St. Paul daily globe., 1896-03-29

American authors, some of whom,
despite their real and striking talent,
cannot now get their plays interpreted.
/ make it, lastly, in the name of this
public, which is longing to applaud
it's own artists and it's own writer's.
Sarah Bernhard"
In Paris there has never been any
complaint from managers of theaters
that the concert halls were taking
away their audiences, says the New
York World. In London, where the
stage is in much the same condition
that it is here, the music halls have
cut into the theaters in the most pitt
full way. Why? Because London peo-
pie do not care to see limitations of
Henry Irving and Ellen Terry, and
the most of the English players think
of nothing else but of copying these
two mysterious dollar charmerS. In
New York the flight of the people
from the theaterS to the music halls
has only begun. There are few music
halls as yet, and their managers have
not yet learned that it takes more
than one number to make a variety
programme. But they are learning,
and the theaterS will suffer more and
more.
Then you will hear an increasing
sound of wailing about the degenerate
tastes of New Workers. But the real
reason is quite different. New York
ers hate to be bored. If the perform
ance bores you at music hall you
can drink and smoke and talk. If
the performance bores you at a the
ater you can only sit numbly and
dumbly and speculate about draughts
and think cramps into your arms and
ic al 70 or hot
players who fancy that they do not
need to study, that they have learned
all there is to know about stage art,
soon bore their audiences.
The attraction at the Grand for the
coming week, commencing tonight, is
Miss Harum Scarum' a new play
from the pen of a well-known Phila-
delphia newspaper man, E. J. Swartz
1t will serve to introduce to st. Paul
ties two clever young stars who have
both made enviable regulations
throughout the entire Eastern coun-
try. Their names are Miss Amy Lee
and Frank Doane. Miss Lee is a vi
vacious little soubrette, whose work is
said to resemble that of Lotta. Frank
Doane is reputed as a comedian whose
humor is not forced nor strained.
Miss Harum Scarum," as the title
suggests, deals with the adventures
Of a bright and merry making girl 1t
contains dramatic situations, and one
or two startling climaxes. The story
is romantic, honest, manly love for
pure, sweet woman being the theme.
During the action of the play a num-
Der of musical specialties and novel
features by both the stars and other
members of the company will be intro
duced. The play is said to be full of
entertaining features from the rise to
the fall of the curtain. The engage
ment includes the regular popular
price matinees Wednesday and Satur-
day.
If an extensive repertoire is a test
Of versatility in an actor, then the fol-
lowing comprehensive collection OF
characters assumed by Robert Mantell
in Chicago during the past week would
indicate an unbounded confidence in
the public, if not in himself. On Mon
day night Mr. Mantell played the twin
brothers Del Franchi in 1.-THE Corsican
Brothers," Tuesday night he imper-
sonated the hero of a new drama, en-
titled 'The Queens Carter" Wednes-
day afternoon he appeared as Raphael,
in "The Marble Heart" that evening
he presented Espy Williams tragedy,
"Parrhasius," playing the title role;
Thursday night Mr. MantelI gave the
Hamlet Friday night "Monbars'
was on the bill, and on Saturday night
he topped off the bill by essaying 9th
clio. Mr.. Mantell, who is a convincing
actor, is to be congratulated, not only
upon his artistic ambition, but likewise
for giving the actors in his company
something to stimulate their mental
faculties.
Cy@I.,
impressario now visiting this country
has been writing letters for the New
York Herald containing his views of
the drama and opera as exploited in
American theaters. Speaking of the
grand opera performances, he says:
II will begin with the Metropolitan
opera house, the chief academy of mu-
sic in New York, the only theater in
which enormous prices are charged.
Here an orchestra seat, which, at the
lowest is S. (25 francs), is raised to 81
Cor S5 francs), when there are stars
to be exhibited, which happens about
twice a week. On the nights when
Calve sings the total receipts frequent
ly amount to $4,000, or 10000 francs
At such prices one would be entitled
to expect perfect performances. New
ertheless, this is not the case. There
are marvellous artists, clever individu-
dis, DuI IuSIS IS IlO dI IllSllC WIOle dTSdl
as is the pleasure which may be eXpe-
rienced in hearing Calve, who is the
most extraordinary singer have ever
seen in all my life; the enchanting
Melba, with her voice of gold, or Jean
de Reszke, who murmers so deliciously
the romances Of love, one leaves the
theater discontented and unsatisf1ed.
1t is homogeneity that is lacking. The
choruses leave much to be desired, the
small roles are badly played, the seen
cry is almost always grotesque. AS
to the ballet, don't let's speak Of it,
Silence is best. The orchestra, though