St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-01-09
IN THE THEATERS.
Wang" Well Performed TO a
Large Audience. a-

ID. w. Truss and company's spectac-
ular production of wang" was given
at the Metropolitan last night before
one of the largest audiences that the
theater has had this season. The pres
emf owners of the opera being those
who owned it at the time of its original
production, it was naturally to be ex-
pected that they would not this year
send out company in any way inferior
TO the one which made the opera
one of the most successful of any COM
posed and written by Americans. In
this expectation last nights audience
was in no way disappointed. The per-
Torrance was thoroughly enjoyable
from the rise of the curtain on the real
istic harbor at Pechaburi, with the
French men-of-war floating at anchor,
until it fell upon the glittering throne
room of the King of Siam with the
pretty band of amaZonS acclaiming the
coronation of the dashing crown prince.
Opinions may differ as to the relative
merits of the present and the cast pre-
viously seen here, but it may be said be-
You'd question that the company seen
last night is in many respects by far the
best balanced that has appeared in st.
Paul in several seasons. Too frequently
the success of piece is left dependent
upon the abilities of a few WE'LL
known people, minor, but essential,
roles being given TO inferior people.
1t is i'll this respect that the present
Wang" company is particularly note
worthy. The characters subor-
dinate TO that of the title role and to
that of Mataya are in the hands of
actors and singers of genuine ability,
who aid in making the performance as
whole as even and pleasing as it is
unusual.
The opera has been staged and cos
tuned with good taste and an evident
disregard of expense. The harbor and
throne room scenes were massive, beau
tlful and truthfully Siamese. Indeed.
the stage settings in every respect were
far more elaborate than those employed
when the opera was last given here.
wang" is too we'll known to be
treated of by itself. Its wit and merri-
ment and its many catchy airs were
received with all the oId-time enIhu-
siastic applause. Praise may be equally
divided throughout the cast. Edwin
Stevens gave bright. Legitimate and in
many ways original conception of
the title role. He plays the part
with a commendable absence of
buffoonery but with thorough appreci-
alton of its subtle humor. Though evi
IDENTIFY suffering with a severe cold, a
Vocalism surprisingly good for COM
edian was shown. Miss Virginia Earl,
III personal appearance, is the image of
her predecessor in the role of the Crown
Prince, and has the advantage of being
better singer. She is-petite, pretty and
bOyishly viYacious. Miss Ethel Lynton,
as the Widow Frimousse, sang we'll
and added much to the comedy
scenes. Miss Florence Drake, the Marie.
displayed voice which, while far from
strong, has certainly been been Guilt
waited more carefully than is usual with
comic opera singers. Miss Mittie
Anterior, sweet and refned-faced
woman. enacted the role of Gillette with
charming naturalneSs and abandon.
Miss DOttie Neville for few brief mo-
mentS appeared as a tough" meSSen-
ger boy in way that caught the house.
Messrs. Joseph Greensgilder and Frank
Casey, as the colonel and the keeper of
the elephant, shared in the COM
edy honors with MIR. Stevens himself.
John A. Park, the inevitable lover of
comic opera, acted with studious care,
and sang better than he acted. The
chorus is strong, numerically and vo-
cally, and The gentter portion of it is
decidedly pretty and shapely. The new
wang" is success.
The opera Will be repeated tonight
and tomorrow night, with a special
matinee tomorrow.