The Washington times., 1912-02-29

Horses. dogs, and other animals have
figured OH the boards for many years,
In fact, there was q time in the early
days Of the nineteenth century when
the equestrian drama was an institu-
tion; yet II is seldom that they are en-
ployed in grand opera, though musical
history records a few instdnces where
horses have been introduced to heighten
the spectacular effect of some particu-
lar scene. Richard Wagner introduced
a horse in his "Riensi," an opera writ
ten from Bulwer's novel of the same
name. and again in the "Valkyrie" he
employed mechanical horses with re-
mark able results. Any who have seen
thai opera will recall thu chase OF the
ValkyTie maidens through the clouds,
led by Brunhilde on horseback.
1t has remained for American pro.
ducers to introduce real, living, trained
sSes M,s et9Ts oyrs in g%WEs SRsrs %
recall soeing IN the stage Of the Belasco
Theater dozen or more horses In q re:
cent production of Puccinrs girl OF
the Golden West" on the game stage
this week the Aborn Opera Company, in
presenting that old but ever beautiful
opera, "rhe Bohemian Girl" is pro-
vlding not only a magnificent company
Chorus, r. It but they have supplied an
equestrian show OF ample proportions,
and a veritable pageant besides.
To adequately review, "The Bohemian
lasco this week, one should see it from
behind the scenes, an experience en-.
joyed by the writer: Standing in the
crowded wings-crowded because there
are 100 people all told in the cast, to say
nothing of the others upon whose eff
forts the success of the play largely
depends, though their faces are never
seen by the audience-it Is easy to
| Imagine ones self transported to the
public square of some picturesque vii
lage in some strange, far-off region
| such as is depicted In act 1 and OF
THE Bohemian Girl"
Equine Performers
Are Well Trained.
Eight beautiful, perfectly groomed
horses paw impatiently while the over.
ture Is being played, and nose inti-
mately in the coats and scarfs of the
gypsies, looking for the loaves of sugar
| which experience has taught them they
will certainly find there. The little five.
year-old Baby Airline toddles in and
out between their legs, in dangerous
| proximity to their leather-shod hoofs
! but never for a moment Is she afraid
for she Is as "chummy" with these
four-footed actors as with every other
| member OF the company. Jennie, the
monkey. who appears In the second
| scene. Is perched on the bare shoulder
! of one of the gypsy maidens, nursing
| the foot that was frozen when the com
pany played in Minneapolis and the
mercury went down to 81 degrees beloN v
zero. On the iron stairs leading to thu
| upper dressing rooms "Chantecler," tn,
! rooster, and "Biddy," the hen, induIg,
in before-the performance snoozc
heads under wings, while Cinderella,
the goose, understudy of that othe
goose who was stolen to make a Christ
mas dinner for somebody up in Canada
waddles about in Independent dignity
| Mike" the pig, who has been trained
by dnt OF much effort on the part o
every member of the company to squea
at Just the right moment. sits in hi
wooden cage, and blinks at the lights
dreaming possibly of those glad day
| when he was only an ordinary sty pill
before his musical aspirations led hin
into grand opera.
In picturesque costumes, Hassan
Ren An's Arabs. who later appear II
the Tzigane whirlwind speciality, tum
BILE about the stage, limberin2 up TO
their performance, while the girls VIII
give the dance of the hours. the clown
the juggler, the astrologist and tn
snake charmer all lounge about in pic
turesque attitudes, adding to the color
full ensemble. The overture is played
and the curtain goes up to disclose tn
castle of Count Arnhelm, in the noun
tains of Austria Hungary.
!. Not a sound is heard from the ami
tmal players of the company, thougl