Olympic Theatre

Lists members of the Sallie Holman English Opera Bouffe Troupe.

“The attractiveness of the variety representation at the Olympic Theatre was materially increased, last evening, by the performance of ‘La Grande Duchesse.’ All the well-known airs of Offenbach’s tuneful opera are included in the Olympic version of the work, and yet, thanks to compression of the dialogue, the three acts are rattled through in about one hour and a half. Miss Sallie Holman, who personates the Grand Duchess, sings and acts with plenty of dash, and Signor Brandisi, as Fritz, is quite as acceptable, vocally, as the lady who embodies the capricious sovereign. The other characters are portrayed by [see above], and the chorus, though it is not exceedingly numerous, renders the effective music allotted to it with precision and spirit. ‘La Grande Duchesse’ afforded considerable pleasure last night, and there was much applause during its recital. After the opera…”

“As a sort of bonne bouche to the variety entertainment into which this place of amusement has lately drifted, the management has engaged the Holman English Opera Troupe, and the first appearance of the same took place last evening. Certain scenes, selected with reference to the avoidance of dropping the curtain during the representationof the ‘opera’ were given, and, without reference to the many excellent representations of the work, ‘La Grande Duchesse,’ with which the New York public is so well acquainted, we can say that last night’s introduction to a variety entertainment, was very satisfactory. It was particularly so in the musical selections of the rôle of the ‘Grande Duchesse,’ which were admirably rendered by Miss Sallie Holman. ‘Wanda’ had a good representative in Miss Julia Holman and Fritz, a very hoarse one, in Mr. Brandisi. When one compares the ‘Pit pat poul’ of General Boum with the ‘grand constellation’ (whatever that means) of Signor John Morris and the song, ‘Le Sabre de mon Père,’ with the European gymnast, ‘Ala,’ while ‘The Charleston Gals’ serves, in Mr. McAndrews’ hands, as a foil to ‘Dites Lui,’ then the millennium of popular enjoyment in a theatre is reached. So it was at the Olympic last evening. Offenbach, trapeze, aerial champions, a budget of Dutch songs, the real original banjo champion and the Siamese Twins (patent secured) formed an olla podrida of amusement for the audience that few of the profanum vulgus could cavil at. When English opera is combined with the dulcet strains of the banjo, the blood curdling feats of the gymnast, the ‘nigger’ specialty, the man of mystery, the upper ten and ‘Young America Comique,’ what is left but the expression—‘Eureka!’ The public likes such a combination, and the Olympic was accordingly filled to repletion last night.”

“A new combination of varieties was presented at the Olympic Theatre Monday evening. It included a condensed representation of ‘The Grand Duchess’ by the Holman Opera Troupe, very satisfactory in its way, and the source of much pleasure to the audience…”

“An English version of ‘The Grand Duchess,’ so abbreviated and arranged that it could be performed without dropping the curtain, and so that the representation would terminate by a quarter past nine o’clock, was sung with the following cast [see above].

Miss Sallie Holman, who has the advantages of beauty, youth and a well-rounded figure, appeared to good advantage as the Grand Duchess, singing the music effectively and winning deserved applause for her rendering of the songs of ‘The Sabre’ and ‘Say to Him’ (‘Dites Lui’). Julia Holman made a captivating Wanda, and was tastily costumed. No serious demand was made either upon her vocal or histrionic ability. Signor Joseph Brandisi made an acceptable Fritz, and, barring at times a huskiness of voice, did justice to the music. He introduced ‘The Marseillaise,’ which he sung effectively. Ellis Ryse as General Boum, Geo. H. Barton as Prince Paul, and A. D. Holman as Baron Puck, deserve special mention, and the remainder of the cast, as a whole, was satisfactory.”