is effectively
sung by Harry Davis. who looks aud acts
perfectly the part. Frank III. Beicher
gives a commendable portrayal OF the
vicious looking Captain Massakron.
THE Chocolate Soldier" will play
through "Wednesday night. with matt
nee on the afternoon OF the latter day.
The eighteenth recital Of the Salt Lake
symphony orchestra win be given this
afternoon al the Salt Lake thcater- There
seems 10 be little room for doubt that
the symphony concert this afternoon Will
anything OF like nature ever be-
fore attempted. This is predicting much,
for tho Symphony orchestra has given
many "A recital in Salt Lake that won
tho highest praise, 4 feature Of the
concert this afternoon will be piano
solo by Spencer Clawson, Jr. For this
much has been prophccled
The orchestra win have It's anal re-
hcarsal at 10 o'clock this forenoon. Tie
for the recital follows.
Les Preludes. ..... ,.......r,..-....Ii .Iiszi
Andantc-A ndantc Macstoso.
Allegro ma non troppo.
Allegro tcmpcstuoso,
Tn POGO piu moderate
Allcgrctto pastorale.
Allegro narziolc animate
AndnDtc maeStoso.
symphony No. ! Gupiter) ....., Mozart
Allegro vlVacc,
Andante cantabIle.
Monuctto.
Finale (Allegro malto).
Concerto. op. IL. for piano and or
chcstra, a,.,-.... ..,....s.. .Cnopln
First movement.
Valsc dc Concert op. Al. Clazounow
(a) Barcarolc from Tales Of llof-
man .. '...''.'.' .-''''C Cn'hpaci i
(b) LAngelus .;...,.,.....' Massenet
Suite "Eeyptiennp' .t..., .,..A, l.uiSlnI