St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-06-09
WELCOMED THE WILBURs.

An ovation was given the Wilbur Opera
company when the organization made its
initial appearance for the summer season at
the Metropolitan last evening. Every seat in
the house was taken, the side aisles were
filled and the foyer was crowded Manager
Scott stated that there had been fully five
hundred people turned away during the
evening, as the seats had all been sold before
the noon hour.
The initial appearance Of the company was
in the Two Vagabonds'' a new title, but the
music and parts were really from "Erminie,
with few innovations in the way of pleas
ant surprises. 1t was elegantly staged and
costumed, and one of the prettiest and most
shapelY choruses ever seen in ST. Paul
graced the stage in liberal display.
The company is practically the same as has
appeared in tue city during the other sea-
sons-two and three years ago. The company
was headed by the perennial and ever
piquant Susie Kirwin aud ". II. Kohnle, the
man with such an expressive face that 1t IS
said of him that he never goes into reatau-
rant but the waiter Immediately presents
piece of pie. The handsome Comfy. Miss
Belle Hamilton, Mamie Allen, Lille Taylor,
Lille Maynard, Emmett Drew, Frank Griffith,
E. A. Clark. Gus Vaughan and host of
other old favorites are with the company.
The only new faces seen i'll the cast are
+ those of Miss Mortimer James Donnelly and
Clarence Harvey. From the applause which
was meted out to generous extent, 1t was
evident that the faces had not been forgot
ten. AS each one made his or her appear
ance before the footlights the applause was
commenced, and continued throughout the
play.
There are so many members of the COM
pany and their work is SO we'll known 10 the
people of st. Paul, that it would be uselss to
speak of their merits. Miss Kirwin did her
work in her own inimitable style as Fanchon.
w. H. KOhnle was assisted in the comedy by
Harvey, who did some very clever work as
the landlord. Mr.. Comfy has but but little
TO do, but he sang enough to prove that his
silvery tenor voice had not been impaired by
absence from st. Paul. Belle Hamilton ap-
peared in a rather daring costume of red as
the captain of the guards, and carried her
part we'll. K. A. Clark did admirable work
as Robert Macaire, and he made one of the
best appearances on the stage Of any mem
Der of the company.
There was rather surfeit of horse-play,
but this pleased the gallery immensely, while
some of the gag lines were very clever. In
the third act Miss Kirwin and Messrs. Kohnle
and Harvey sang the "Prodigal Son. in such
a pleasing manner that three encores were
demanded after all of the verses had been
sang. Some local subjects were called into
play in the latter verses.
Mr.. Wilbur will have a difficult time in
protecting his chorus members from would
be abductors, as never before were seen in st.
Paul so many shapely and pretty girls
"chappies' on deck last evening.
The piece will continue until Sunday and
on that evening the opera Of "Boccaccio' will
be put on. There will be regular Wednes-
day and Saturday matinees. The people of
ST. Paul appreciate summer opera, and Mr.
Wilbur and Manager Scott have no reason
for complaint as to the manifestations last
evening. The season will last ten weeks.
il
Young Mrs. Winthrop" the brilliant So
ciety success from the pen of Bronson How
ard viii be given at the Grand next week by
Lifts admirable players, beginning Sunday
night. This charming combination of pure
dramatic workmanship in its skillful blend
ing of laughter and tears tells powerful
story of domestic life, and i'll the hands of
Manager Lifts excellent company is certain
to create a lasting impression. Young Mrs
Winthrop" is play particularly suited to
this company, and it is safe to predict for it
a rendition of finished artistic quality which
will bring forth the individual members of
the cast in a strong light. The best material
of the stock company will make up the dra-
mats person 9 of the play. and decidedly
meritorious representation may be confident
ly expected. Already the sale of seats has
haen large TINS indicating n measure of
financial success equal to the degree of arts