St. Paul daily globe., 1895-04-15
AT THE THEkTERS.

Lewis Morrison's production of
Goethe's Faust" which received the
stamp of public approval some years
ago, and Istill retains it, began
weeks engagement at the Grand
opera house last night. Those who
have never witnessed Goethe'S immor-
tai work either in dramatic or operate
form should not miss the opportunity
of beholding it. Aside from any con-
sideration of the players who present
it or the spectacular scenery which
heightens it's effects, the play is most
worthy, for it appeals strongly to the
moral sense. as it does to the artistic.
1t teaches a vital. undying lesson to
humanity-a lesson, to be sure. that
all civilized people are supposed to
have learned in the home and church,
but which it does no harm to repeat
through such medium as the story
of Faust and Marguerite.
The company which appeared last
night is, all in all, an Improvement
over that of last season. Rosabel Nor
rison, whose impersonation of Mar
guerite has always met with and
richly deserved public admiration,
still heads the company. Her per-
Vi IiilS IOlG ldSl hight WdS
as sweet, tender and sympathetic as
ever, evincing a keen appreciation of
the native simplicity of Marguerite.
about whom there is no affectation,
no guile, no knowledge of the world.
The role of Faust is in the hands of
Donald MacLaren, who must be ac-
credited with the most satisfactory
portrayal of it yet seen here-that is,
in M. AnrYsiCnn'c ITay, 10
Mr. MacLaren is not only physically
well equipped for the role, but he dis
plays a virility of dramatic action, a
force and fire, which his predecessors
in Mr.. Morrison's companies utterly
lacked.
The principal character in Faust"
as in paradise Lost" is, of course,
his satanic majesty-called in this case.
Mephistopheles or Mephisto. The role
is assumed by f. D. Montague whose
performance is in the main satisfac-
tory. Naturally, it would be unfair to
compare it with the brilliant persona
tion of Mephisto for which Lewis Nor
rison is famous. 1t is sufficient to say
that Mr. Montague reveals the strong
points of the character and succeeds
in pleasing the people. The remainder
of the cast is acceptable.
The scenery is fully as effective as
ever The Brocken scene sJartles all
with its wonderful e,actric manifesto
tions, supernatural sights and it's tor
rent Of fire. The fiual aOotncusi.s of
Marguerite is a beautifl! spectacle.
The audience was large.
Frieda Simonson, the little wonder
of Berlin. the most marvellous child
artisra ever known, viii appear at the
Gilmore band concert at the Metropoli-
tan on Thursday eVerlIg. This mere
child has appeared before royalty, and
toured with Patti, Melba, Aibani, etc,
and been emil 'aoed and praised by
Rubinstein. Joseph Honman's father
says she is greater than his son; and
when she made her debut in New
York recently she was pronounced the
greatest of all youthful artists. She
has become a fad. and her appearance
here Thursday viii be an important
event.
The doors of the Metropolitan opera
house viii be thrown open tonight by
the operate triumph of the season,
which is headed by the charming ar
riste Della Fox. This is the first time
Miss Della Fox has appeared in st.
Paul IS a star, although she is well
known to the patrons of the theater
from her long association with the
De Wolf Hopper company. She has
surrounded herself with a strong yaJl-
deVille operate company, and will pre-
sent '"The Little Trooper" with the
same special scenery, costumes and
magnificent mountings that have Great
ed furor this season in New York,
Boston and other Eastern cities. Her
engagement here will be for three
nights only, without any matinee
Wednesday.