The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-05-10
DRAMATIC AND MUSICAL.
METROPOLITAN.


If the morals of 'The Turtle" were as
unobjectionable as its moral" 1T is safe to
say the play would never have reached
st. Paul Without it's frank and open
immortality 1.-THE Turtle" would be an in
differently funny farce. Without its
touches of Paris sprightliness, much Of
of it's text and many of it's episodes
would sink to the level of simple indie
cency But both fun and Specific sea-
sCning being extremely high at times
are in evidence, and fairly large audi
ence at the Metropolitan last evening
seemed TO enjoy the combination. 1t is
doubtful, however, If those present found
the production-taken in it's entirety
either as funny or as naughty as they
had expected. The disrobing scene which
gave to 1.-The Turtle" much of its early
notoriety, Is by no means as shocking as
might be inferred. Any one who has wit
messed a production of FRA Diavalo"
can sit through the similar scene of 1.-THE
Turtle" without a CULVER. If the French
adaptation depended upon this alone for
success, 1t would certainly fall fiat. But
1t must not be understood that ''Fhe
Turtle" is not brisk. 1t has bursts of
speed that are surprising. AS 1t Is de-
scribed upon the bills st is not so slow"
There are bits so suggestive as to leave
little to the Imagination, and touches
that win applause for their candid
wickedness. Racy Is, perhaps, the adj
jective which most closely fits 1.-THE Tur-
t1e;" after that might come the whole
range, from bright and funny down the
gamut to vulgar and obscene, the selec-
ton depending upon individual taste.
Stated simply as a fact, 1t is undoubted-
ly true that 1.-The Turtle" is the briskest
dramatic production st. Paul has ever
seen, and STILL one seeking immortality
alone would find 1t disappointing. As
for the story, it Is ingenious, and its COM
plications cleverly worked out, but de-
pending upon clean fun alone 1t would
drag and might easily become tiresome.
1t narrowly escapes such q fate despite
its spicy SAVIOR.
AS for the company seen last evening
at the Metropolitan it was good without
being excellent. Miss Marion Ballou as
Angelo, a chambermaid, was most thor
oughly In harmony with the atmosphere
Of the production. She was as naively
naughty as could be asked, and never
failed to score with her SUCCESSFULLY tell
ing lines and by play. Courtesy demands
that the excellence Of her Interpretation
viewed, of course, purely as an inter-
pretation-be ascribed entirely to her art
as an actress, and, as such, it was praise
worthy, even If not commendable.
SCR Perugini, as Champalier, hickman
ed ''The Turtle" took the gay yet bad
S0T0Q nuSDdIlU llIOuSH oCIAOo VI e1O-
ventures and misadventures with con-
siderabl degree of verve and grace. Miss
Evesson, his wife, sometimes fearful. and
In the main respectable, carries trying
role with considerable credit, and dis
robes with Difference to delicacy that
was desirable or disappointing, again &C
cording to the point Of viewpoint of
view being Used In it's fgurative, and not
in a literal sense. The others Of the cast
were good, bad and Indifferent, and some
Of them, at varying times, all three.
''The Turtle" to sum UP the much dis
cussed farce in the fewest possible words,
Is just what it purports to be, only not
quite so much so. In admirable hands 1t
might present evils worthy Of all the dis
cussion it has occasioned. AS seen at
the Metropolitan last evening, 1t was
hardly notable.
1.-The Turtle" will be repeated at the
Metropolitan this evening, with mat
inee this afternoon.
Olga Nethersole appears Thursday, Fri
day and Saturday at the Metropolitan
opera house, Saturday afternoon, Pineros
play, "The Prof1igate," will be presented.
In this piece Miss Nethersole will sustain
the role of Leslie Brudenell, thoroughly
girlish maiden, loving the world and
trusting and loving everyone about her.
The repertory will be as follows: Thurs
day, Camille" Saturday matinee, "The
Prohigate;" Saturday night, Carmen"
Two most interesting musical events. Of