St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-04-23

and unique situations The flibretto
is at times clever. though not brilliant
Indeed, for that matter, the brilliant
librettos are confined to the Gilbertiafi
operas. The theme, however, is a new
onein comic opera, and the author has
handled it SO as to bring about some
amusing situations. Like the Gilbert
ian operas, Prince Ananias'' is
leveled at a fad or notion, in that it is
a satire upon the desire of novices to
go upon the stage. It is also traves,-
ty upon the yicissitudes of strolling
players. With Henry Clay Barnabee
in the role of the manager of the
troupe, and Jessie Bartlett Davis i'm
personating the leading lady. 7one who
has never witnessed the opera can
imagine the possibilities Of entertain
ment afforded. The opera is in two
acts only, another popularity of the
Gilbert and Sullivan productions. The
sweetest music is in the last act,
though the duet between Italia (Mrs.
Davis and Prince AnaniaS {Mr. Mac
Donaid) in the first act, is gem. The
opera abounds in characteristic en-
sembles for the male principals. all of
them tunefuf and amusing. This is
especially true of the quintette in the
last act.
The plot is funny in itself La Fon-
tame, the actor-manager of the stroll
ling players. is conducted by Prince
Ananias, who is really a vagabond
poet and adventurer, to the court of
Boniface, King of Navarro. This king
is SO stepped in melancholy that he
never smiles. and it is the hope of
prince" Ananias and his boon COM
panion, one George LIE Grabbe, an
outlaw, that the king may be induced
to smile at the performance of La
Fontaine and his actors. King Boni-
face is unprecedented by Mr.. Frothing-
ham, whose makeup is ludicrously
conical. He does not appear until the
latter half of the second act but he
amply atoneS for his absence by con-
tributing san irresistibly funny per-
formance. A song by Prince Ananias
and the antics of La Fontaine (Mr
Barnabee) overcome the kings
lacrymose nature, and upset his
gravity, whereupon he keeps his royal
word and makes La Fontaine his
prime minister. He also pardons the
outlaw LIE Grabbe (ATr. Cowles), and
even forgives his former prime min
lister, Killoy, who was the cause of
the monarch's melancholia.
1HSIe dT6 DuI IWO 1SIIlale
who figure prominently in the opera.
They are Italia, the leading lady, and
Ninette, village belle, both of whom
have fallen in love with the vagabond
poet Jessie Bartlett Davis played the
role of Italia with charming grace,
animation and keen appreciation of
its humor. That she sang the num-
bers allotted to 1t beautifully and ex-
mr. ic handy fn
add. Her resonant contraIto never
| sounded richer than it did last night.
1t seems to gain in power and volume
without losing an iota of its delicious
musical quality. 1t is a rare organ,
| and, belonging as it does, to a woman
of equally rare personal charms, the
union is productive of unalloyed de-
light.
In the role of Ninette, the village
belle, Miss D. Eloise Morgan, a new
member of the company, made her
b appearance. Miss Morgan is petite
l. girl with a sweet, childlike face and
pure soprano voice, clear and ring
ing, in the upper register but lacking
/ volume in the lower tones. Miss Nor
!! gan sang with much taste and ex-
preston and without the slightest
lperceptible effort. Her phrasiHg was
|bcommendable and her execution in
edicated considerable training. She act
ed well. and moved about9the stage in
an unobtrusive yet graceful manner
quite pleasing to behold.
q Comment upon the performances of
1Messrs. Barnabee, Macdonald and
aCowles is hardly necessary Mr. Bar
snabee was very funny as usual No
comedian sings comic and pathetic
songs with SO much JUNCTION and rdis-
;tinctness as Mr.. Barnabee, and few
can extract as much wit and humor
from their lines. Mr.. Mcdonald
had most congenial role in Prince
Ananias. He sang admirably, and
bore himself with that customary
ease and grace that so become a gal
liant. Mr.. Cowles' magnificent basso
was heard to good ADVANTAGE in the
stirring solos, and the singer appeared
to excellent advantage in the role of
the outlaw. The remainder of the
company was entirely adequate and
the chorus, as is always the case with
the Bostonians, sang splendidly.
The opera is brilliantly costumed
and the scenery is picturesque in the
extreme. The orchestra rendered ef-
ficient service
Tonight the Bostonians present Smith
and De Kovens ever popular .Robin
Hood. and Miss Caroline Hamilton
VINO! has many friends here, will zap
peaF'as Maid Marion. Henry Clay Bar
nabee will talks the now famous role
of the Sheriff of Nottingham; w. H.
Macdonald will appear as Little John.
Eugene Cowles as Will Scarlet. Jessie
Bartlett Davis as A1an-a-Dale, George
rockingham as Friar Tuck, and Jo-
seph Sheeflan as Robin Hood.
10 .t--
Nancy d Co." drew another large
audience last night at the Grand. The
Citizen &c Neill company is quite as eff
fect1ve in the realms of farce as IT. is
in the more serious school of comedy
drama. Mr.. Days attractive little
play is irIesistibly funny, and affords
several members of the company al
most unlimited scope Miss Crosman
as the 1mpulsive Nancy Brasher. and
Mr.. Maher, as Little Skies Stocks
low, especially are at their best.
Nancy G Co." will be continued until
Friday night, when it will be replaced
by Little Lord Fauntieroy," with An
ME Blancke in the title role, and the
other members of the company hap
PLY cast. Mr.. Kent will play the Earl
Oh Dorincourt; Mr.. Denham, Hobbs. the
grocer Mr.. Maher, Dick, the boot
black; Miss Kate BIancke, Nina. the
adventures, and Miss Crosman. ssDear-
est