St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-09-26
A SEASON OF GERMAN.
1t Is Successfully Inaugurated at
the Metropolitan With
"Mein Leopold"
Familiar Faces and New Talent
Are Present and Pleas
antly Entertain.

Last night was German gala nigh
at the Metropolitan opera house, tn,
occasion being the opening of tn.
German theatrical season, which is Il
cover period of twenty-five Sunda,
nights, and, taking this opening as
criterion, the engagement will prove
grand success. The company il
under the management of Theodore
Bollmann, and is equal to any that ha
ever been witnessed in ST. Paul. Their,
are some familiar faces who were here
with die Milwauke'er" last season
and as each one appeared they were
greeted with hearty round of ap
plause. The evening was opened
with prologue rendered by Theodore
Bollmann,sand written by that popular
and gifted young journalist. Louis
Stern. The subject was the German
Influence on the advancement of civil
cation and the refining aid OF theil
music and literature. 1t was written as
poem. and many of the couplets were
adaptable TO the Twin Cities. 1t was re-
eeiyed with considerable enthusiasm,
both as to its merit and rendition.
The play of the evening was melo-
drama with song, entitled "Mein Leo
pnld," and in Its selection for the open
ing night showed good Judgment OIL the
part of the management. The story of
the play shows the blind and de-
luded love of an indulgent father
for an unworthy son, and the
moral to be pointed out is the old Ger
man saying, 'SchuSter bleib bel deim
lest" or, III other words, it is always
wise for the shoemaker to stick to his
last" The scene is laid in one
of the large cities of Germany
and the time the present. Gott-
leib Weigelt, who has become a
wealthy property owner through his in
dustry in the shoe business. has son OH
passion, he having denied himself every
pleasure Of life that the young man may
have every desire of his heart.
He allows nothing to stand in
the way of his wishes and
finally beggars himself to accommodate
the boy, neglecting his daughter and
losing every friend be had. The son
commits forgery and leaves for
America, and the old man goes back to
the shOemaker'S bench to try and earn
by hard work the amount of the
sons forgery. In the course of the
play his foreman while prosperity is
still with the old man asks him for the
hand of his daughter. which is refused,
with curse, and she leaves her father,
who is willing to give up everything for
the idol of his soul his son-to marry
the workman. In his poverty. and while
trying to pay the amount of his sons
forgery. he is discovered by a mutual
friend, and through an appeal to his
heart to come and see his grandchildren
he is brought to the home of him who
had taken hia daughter away. The
son-in-law had taken an oath when
he married the daughter that he
would never allow the father to
enter his home unless he would apol-
OglZe on Bonded knee, and there is a
very pretty piece of acting as we'll as
strategy when they ask the now wealthy
son-in-laW. who is having his measure
taken for new pair of boots to allow
the old man to take it, thus bringing
the old man to his knees and making a
happy reconciliation.
There are several excellent love
scenes in the play. and it is quite re-
marbable how much more NATURALLY they
are handled than those in the English
line. The first enc between Gertrude
ben, as the pianist. is well played
climax shows that the young man
simply wanted to borrow money, and
not ask for her hand in marriage. The
other is in the second act, when Theo-
dore Bollman, as the workman, asks
Elsa Romer, as the daughter OF his en-
ployer, to marry him. The scene was
picture of true German love, and was
immensely enjoyed. especially by the
German maidens i'll the audience.
The company is well organized from
a musical standpoint, and many we'll
rendered selections were interspersed
through the play. Christian Schober. as
the honest old shoemaker. sang "Mene
Einsige Passion Ist Mein Leopold,
Mein Sohn'' in the first act, and
Immediately had the audience with
appearance in the city. But not till
the last act was reached did he show
his full capabilities. when he sang
touching song entitled "Welke Blet-
term (Withered Leaves. 1t is doubt
full if there is prettier song
sung on the German stage, and it
could not be better placed than in the
hands of Christian Schober. His excel
lent work as 4 comedian sh0ne all the
brighter in contrast with this piece OF
prthos. The singing last evening was
not, however. confined to the male
members of the company, and as
character and mimic singer
Martha Neumann added laurels to her
reputation as brilliant soubrette. Her
rendition of the different adaptations
that could be pieced Oh the same song
if it were sung i'll accordance with the
musical Interpretation of all the
great composers was laughable in
the extreme, and called forth roars
of applause. 1t is slightly after the
American fashion, but very pleasing
innovation in the German. Gertrude
Berry sang very pretty song, but her
voice being somewhat weak it was
partially lost on the audience.
Herman Schneider, one of last years
favorites, acted a minor part well, and
his many friends seemed to welcome
him back with great deal of enthusi-
asm, and he may rest assured that they
will all be there when he appears
in more extended role Carl
Back is another one of the
old favorites, and the pleasant greetings
which he received while standing in the