Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-23
GALLO OPERA COMP ANY
IN GOOD PERFORMANCE
WeII-BaIanced Company Gives a
Good Interpretation Of Gilbert
and SulIivan's "Mikado"
JAPANESE SINGER THE STAR

Tho Gallo Comic Opera Company
opened n weeks stand in Philadelphia
last evening with n performance OF Gll-
bert and Sullivan's comic opera The
Mikado" at the Chestnut street Opera
House. There was fair sized audi
encc. but it was not so large as the
merits Of the performance. and the
beauty Of the music deserved.
The opera. of course. is one of tho
gems Of comic opera production. both In
the beauty of the music and in the keen
humor Of the words. which satire Ger
tain human weaknesses Indigenous alike
to Japan. England and the United
States. besi ides telling a really funny.
though obvious. story. Above all. It
was n relief to hear a comic opera which
might be rightfully classed both as
opera and as comic instead of most OF
the stuff which has, been brought before
the public under this name in the last
few years. where the music consists OF
one tune. preferably n waltz. and the
words are collection of thinly dis
guisrd vulgarity.
That the audience appreciated this
change was apparent from the warm
welcome which the opera received. Sir
NTIlUT NUlIlNdIl nus IDltftu Vul u NtuiNl
of melody in THE MikaAo.' with ac-
companying fine harmony and an in
strumentntion which is unheard of il
one of the so-called modern "comi'
operas. Nearly every one of the prin
cipal songs. real lyrics, was encored. a'
we'll ms number of the ensembles, anc
the whole opera was received with sin
CPrc enthusiasm.
The performance. was good through
out. The company is well balanced ant
the principals took their several parts
effectively and with that touch Of humOi
or singing ability, ct cetera, that thu
part most demanded. The star was thu
little Japanese singer Hama Shimozumi
whose acting was not only characteristic
and effective, but whose stage appear
! ance was charming and her singing de
| lightfuI. Her voice is not very power
full. but it is of excccdinly fine textur
and very sweet, especially in the uppe
register. She was at her best in th
song, THE Moon and |. in the seconC
| net. her singing at the close of thi
song being especially beautiful. WarrcI
! Proctor as Nanki-Poo was also good
| his voice being clear tenor of pleasing
quality. He was well received and wa
pncored a number Of times.
! The great comedy parts Of Ko-Ko ant
| Poo Bah were adequately taken b.
jefferson de Angels and Louis Casa
want. respectively. The parts run aloni
the same general lines. the vocal re
Uuirements being entirely subsidiary t
| the humorous acting. Both principal
carried out the dramatic idea we'll. will
! real humor and without any touch o
coarseness, also a welcome innovation il
thcsb days of musical comedy. Greti
! Rislpv was good as Katisha, the hard
est part in the cast to do efectivel!
and without overacting. She both SAM
and acted we'll.
Carl Stall. who took the place o
William Danforth. made an exccllen
Mikado. appearing to good advantage II
his first song. My Object All Sub
lime" At the close he got into troubi
through one side of his impressive Jap
anese mustaChe obviously threatening T.
come off. The audience vociferously de
mandpd an encore. both through tn
merit Of his song and to see what h
was going to do about that mustachp
Mr.. Danforth. after vainly trying t
get the rccalcitrant side to stick. di
the best thing possible. and took off tn
whole mustache. to the great delight q
the audience. Richard Dorr, as Pish
Tush. and Rosamonde Whiteside an
Ethel Mae Bagnall. as Pitti- Sing an
Peep Boo. respectively. did their part
well. both vocally and dramatically.
The orchestra. under the direction c
Mr.. BcndiX. was excellent. though n
times it was too strong for the singers
The scenery, too, was beautiful, espe
cially Mt the opening Of the second ar'
when the audience held up the perform
ancc for moment or two with deserve
applause.