The Saint Paul globe., 1898-08-29
Dramatic and Musical
METROPOLITAN.

First night impressions are not always
best. This Is perhaps fortunate for the
Wilbur Opera company, which opened two
weeks engagement at the Metropolitan op-
era house last night. The living pictures
and little Annie Laughln were the features
of the entertainment, the pictures, perhaps,
because they did not sing and Miss Laugh
lin because Of her chic presentation of spe-
cialties that frightened the otherwise prosaic
rendition of the popular opera ERA Diavolo."
The living star-spangled banner caught the
audience, catching the wave of patriotism
aroused by the recent war with Spain
The orchestra, under the direction OF F. N.
Lang. did such excellent service as to, in
measure, recompense for the mediocre work
of the company as a whole.
]. E. Conley's Lorenzo was as of yore. He
has improved somewhat in avoirdupois,
though not in voice.
Marion Manola was not in the cast, Ter
lima being presented by Miss Hattie Richard
son-only fairly well.
W. H. Kohnle's Beppo was as clever as
it could be made. Kohnle is the prince of
vagabonds; his work Is never overdone, and
leaves a lasting impression OF its excel-
lence upon his audiences.
AL Lamars Gacomo was also good
Gus Vaughn, who has lately assumed the
leading role, is a typical Fra Diavolo. His
voice and figure are well suited to the char
acter.
Harry Lane makes an acceptable Matteo.
While Lille Taylor as Lady Allcash might
be better as to voice. her work is sufficiently
up to the mark to please. Emmett Drew's
Lord Allcash is fairly good.
Of the chorus little can be SAID in COM
mendation. Chorus girls, as rule. are
pretty as well as shapey Those with the
Wilbur 0nera cOmDsnv this saacon rho
latter, though not the former. A majority
of them new, several having been Sc
cured in st. Paul few days prior to the
arrival Of the company. They may improve:
there is room.
No announcement was made Of the absence
of the star. Marion Manola. The unfortunate
young lady is seriously i'll, and was taken
to hospital Immediately upon her arrival
In st. Paul, Miss Hattie Richardson being
cast for her work. Among the familiar
faces missed were those of Susie Kerwin.
Maude Daniels. Belle Hamilton, w. H.
Clark and Eloise Mortimer
Annie Laughlin. who is doing a speciany
with the Wilbur Opera company. is a. pre-
cocious child She is as clever as she ia
pretty, and from the time-a very few years
since-when she made her debut as Little
Eva in Uncle Toms CABIN under the
management Of ''Parson" Davies, with Peter
Jackson as Uncle Tom, has daily improved
in her work. She was a little woman when
but a baby actress. and has lost none of
her attractiveness in. the development into
young womanhood. After leaving the Uncle
Toms Cabin" company Miss LaugbIin ac-
cepted an engagement With the Power of
Gold" company. Then, when vaudeville be-
came all the rage. and some of the best in
the country sought It, Miss Laughlin turned
her attention to sspeeialties in that limo
She Joined the Wilbur company in Duluth
this season.
Era Diayolo" win be the card tonight.
Tuesday and Wednesday matinee and night:
''Maritana" Thursday. Friday. Saturday
matinee and night this week. Next week
the company will be. seen in the popular
opera, 1.-The CIRCUS Clown"
Manager Wilbpr is to be commended for
the excellence Of the. instrumental portion
of his production, the living pictures and
the entertaining Sspecialties with which the
operas presenteH are interspersed.
% GRAND.
Just why CaleV Murray" of Murray and
Mack, Is on the stage Is not clear-unless
1t is perhaps that he needs the money. Even
that is scarce justification for occupying the
time of the public doing the things that he
does 80 much Of and does so badly. It Is
perhaps fattering to Mr.. Murray that he
should be picked out as the worst in such an
aggregation of bad ones as are included In
the combination headed by Murray and Mack
AS Mr. Gale he would scarcely attain to that
dignity, but being nominally at the head of
the crowd he attracts attention that would
not fall to him II he were In the chorus. as
1t were. Mr. Gale Murray is an Onconscion-
ably bad comedian. He never ought to
have done It. ~
"Finnigan's Bali" is utterly senseless. II