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“CHIMES OF NORMANDY” LAST NIGHT.THEv POPULAR OPERA IN THE HANDS' OF CAPABLE LOCAL TALENT.■ A crowded house greeted the members of the Nelson Operatic Society at the opera house, last evening on the occasion of their first production of the “Chimes of Normandy. That the production was a success is putting it mildly. To begin with the piece was very well staged, the orchestra was well up .to the standard, and from the start the piece went oR' with a swing which was a-credit to the members of the society .as well to Herr Steiner, who had the direction of the opera in hand. .The characters in the caste wore remarkably well sustained. Of the ladles in it the bulk of the work naturally foil to Mrs. Melville Parry, us Germaine, and Mrs. Sv. A. Macdonald, as Serpolette, and in their acting as well as in their singing both ladies won unstinted applause.-. Of the gentlemen it would be hard to make comparisons. Each appeared to be especially fitted for the part assigned to him: E. Griddle made a capital “Baillie, and made the most of his part. In fact there were several' local touches given to his-lines which freshened them up and added totheir appreciation. R. Thomson made his first appearance in opera. He had thevery important role of Henri, the marquis of Cornevillc, and made a very favorable impression. Mr. Thomson is possessed of ah excellent baritone voice, and when he acquires a little more ease on the stage wilt he hard to boat. C. B. Winter added to his laurels as an actor. He had the part of Gnspard, the miser, and gave a very careful portrayal of that rather difficult character. Singing is not Mr. Winter's forte, but-in the sudden death business he can give the divine Sarah Bernhardt pointers. R. W. Bay had the part of Jean Orenlcheux. His singing, was good -and lie succeeded in getting more fun out of the the dialogue than the author of the piece dreamed of. This occurred in his dialogue with the .miser, when -Mr, Day’s brogue came out. strong and added greatly to ;tne enjoyment' of the audience, who. had great difficulty in reconciling the voice to the. character .set down in the part. This cannot be rcgaided as a fault,.and it.is not unlikely'that-the mirthful possibilities the combination' wore duly estimated when the cast was' made up.Ably as tlfo characters in the piece were sustained it is safe to say that the choruses were the most enjoyed portion of (lie evening's entertainment. They were well balanced and were carried through without the semblance of. a drag. In the course of the evening a couple of very enjoyable specialties were Introduced. This was a quakeress quartett, in which Mes-damos Davys, Armstrong, Goepel, and Heatheote appeared, and the second was a pleasant dance by Mesdames Appletbwaite and Otis, and Misses L. Reilly, Oatway, B. Kelley arid Pearson. . -The full caste of characters was:Serpol-ette, (the good for nothing), Mrs. W. A. Macdonald: Germaine, (the lost marchioness),'Mrs. Melville Parry: Gertrude, Mrs. —E.-dVf cT-cod;;-.S u y.n n ne,=Mrs.--R.GH.=fWililams; Xferirl (the marquis of Corneville, R. Thompson; Jean Grenicheaux (a fisherman) Jt W. Day; Gaspcrd, (a miser), C. B. Winter: The Baillie, E. Criddle; registrar, C.; 'Prosser: assessor, I. -G. Nelson; notary, Onslow Ncwling.Chorus of villagers, attendant^.-etc.The chorus was composed of Mesdames Davys, Armstrong, Applewhaite, E. Mc-T.eod. Johnstone, L. S. Otis, Hannington. Heatheote, W. Thurman, Goopel, R. Williams, and Misses B. Reilley, Oatway, Pearson, arid I. Reilley, and Messrs. TCydd, Chaclbourrie, Newling; Hawthorne, Sherwood, Keilaway, Burt, Prosser, .Nelson, Hawthorne., Brown, Smith Clark. Wright, and Melville Parry.The orchestra was composed of the following: Eirst violins, Messrs. Hedley and Harris; second violins, Mrs. T. Morley Mr. He. P-lanc and Mr. Curran, Jr.: viola, T. Morley; flute, A. Tregillus; cello, Miss B. Hedley; elarlnette, D. Wambold; cornet, J. 3. Pollard, drums, T. Mills; bass viol, J. MU ward; organ, Mr, Weir; piano, Miss Mc-Connott. 1The performance will be repeated this evening and Eriday evening.
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Nelson Tribune

Nelson, British Columbia, CA

Thu, Dec 12, 1901

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CA 02 Oct 2023

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