The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-04-03
MISS LUDWIG IN "AIDA"-
WILLARD'S PROF. G00DWILLIE

An audience Of surprising largenesS, con-
sidering the night without and the coun-
ter attraction. saw Miss Josephine Lud-
wigs first attempt at the difficult part OF
Aida at Music Hall last night.
Aside from occasional indications OF nerv-
business. this promising young prima donna
gave q performance Of mature strength and
evenness. Miss Ludwig Is by all means the
most comely Aida Of present recollection.
Her gowning presented color effects OF
much charm. and in the trying dramatic
moments Of the piece the awkwardness well
remembered from her first performance in
1.-The Prophet was entirely absent. The
Ludwig voice Is one Of the best. in its sew
eral divisions. in the present soprano lists.
It was surprisingly adequate, first perform
ance considered. in the dramatic moments
Of Verdfs Aida music. Only once-then IN
the third act duet with Mr.. Davies-did It
seem insufficient, and then there was rea-
son enough to believe that the tenor. and
not the soprano, was responsible for the
tonal deficiency.
Miss Maude Lambert. another Of the
Southwell singers who is doing well In the
field Of infinite variety. was q most surpris-
ing Amneris. She must have surprised
herself. The group Of singers and au-
thorities who sit back and spare no one In
their critical endeavor gave free rein to
the praise Of Lambert last night. Mr..
Boyle was the Ramfis well done indeed.
and Mr. PAUL sang the part Of Amonasro.
SO we'll done by young Mr.. Gon the night
before.
Remarkable though 1t may seem, there
were many people who. Tuesday night,
voluntarily took themselves beyond the
reach of election returns and into the realm
of an absent-minded scholars study AID a
wheat field Of Scotland. In both the study
and the wheat field Mr.. E. 8. Willard dis
ported himself as the love-lorn Professor
Goodwillie Of Mr.. J. NJ. Barrie's fetching
creation. 1.-THE Professors Love Story"
Mr.. Barrie created one Of the neatest bits
Of combined cosmopolitan and pastoral ro-
mantle comedy that has been given to the
public for many years when he wrote ''The
Professors Love Story" and Mr.. Willard
has enhanced the value OF that creation by
his art. Perhaps there was never in real
life 80 absent minded and SO loveable q
professor as Thomas Goodwillie. hut what
does that matter, 80 long az there 10 such
an one as Mr.. Willard presents On the
stage? One IL inclined to spurn realism and
swashbuckling heroes and swear allegiance
to ideality forever when he sits comfort
ably under the dome Of Colonel Shorts play
house and sees Professor Goodwillie Eaively
switch the waterbottle from one side Of
the desk to the other. make "goo-goo eyes
at pretty Lucy, produce cigars from a fish
and hop nimbly about wheat field.
And there Is so much more than Mr.. Will
lard himself-who Is quite worth the price
Of admission-in Mr.. Willard's production.
There is Miss Maud Hoffman. who Is Lucy,
with q form which should make Venus en-
vious and voice that lends itself to the
pretty speeches. the humorous speeches and
the fearful speeches with equally charm
irg facility. One thinks Of the English
girl Of the novels when he sees Mss Hoff-
man. she is so tall and graceful. and gives
forth such an impression Of being abe to
walk forever. And there arc Miss Marie
Linden, as the Professors sister: Miss Lau-
"a. Linden, the Dowager Lady Gliding; and
half O dozen others who are fully equal to
their parts. Likewise there are pretty
stage settings-particularly the wheatfeld
scene, all golden and suggestive Of the
glittering garnering.
Mr.. Willard will repeat THE Professors
Love Story at the Wednesday matinee
Wednesday night THE Middleman." by
Henry Arthur Jones, will be the bill.