Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-10-30
CATHOLIC OPERATE
SOCIETY IN "NTKADO"
New Organization Stars Ambi-
tious Venture Under Fa-
vorable Auspices

The recently organized Catholic operate
Society inaugurated its career last night
most successfully under such favorable
auspices as the presence of his Grace, the
Most Rev. Edmond f. Prendergast ID. D.,
Archbishop of Philadelphia. in prosce-
mum box, the sponsorship and attendance Of
large number of the reverend clergy OF
the archdiocese, the patronage of all the
prominent laity Of the archepscopal prov
lnce and house" that exhausted the
capacity of the Academy Of Music and
the like Of which a few times a season
might have perpetuated the oscar Ham
merstein dynasty in this city.
Yet the success OF the society's initial
performance, for which the ever-delightful
"Mikado" had been selected. was not merely
one of eNternals aggregated Of these favor
ing factors. 1t was a success of deserts, not
one of esteem alone.
The cast offered by the Catholic Choral
Society needs no apologies. however AL
though none of its members was pro-
tessional operate singing actor, n number
had already won reputation as professional
singers. Hence the variedly charming and
charmingly varied music of Sir Arthur Sui
Ivan was true to intonation and techni-
cal'y efficient and the immortal lyrics Of
Sir William Schwenk Gilbert capitally and
intelligent put across the footlights.
The tuneful perdurable ditties were GER
tainly as welcome "a the flowers that
bloom in the spring" as rendered by a cast
that included Piotr Wizla, Harry ZleEler,
George Young Fred \. Riemann, May
Farley, Alice McPoyle, Josephine Carroll
Louise Jacoby and John O'Neill.
The chorus work was admirable in its
precision its adhesion to key, its fresh
young voices.
Members Of the excellent chorus were:
SOPRANOS-Ntarie X. Ahern, Jeanne Barry,
Agnes Black Mary J. Boyle, Helen u. Brown,
G. conno Rco @"9%5n IT. G6ok g. EEnPnns Ea9R cSync @4F
Marie X. Donahue, Mary .Donahue Agnes r..
NJ Grady Cecilia ''G Greene t' Mary f. Greene
ATS nT GrgSe PoTGt9y Hammg nd Rut9
Marie E3yanaFh. Aimee r. kelly. Pauline
ugnr MTy Lq9 &nna f. Ro'22 Ry Ro%c FSc
Margaret Snyder. Mary A. Torpcy Corinne NJ
ALToS..Kathryn, Carmen Anna Casey, Mar
S'rct NJ C9Ssdy; FlorcnCe Godorii FranceS i,ag De
Gllligqn. Madeline {. Graham. Frances Halla-
f" c RGfemaTy aGy&by bH'Asa29 Anaa R'Ts jers
Jones, Helen KacvanaGh. Anna NJ; Kirk, Gene
EEsS$Ssss .St, Msy'FE %%B T. T. EsG E5ssGa6
caR jamgs i + froM n Fran Fad r +
s 5dsaP6 c3e5o joq EiDS Mq5cq% Owen
John Ryan, }. J, stiles, Edward Uphon.
BASSOS-C. A. Atchlson, Charles NJ. Brum-
bach Thomas Curry, Martin Delaney, Renato
p Lauro I.2pqis Frank j. Fl HoimGSn;; f. j.
| Edward +. Schulz, william Sicmon, Eugene NJ
sullivan, Joseph Sweeney. Edward Walsh JOS
eph A. Zavorsk. John O'Donnel Joseph T.
Gallcn, II. A. Mclaughlin and Robert Morrison
The idea of the organization is the pres
entatiOn Of works from the standard and
light opera repertoires. The membership is
comprised Of choir and other singers from
all the churches of the archdiocese. The
Rev. William $. Murphy, of st. Patrick's
parish, has drilled the chorus diligently
and effectively. Father Murphy also
directed the orchestra realizing many Of
the tonal beauties Of the score The song
director was James J. Skelly, long noted
as one of the stars of the Philopatrian the
atricals. and his skill in drilling amateurs
was visible in the ease of stage presence
and unstudied action of his chorus Miss
| Helen Eustace deserves praise for the pleas
| ing dance effects.
If future productions are as generally
meritorCJs as the opening one of "The
Mikado." given for the benefit of St Vim
cents Home, especially in need of funds
this war-tried year, the society will speedily
win large and deserved following.
w, r. NJ.