St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-11-19
MUSEMENTS
Opening of the Boston Ideals En-
o. 0emRnI.. First NiQht Notes.


gagement-- First Night Notes.
The engagement for the week OF the
Boston Ideal Opera company for the
week at the Grand Opera house was
auspiciously ~inaugurated last evening.
The audience was not only large but
was representative of the best society.
The theater parties were numerous,
while the boxes were all occupied.
Full dress toilets were the rule,
and the occasion partook of the nature
of q society event Of note. The Ideals
this season come with more prestige
than ever before enjoyed by this famous
organization, and the adoption of grand
opera is an ambitious venture. Last
evening Donizeti's Lucia DE Lammer-
moor, melOdiOus as to its music, but
doleful as to plot, was given In a style
that left no doubts as to the %capabilly
of the company, both in principals and
chorus and OrchestratiOn as well. 1t
met all demands Of an eXacting opera.
Mime Pauline L'Allemand assumed the
leading role of Lucia, and her work left
only the doubt as TO whether her Won
derful performance as a singer or her
grace as an actress should be praised The
more She was enthusiastically applaud
ed and was called to respond to several
e%neores, while the curtain was twice
raised in her honor. In the mad scene
her ability as an actress was more
clearly demonstrated, but she gave the
greatest satisfaction in her duo with
CheYalier ScOVel, who assumed the
tenor part of Edgar, and with w. ii.
Mertens. who sang the part of Sir Henry
Ashton, the ambitious brother. The
former IN with great fervor, and his
magnificent voice was simply captlvat-
ing. w. III. Mertens, the baritone, was
quite as satisfactory n used his rlch,
powerful voice very effectively. w. ii.
Clark. the bassO, who is a favorlte In
Nj nneapolis, appeared as the chaplain
and made the most OF his opportunities,
singing with his Old-time excellence.
E. A. Turpi. as Sir Arthur BucklaW. and
Miss Emma Critcherson, as Alice, were
quite satisfactory. while the chorus
singing and orcheStration were praise
worthy features.
The opera to be given to night by the
Boston Ideals is Verdi's masterpiece,
'Rigoletto," with Mime. L'Allemand in
the leading role, supported by Won
DOenhotf. BaSsett, Mertens, cambridge,
Clark, and others. The great quartette
in this opera is quite as famous as the
celebrated seXtet in "Lucia di Lammer-
moor" which never fails to awaken
such fine enthusiasm when it is prop
erlv sung. One of Nine. L'Allemand's
greatest triumphs this season has been
the character of Gilda.
The pantomimic extravaganza, "The
Spider and the Fly" attracted a good
sized audience at the Harris theater
last evening. The piece might best be
described as a string of speciality acts. a
n0fnOn-ri of Sinninn dancing and QprA-
batic feats. Tire young ladies of the
company are all pretty and vivacious.
and some of them sing very
sweetly. Miss Bessie Cleveland
sang ''Dear Heart with good
effect, and Miss Hilda Thomas gave
"SaIly in Our Alley" in a n that
elected warm applause. Miss Louise
Allen danced very cleverly, and Mile.
DOrSt, the danseuSe, was also pleasing.
Henry and Thomas, acrObats, and Sam
Ryan. as the Irish policemen, were the
others of the cast deserving special men,
ton. On the whole 1.-THE Spider and
Fly" is as entertaining as any of the
musical farce-comedies that have visited
Minneapolis this season.
A crowded house witnessed the first
presentation in the city of the 'DeviPs
Mine" last night at the BjOu.- The play
cal hltt1 IliliiO0, u Juh1P W.
threats, and the regulation saloon feat
ure of the far West. Besides this
it contains sentiment to please
the emotions. Joe Williams, a pros
pectOr whose appetite for liquor is phe-
nOmenal, strikes a rich lead-Devil's
mine. The claIm-juInpers and cut
Threats try to get possession OF IL some
how, by murder if necessary. In their
many attempts they are tnwarted by his
daughter, Jennie, and Jack Hawley, a
gambler, but whose heart is in the right
place. The old man swears off in the
usually satisfactory way and the play
ends happily. William Stafford. as
Jack Hawley, is really a merltori-
Gus, handsome actor. Miss Mabel
Florence, as Jennie Williams, is very
acceptable, and Fred b. MOultOn, as
Joe Williams, does carefully the diff
cult part of a drunkard. Fred Darcy,
| as Jim Rawlins, the leader of the out
laws, and also as the captain of vigil
lantes, was all that could, be desired.
Mr.. Darcy is also the author of the
play. which, however, is not entirely
new in its conception. The specially
features are fairly good.
The play runs the entire week.
The indications are that Mr.. Fried
lander's benefit will be a rOuSing one,
and take place during next week at the
Grand opera house, on the occasion of
the appearance OF Hermann, the great
magician and wizard of the black art.