St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-08-07
IN THE PLAYHOusEs.

The Wilburs opened their last week
but one at the Metropolitan in Glover
, last night to big house. Judging by
the enthusiasm that some of the main
features called forth, the opera is likely
to make just as much of hit here as 1t
did when first produced in New York,
at the Palmer theater, by McCaull's
Opera Company. 1t is, unQuestionably.
the best thing that the Wilburs have
sung during the season, the costumes
were superb, and, as usual, Kohnle made
number of very happy hits. In the
first act, j. B. Comfy, who takes the
part of Count Wilfred's adopted son,
makes love to the counts daughter
Stella, but on the eve of The consum ma
ton of all their hopes and fears she
decides that it will be best for them to
walt one year so as to be perfectly sure
of one another. The interval she ad-
viSeS Rudolph to spend in travelling and
seeing the world. While abroad he
meets marquis and his daughter
Florine, a danSeuse, to whom he imme-
diately transfers his attentions. Stella,
his first love, has followed him, how
ever, and is posing in the little Venetian
town as a soDg girl. He is struck by
the resemblance the SongstreSs bears to
Stella. but does not recognize her.
The second act opens with a
battle scene in which Rudolph
has taken a cOlonePs command.
Stella, accompanied by her foster sister
Fanny, comes to the colonel to enlist,
the latter being in love with Casimir,
RudolphS servant, and as anxious to
be near him in danger as Stella is to be
near her hero. A battle ensues, and
just when kudolph'S command is re-
joicing in a victory. tidingS come of the
death of King Charles, and the act
closes with the singing of requiem by
the whole regiment.
The parts are we'll taken throughout,
and Susie Kirwin makes a charming
Fanny, while Eloise Mortimer takes the
part of Stella in particularly good style.
j. f. Comfy, as Count Wilfred'S adopted
son, is also very good, and on the whole
the opera ought to draw good houses all
week.
Dion Boucicault's five-act comedy
drama, Led Astray," was presented
last night at the Grand by judicious
selection from the members of this
popular stock company. To the actors
more than to the play is due the credit
for whatever success it has achieved
during the past fifteen years. That it
was in capable hands last night goes
without saying, and will be so acknOwl-
edged by all who are acquainted with
the present cast.
The play itself in several parts is
crude, and i'll one or two Instances married
by Inconsistencies which might be, and
indeed should be removed, by judicious
trimming. There is given to the audi
dence, for instance, in the third act, no
explanation of Rudolph Chandoce's
conduct in the garden with Suzanne
OHara. In the fifth act the transposi-
ton from business bordering on farce
comedy to the SolemnIties of happy rec
oneiliation between man and wife IS
too abrupt. Miss Carrie Turner and j.
Ill. Gilmour in the leading roles did full
justice to the, parts and evoked merited
applause from an appreciative audi
ence. Hector Placide, Mount Gosline
and George de Lesparre by Harry
Saint Maur, Charles B. Welles and
Stephen Grattan. respectively, were
satisfactorily played. Their business
in the third act is particularly excellent.
Miss Turner. always pleasing, was es-
pecially at ease i'll the strongly accentu-
ated situations incidental to her lines.
Same bill all week, with usual matt
neeS.