OCR Text |
Show THOMPSON COMPANY'S "MIKADO." A Fair and Spirited Representation by Professionals Which makes' j the Amateurs nappy j The opera of "The llikado" needs no j introduction to a Salt Lake audience, this interesting and most amusing of comic operas having been presented several times by the Careless amateur company, rendering the plot, music, and -its most notable solos almost familiar to all. It was, therefore', an interested and somewhat some-what critical audience that filled the Salt Lake Theatre last night to witness the first professional representation here by the Thompson Opera. Company, which has come heralded as one of the' best and j strongest companies on the road,' making j "The Mikado" their specialty.., j The elegant stage settings, the-rich j Japanese costumes, and the snrjerb or-1 chestration which had been advertised, were not present; and in no respect did the stage settings or the costumes compare com-pare with those of the local company.. A noticeable feature of comparison was in the chorus, and here again the Salt Lake amateurs seemed to have the preference, except where the ensembles were given, when the vigor and precision of the professionals pro-fessionals had a fine effect . .- , . ! It was difficult to see, except in one or ! two points, wherein the professional in- I terpretation by the Thompson Company is better than the one we have "already seen; it differed, but the difference hardly amounted to an improvement. The performance, however, all in all, was an able one, all the members exerting themselves to please, and the audience demanding and .re-demanding a repetition repeti-tion of the opera's gems, which were given with fervor and artistic spirit. The Ko Ko of A. W. F. McCollin was a fine piece of comedy, being particularly delightful de-lightful in his love-making scene to Katisba, which was enthusias tically enjo3ed and applauded by the audience, and secured several encores. Mr. Phil. Branson has a fine voice for the part of Nanki-Poo, and his scenes with Yum-Yum were invested with so much sympathy and clever acting that he was immediately made a favorite by the audience. His ringing tones were heard to good advantage in the concerted pieces, and his voice is unquestionably the best one in the company. Katisha was excellently done by Miss Carrie Godfrey, her voice being superior to that of Yum Yum or either of the wards, while Miss Hall is a much better dancer than a singer, and comparison is lost ' when instituted between her voice and . that of Miss Nettie Thatcher. She acts the part well, however, and leaves eyeryone I well pleased with her. Pooh-Bah was well rendered, as was the Mikado; and, taken all in all, the Thompson company gave a very satisfactory and pleasant presentation pre-sentation of the opera," one which is thoroughly thor-oughly enjoyable, unless one is disposed to be too critical, and those who have not yet seen ' the performance will certainly find good entertainment by being present at the Theatre to-night |