The record-union., 1891-07-25
music AND THE DRAMA.
The Charming Legend of "The
Twelve Temptations"
George c. staley In 'sA Royal Pass''-
Dramatic Censorship-Perfectio in
Dancing-Sl1irts-st. Paul as Thea
ter-Goer-Stage Notes.

ment has never been eXcelled here. Ref
erence is made to the second edition. of
William J. Gilmore's magnificent specta-
Gle, 1.-THE Twelve Temptations" which
will be introduced here with everything
new in the way of scenery, ballets, prem
iers, specialties, costumes, and music. 1t
is one of, if not the largest, theatrical or
ganization that travels, which has a nu-
merical strength of sixty-seven people.
1.-The Twelve Temptations presents
mythical story of the elements, an idyl
of ice and sun. 1t is not more improba-
BILE than the average ''yarn" that is
woven into the ordinary drama. 1t re-
quires some little elasticity of the imag-
lnation, of course, to people the solar and
polar regions with creatures and objects
so familiar, and to make Prime Minis
ter of Boreas and a goblin of Jack Frost.
The overcritical may be disinclined to
yield to the Establishments of gnomes,
spirits and queens of sun and snow, and
some may be found who are so matter-of-
tact as to deny these strange creatures the
delight of merry making, the perils of
love, the pangs Of jealousy, the bliss of
fellowship, and all the sympathy, sorrow,
happiness and all the kindred feelings
possessed by mortalS. The same persons
declare William Tell to be myth; that
Shakespeare was not the author of his
own plays, and that Pocahontas existed
only in the fancy of Captain John Smith
Surely something ought to be left to us
in the way of enchantment so why not
spare the fairies, the elves and the spriteS?
1t is of this material Mr.. Yale has fash
Toned a legend alternately warm and
cold, changeable as the seasons, and one
that fits from the council chamber of
no on N
cavernS OF the Green Dragon, over golden
galleys and jeweied terrace to the home
of the dazzling Queen OF the Sun. The
plot is thus epitomized: Zero, the Queen
of the Polar Region, has fallen in love
with a mortal known as Hubert a valiant
Count of Wurldburg, a supposed princi-
pallty OF Norway. With the aid of Bo-
reaS, her Prime Minister Zero concocts d
scheme to place Hubert in her power.
Boreas, in the disguise of a monk, visits
Hubert and infiamcs his mind with mar
VelOuS stories of the gold silver and
jewels that lie buried in the Arctics. HUI
bert hesitates, remembering that eleven
of his ancestors had perished III the at
tempt TO possess these treasures, but Bo-
reas quiets the young hero's fears by
stating that the twelfth of his race was
destined to win the great prize. 1t is
from this incident the novel narrative de-
riyes its name, ''The Twelve Tempta-
tions." Hubert finally consents to make
the expedition, and, with his followers,
agrees to set sail the next morning, the
disguised BOreas to accompany them as
guide. In the meantime Zero, to make
certain OF the young hero's undivided
love, dispatches one of her attendant
gobIlns, Jack Frost, to abduct Hubert'S
betrothed, Felicia, whom she intends to
offer up as a sacrifice to the Green
Dragon, as a tribute for total possession
of the Arctic Kingdom. Hubert is
I,,-S Nx1,
the proposed abduction, but arrives too
late TO prevent it. He therefore embarks
Immediately for the Arctic region in pur-
suit of his betrothed. On the voyage
he is attacked by Malay pirates, led by
JeJeeh, who impersonates ship-wrecked
mariner, Jejeeh and the other pirates,
after being cared for by Hubert, en-
deavor to massacre all on board. In this
they are thwarted by SnorO AprOpos,
one Of Hubert'S henchmen. The Malays
are captured and are about to be eX-
ecuted when Boreas throws off his dis
guise and claims the entire party as pris-
oners of Zero. Through magic art, sum
moned by BOreas, the ship becomes a
wreck and is driven into the heart Of the
frigid zone, where all perish except
Hubert and SnOrO, who are eventually
rescued from death by Zero. Hubert,
discovering the power of Zero, apparently
accepts her protfered love, and is pro-
claimed King before her court. Bright
Eyes, snow nymph, who mas become
enamOred of SnOrO, informs him Of the
whereabouts Of Felicia. Snoro tells
Hubert, and they resolve to resue her
Their plan is overheard by Zero, where
upon she repudiateS Hubert and attempts
TO remove him as a captive, but is unex-
pectedly thwarted by Solaris, the Queen
of the Sun, and Hubert's good angel.
Hubert subsequently finds the hidden
treasure and returns to Norway with
frIT
snony Is about to be performed when
Zero and her attendants appear and en-
deayor to carry off Hubert and Felicia,
the plot being again prevented by Solaris,
who banishes Zero to her icy dominions,
never 10 return.
A ROYAL PASS"
Although Mr.. George c. Staley in ga
Royal Pass" has never visited us previous
to this season, he has established a repu-
tation in other cities that entities him to
a respectable consideration. He is de-
scribed as a handsome man of great
dramatic ability, especially in comedy,
which is his forte. lie is sweet singer,
and introduces some very beautiful songs
and lullabys during the course of the
play "a Royal Pass is highly interest
ing and amusing, is richly and pictur-
esqucly cOstumed, and interpreted by a
strong company. Sacramento will have
n chance to see it on Monday evening
next.
DRAMATIC CENSORSHIP.
The committee Of the French Chamber,
appointed 10 examine the whole ques-
ton of dramatic censorship, has recon-
mended bill abolishing the scrutiny Of
plays for a period of three years, as an
experiment. 1t leaves TO the Govern
ment, however, the right of prohibiting
plays which might be offensive to foreign
Powers or their diplomatic representa-
ic ~ ON
ION, Of course, as to the effect of such
liberty upon the stage, some writers fear
ang that unscrupulous managers Will seek
10 attract the vulgar crowd by indecency,
while others maintain that the general
puDllc, so far as indelicacy Is concerned,
IS likely TO prove more conservative than
the censorship itself. This latter view is
probably the correct one. At all events
IT would be difficult for any French thea
ter to go beyond the limits allowed by
the censorship without transgressing the
ordinary police regulations.
PERFECTION IN DANCING SKIRTS.
The dresses of the chorus girls in the
new operetta, THE Nautch Girl" at the
London Savoy, are said to be as striking
as they are correct. The skirts are of In
dian gauZe, so fine that there is required
an eighth of mile for each. Instead of
sticking out in the usual fashion of the
ballet dancer, II clings close to the figure
and has q billowy effect when the dancer
moves. No skirts are required beneath
as it is equivalent to any number of ordi-
nary lace skirts, and the effect sought
after in the skirt dance with accordia-
4lait skirt is obtained in much more
beautiful manner.
ST. PAUL A THEATER-GoER.
Bishop Coxe's criticisms of bicycling
Tx, women reminds the Washington Post
III the time when ex-Chief Justice Drake,