Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-14
OPERA At HOME
GIVES RARE TREAT
Verdi's aida" Moves and Charms
Last Nights Audience at
The Playhouse.

Ever tuneful and colorful the opera or
"Aida," as presented last evening at The
PLAYHOUSE by Director Creatore and hls
company, gave pleasure to the audience
assembled to enjoy 1t anew or make It's
acquaintance.
The hapless romance of the slave girl
and the victorious soldier, whose pris-
oner, reft from his jungle home to grace
the conoucror's triumph, turns out to be
her father; his spurning Of the hand Of
the kings daughter and res ultant doom TO
"a dungeon death, shared by the lovers
twain, the Juliet and Romeo of Nile
land. has perennial charm.
Conceived as a spectacle set to music,
with the love story standing out against
this background it loses some of this
charm when compressed to fit a less
ample stage, but If the glamor is gone.
the glory of the music is indelihle, and
aida" as an intimate opera opens up
new aspects; one seems in closer touch
with the principals through the eclipse
of the chorus
Too much cannot be said in apprccia-
ton of the earnest and conscientious work
of Director Creatore as evidenced by
the results of his training and the pains
taking care in conducting.
The effect of the opening scene was
influenced by the oyer-strenuosIty OF
the Rhadames, Serge Zanco, i'll the
Celeste Aida" numbes, and the restraint
on her vocal powers imposed at the outset
by Jeanne Gordon Signor Ianco mel
lowed somewhat IN the later scenes,
where his ''robusto' quality also htted
better into the music and the picture,
while Miss Gordon yielded to the emo
tional fcrvor OF the part Of the Princess
,,h hN oh
histrionic grace and dignity while Civ
ing Il charm and vitality TO the vocal
score that horc a most favorable COM
parison 10 some OF the more widely known
interpreters Of the role
Louise Darcles, as Aida, gave thor
oughly adequate reading of the music,
particularly IN the case OF the 20 Patrla
Mia number. in which her achievement
was inquest ionable
Greek Evans. as the captive chief,
was very satisfactory from all, points,
acting with fire and fervor and doing
full Justice to the vocal part The high
priest of Alfred Nalenti was resonant and
dignihed, as beftted the character, and
the Ming Of Nirgilio dc Watt was ade-
quate. The costuming and mounting
were very satisfactory. on the whole, the
tone and tune of tho chorus being cspc-
ciallv excellent. while the symptoms Of
ballet shown were highly promising. In
short, Director Creatore has all the vital
elements IN hand of highly credit3ble
and capable organization
Martha will be gwen this afternoon
and Cavaliers" and "Pagiacci" tonight
"Cavaleria Rusticana' and "Pagliacci'
arc the last operas -, Creatore Opera
Company will sing IN Wilmington IT
The Playhouse in their present engage
ment Miss Kathryn Lee of the Paris
Grand Opera Company will sing San
tugga for the benefit of the local opera
lovers
Miss Ethel Harrington will sing Media
in ''PaShcci She will be supported by
Serge Zanco and Greek Evans, the former
tenor of noteand the latter brilliant
young American baritone.
OTIS SKINNER MONDAY NIGHT.
Monday night Wilmington folks will
have the unique pleasure of seeing and
hearing Otis Skinner in The Honor
of the Family" Mr.. Skinner scored the
greatest success Of his long mcritorious
career as Colonel Philippe Bridau.
Napoleonic officer who is the spirit Of
Chanteclcr pcrsonifcd, and this com
edy has been one Of the brightest pages
IN his history, The play is a come d y by
Paul NJ. Potter adapted from a Balzac
story I'm Manage de Garcon.
"EvERYwoMAN.'
"Everwon1an, a brilliant. scintillating
spectacle Of grandeur. is coming TO The
PLAYHOUSE four nights beginning Christ
mas with matinees Christmas and Satur-
day. Fresh from long engagements In
the large cities, this magnificent musical
spectacle, with all its vast scenic effects
and army OF people, viii be disclosed by
Henry " Savage Everywhere this
wonderplay has been presented il has
created sensation Generations Of
theatre-goers have witnessed no more
moving panoramic pageant than Every
woman. conceived as it was by An in
spired brain and executed by master
craftsman without regard to monetary
outlay. II represents all that is great, all
that is lofty, IN spectacle, opera and
drama 1t Is really several great pro-
ductions merged into one.