St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-04-16
AT THE THEATERs.

Little Trooper" which Della Fox
and her company presented at the,
Metropolitan opera house last night.
It was greeted by the largest audi
ence that has assembled in this the
alter for many weeks. The spacious
auditorium was filled The advent
OF Easter week partly accounted for
this, but the chief cause was I'M
questionably the magnetism of the
popular little arbiste herself, who
long ago demonstrated that quality
when associated with another star,
Miss Fox has never before appeared
in a role which displayed her tai
enbs to such good advantage as
does the one she assumes in the
Little Trooper" The opera is an
adaptation from the French work
"Cla1rette." Much of the original
score by Victor Roger is preserved,
though William Furst, the Amer
lean composer, has contributed
many tuneful numbers, notably the
Daisy Song" which is distinctly
catchy and clever. The French Ii
bretto, however, has been adapted
by Clay M. Greene, the well-known
playwright, and has undergone con-
siderable alteration in order to fit it
to the American stage. In brief, the
opera tells the story of a fiirtatious.
captain in the HusSars whose pretty
Wife, C1airette, donS the uniform of
lieutenant and joins the Hussars
to spite her husband, whom she has
1rs1
woman in barracks as his wife.
whereas he has only been flirting
with her, and was anxious to rid
himself of her, as he really was de-
voted to his pretty wife.
In the guise of the young lieutenant
Della Fox was captivating. She played
the role with spirit and a dash alto
gether admirable and sang the music
with an enthusiasm that proved con-
tagfous. She was also powerful in i'm
personating the character of Nine
Duval, the wife, especially so in the
very amusing scene and duet with
Lieut.. Gibbard played by jefferson
D'Angelis. Her voice seems to have
gained in volume and clearness, since
her last appearance here.
The score of the Little Trooper
does not make rigorous demand upon
the cipals-indeed, some of them
are not called upon to sing q note, ex-
cept In the ensembles. Therefore the
absence of brilliant VocaIists is not a
noticeable deficiency in the company.
Paul Arthur, who assumes the role of
Capt. Emile Duval, is vocally adequate
to the requirements of the character,
while dramatically he Is entirely salts
factory, for he enacts the role with a
thorough appreciation of it's humor,
and maintains a most commendable- re-
pose and ease of manner.
But the role that furnishes the chief
amusement is that of Lieut. Gibbard.
Nothing funnier than Mr.. D'Angelis'
portrayal of it has been seen on the
local stage this season. From the
instant Mr.. D'Angelis stepped upon
the stage, every move he made-and
his very walk is irresistibly comical-
and every speech he made provoked
the heartiest laughter and often won
spontaneous applause. Mr.. D'Angelis
is undeniably one of the funniest come
d1ans on the comic opera stage, and
eXcelS some more famous than he in
this respect. In the duet with Clairette
In the second act and with Lieut.
Michonnet in the last act, he exhibit
ed an originality of humor onite
unique. He divided the honors with
the star, which is, by the way, highly
cred1table to her good judgment and
rare generosity in such matter. when
it is remembered that too many stars
are prone to cripple the work of able,
performers in order that theirs may
shine with solitary brilliancy. -
OF the remainder of the cast nothing
uncomplimentary could be truthfuIly
said. Miss Villa Knox makes a pretty
Mathilde. and supplements this virtue
by an excellent performance of the
role Charles j.. Campbell was salts
factory as Lieut.. Michonnet. and
Cnarles DUNCAN made the most of Col
Jules la Tours. The chorus, which ia
attractive and well trained, sang the
concerted numbers with spirit, espe-
cially the rousing and martial finale
or the second act. The opera is hand
somely staged and costumed.
Miss Rosabel Morrison's conception
and rendition of the role of ''Marguer-
lite" is delighting the patrons of the
Grand this week. The company's per-
formance of Faust" is much above
the ordinary, and the scenic and cleo
trical effects are startling and pretty.
The revival Of Augustin Days we'll
known comedy by the Griffen & NeiIl
company at the Grand Sunday night
Will be such as to call for attention.
1t will be we'll staged and the reputa-
ton which the company has estab-
lfshed for finished performances will
not suffer through its Interpretation
OF Nancy &Co." Miss Crossman in
the roil1cking part of Nancy Brasher
Will De In her element, as she is essen
tlaily a comedienne. Friday night
Little Lord Fauntleroy'' will be SUBJ
sttuted to run the remainder of the
week. Petite Annie Blancke will plav
the title role
The original Bostonfans. with Horny
Clay Barnabee, w. H Macdonald. les
sic Bartlett Davis, Eugene CowIes. Car
oline Hamilton, Eloise Morgan. Georea
rockingham and all the old fayorites
come to st. Paul for the first visit in
nve years, at the Metropolitan next
Monday night, presenting a repertorv
OF standard comic opera. The opening
nights bill will be their latest onera
Prince Ananias," by Victor Herbert.
leader OF Giimore's band, and Francis
Nelison. Robin Hood" De Koven and
smiths masterpiece, and ''The Maid of
Plymouth by Clay NJ. Greene and
THOMAS PearsaH Thorne, which has
for its theme LongfelIow's courtship of
Miles standish, will follow. The sale
begins Thursday.
The Kind of Rest Needed
st. Paul Trade Journal.