Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-11
OPERATIC SOCIETY
GIVES ''BRIAN BORU"
Singers Revive Julian Edwards
Stanislaus STANCE Romantic
Opera of Celtic Theme

The Philadelphia operate Society con-
cluded its eleventh season last evening with
n revival of Brian Born" the romantic
opera by Julian Edwards. composer and
Stanislaus STANCE, librettist. The produc-
ton. the forteth given by the organization
since its founding in the spring of 1906
had the following cast:
Brian Boru. Ireland's Champion Horace r. Hood
oponovan' His Foster Father!
oconnor His Standard Bearer. r.,-,.,N,
1Reiily An irish c6ieftein William iii yg"S J. Mayer
Baby Malone, the Child Of a Giant.
Fairy Queen. the Spirit of Ireland, ,''s,
Pat oHara, Brian's Henchman.
EIfrida. An English Princess
Lord Edward. Commander OF English, Forces:
Fi,-Stephen, An English knight,
Oswald An English Monk. Frank 9sfpn j. Barrett sff
Egbert. An Envoy oy...............Asa H. Hood
Bsnshee 'Htsisinla iiainr coIinY ms
The officers of the society and the man.
agement of the current production, TO whom
the credit of staging the enterprise must
go, included the following
wassil Leps conductor: w H. Fitzgerald
stage, director: Mae L, Dawson, ba mistress.
president Celeste u. Heckscher; vice president
"es Arsd Ta9%
fhsse eSEna Sq %4yS Mss Sns means e. MS MT
Dunn, Mira, Mary Winslow Johnston; accompa.
Msrcea North ANNA H. upp Msrdrobs ds aans MIS-
YSss PrompseT 10 Lillian MsYGr MsIa Amy nc
nr,r nsra and Joseph McCartney. masters OF grop.
Knode, ''''"' '""s's' '''e''or' W. ''' ''a'e
Fashions of making comic opera change
little and fashions of criticlzing them cha ngc
not at all. When Fred c. Whitney produced
the Edwards-S s-Stange romantic opera of
Celtic strain 1t the Broadway Theatre Octo-
ber II. 1896, the erudte critic of the New
York Tribune found It 'old fashioned" Mr.
Whitney last Monday revived the same COM
posers When Johnny Comes Marching
Home doubtless mpelled by the present
patriotic fervor. and the erudite critic of the
New York Evening Post found it ''old fash
ioned.' Yet there must be some vitality in
the Edwards muse to warrant revivals of
his music. Certainly the Brain Boru"
which Is sheer novelty to the present gen.
GRAFTON of theatregoers, is strictly form
ulary in its structure. and just as certainly
the customary Choruses and airs have
melodic appeal and harmonic attractiveness
The Metropolitan was crowded last night
and the friends of the society had their in
terest repaid by enjoying the presentation
OF piece novel to them. and one with
many ltkable features despite the antquated
situations and outmoded humor, the latter
furnished in the original production by John
Slavln. Amelia Summerville and Richard +.
Carroll The singing star of the original
name is not even a memory now.
The fine choral ensemble of the Operatic
Society, numbering $50 voices, and strength
ened in the tenors and basseS gave an
excellent account of itself in all but the
chorus opening the second act, where the
work was unaCcountably ragged. The stage
business and movement in some parts of
the production did not seem TO have the
smoothness that one has grown TO expect
from the Operate Society, but at other
times there was professional touch about
the proceedings. The accompa ninents were
effectively played by members of the Phila-
delphia Orchestra. who were capably di-
rected by Mr. l,eps who secured some
spirited effects
In productions such as those given by
the Operate Society II is invidous to spe-
cialize on The individual work, but mention
must be accorded the naturalness and grace
of Eva Allen Ritter as the Giants Child.
As patriotic interlude, Marie Stone
Langston. attended by Myrtle Dumas n
Red Cross nurse. and by marine and sailor
from the navy yard sang the star
Spangled Banner" and led the audience in
congregational singing of America"
aida" will be the next work. in October,
1917. W. r. NJ