The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-22
AT THEATHEATERS.


time-that is The Wizard Of the Nile,' as
presented at the Metropolitan last night. So
enjoyable an entertainment in the operate
extravaganza line has not been given in st.
raul during the present season. The produc-.
tlon lmpresses the spectators with a sense
OF adequacy and completeness The opera is
literally staged. The most striking and COM
mendable feature is the excellence of the
chorus, particularly the male contingent,
which contains an exceptionally effective as
sortment Of tenors and bassos.
The Wizard Of the Nile is unsteady the
creation of Victor Herbert. The llbretto is
by Harry B. Smith, who wrote the conversa-
ton for robin Hood Composer and libret-
list have both succeeded. The music,
pecially the ensemble numbers, is of a decid
edly pleasing character. 1t is always rhyth-
mic and rarely of the too conventional order.
Inc harmonies are notable rich at times.
The solos are happily few in number,
desirable characteristic in productions of
this kind, which demand the action, life and
situation that too many solo numbers in
variably retard. The gems Of the opera are
the opening ensemble Of the second act, the
male OF the same act, the male chorus at
the beginning of the third act, Frank Dan
iels' solo, MY Angelina" with chorus, and
the duet in the first act what Is Love?"
sung by Mr.. Daniels and Miss Frances Burk-
hardt.
MI. Daniels is the wizard. A Persian ma
glc1an as he is, making professional tour
OF Egypt, he arrives at the court Of King
Ptolemy at time when the kingdom is suf-
fering from drought, the River Nile having
omitted its customary annual rise. Kibosh,
the wizard, having made unwarrantable use
OF Cleopatras barge, is sentenced to the
block, but saves his head by promising to
10 fhO
from the hands Of the executioner, he utters
weird incantaton1 a. la Frank Daniels
when, behold, the great river rises, much to
everybody's amazement, including the wiz
ards. King Ptolemy promises the wizard the
hand Of his daughter Cleopatra, who, unlike
the historical Serpent of the Nile" knows
not the meaning of the word love. Mr..
Daniels tries his hand at teaching in a duet
as quaint as it is comical. The wizard is not
out Of trouble yet His magic art has over
done the thing. Instead Of taking an ordi-
nary rise the old stream floods the country
till the inhabitants, king and all, are obliged
to take to their roofs. Then the wizard is
again condemned, and so the amusing non
sense runs on, giving Mr.. Daniels ample OPP
portunity to display his unique and irresisti-
Bile comicalities. The most fetching bit in the
opera Is his solo, 'tMy Angelina" The mel
ody to which the absurd and laughable lines
are set is very pretty, and Mr.. Daniels sings
1t eXpressively while the situation, the mock
sentiment of the song and the grotesque cos
tune and action of the comedian render the
whole scene highly amusing.
The ,4uintette in the third ac5, f'Star Light
Star Bright" which is really topical song
III distributed among the five, proved one of the
his OF the evening, the encores being nu-
merCus. .a
10 iQrf T
Royce, in the role Of Abydos, the. Wizards
apprentice, is a graceful, shapely, vvacious
young woman with a. sood voice and plenty
OF animation. Miss Frances Burkhardt, who
impersonates the innocent and unconv entional
Cleopatra, displays a high soprano Of accept
able quality. King Ptolemy, or Potash"
as the Wizard calls him, is amusingly inl-
personated by Walter Allen. Louis Casa
want who appeared as Cheops, the royal
Weather Bureau, is a satisfactory baritone
and otherwise pleasing performer.
The audience was large, and demonstrative
in its approval Of the performance.
The Wizard finishes Wednesday evening
Roland Reed opening Thursday in 1.-The
Wrong Mr.. Wright" by George H. Broad
hurst, who will be remembered here from
his connection with the late Pat Harris i'll
starred ventures.
when London Sleeps" 3Ee7nd a weeks
engagement at the Grand last night to the
usual Sunday evening audience. Charles
Darrell, ESD" is responsible for the play
which certainly fills star position in the
ranks of improbable melodramas. The I'M
winding of the intense and intricate plot occu-
pies four acts and eleven scenes; packed into
each of the latter are enough blood and thun-
der to keep writer for the "Wide Awake"
library busy for the remainder of his life
time. 1t requires cast of twenty-three per-
sonages to assist in the unwinding.
The first scene is supposed to be in the
dressing room Of Signor Roberto Jonesio's
mammoth circus, where the spectator disCoN-
,"Queenie,' the air queen, and David
Engelheart, king of the air. in divers costa
sizes of love, while Hilda Corrode, with a.
past" looks on with Jealous eyes. Capt Rod
ney Hayes, the heavy villain, appears on the
scene with an attorney and announcement
that me- Capt Rodney, is Queenie's first cous-
in, and she inherits an immense fortune The
act closes with Queenie's departure for the
spIendor of her new home, while Engelheart
is left unhappy under the burden of a horri-
bic uncertainty.
In the second act TIE villain entices Queenie
to a house Of ill-repute, called the HeIiweIl
mansion, where she is kept prisoner
when London Sleeps brings to St. Paul an
innovation IN QralnaJlc Incense SuCn has
never before been attempted upon the local
stage. To truthfully portray what takes
place behind the drawn curtains of such
place as the Helliwell mansion is supposed to
be is stretching the thing little too far In
fact a portion Of the lines enacted during this
scene carry suggestion which cannot be
misconstrued. The effect upon q matinee
audience can be imagined. OF course, Queenie
is finally rescued from the cruel trap only 10
jump from the gridiron into the fire. literally
speaking for in the third act the home Of
Queenie is set on fire by Capt. Hayes, and
she escapes with a little child by walking
across the street (stage) on a telegraph wire
in her night dress and the full view of the
audience.
The villain plans once more in the last act,
but fails. Queenie, while in the Temple of
Scmnath, which is being exhibited in Lou
don, is overpowerede by Hayes and thrown
upon a slab which was formerly used for
burning Hindoo widows! The pile is fired.
and but for the timely appearance of her
lover the heroine would have been badly
singed. These are only a few of the exciting
events which transpire when London
Sleeps
OF the personnel only rthrae deserve men
ton. Florence Ashbrook, as Hilda Corrode,
gave an impressive Characterization of her part.
Her acting was quite forceful, her work being
conscientious. Perdtta Hudspith made an ac-
ceptable Queenie Little Lille Havre, a
dainty tot, won her way into the hearts of last
nights audience by her clever acting. Men
ton should not be omitted, either, of a very
small but active foNgterrier who did a good
deal Of comedy work during the first act.
The scenic effects good.
In addition to the regular matinees spe-
1.o