The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-01-07
AT THE THEATERs.
METROPOLITAN

An unusually large Sunday night audi
ence greeted Frank Daniels last night at
the Metropolitan opera house in
his new comic opera, 1.-The
Amer. The frothiest of the frothy
is this new musical skit that Mr.
Daniels makes so funny. OF catchy lit
tie airs there is an abundance, of spright-
ly marches and spirited choruses there
is plenty, but the opera contains nothing
that will tax the comprehension of the
least unsteady inclined comic opera
in the most literal Interpretation of the
phrase is ''The Amer but, of it's kind,
it's a clever production. The music, by
Victor Herbert, is lively and melodious
throughout; the libretto, by La Shelle
and Frederick Ranken, piquant and clean.
Even more than most comic operas does
it depend for It's success on it's inter-
prefers, and Mr.. Daniels, while he is the
extremely facile prince of the funmak-
ers, has surrounded himself with a COM
pany that is musical and capable. The
male chorus is remarkably good
1t is a pity that 'The Amer does not
afford even more opportunity for it's dis
play. The brigands chorus, In the sec
ond act, was especially Well sung.
The scene of the opera is laid in At
ghanistan, and consequently the scenery
is gorgeously tropical. Harmonious COM
binations of color please the eye as
thoroughly as the stirring music rests
the brain. A dainty bit of the opera is
the marching of a couple OF score OF
pretty girls is heliotrope uniforms. Even
more fetching is the song and cake dance
by the mixed chorus in the last act.
There is enough of plot about 1.-The
Amer on which to hang the many
comic situations, with some effect of
probability. The Ameer Crank Dan
ielsl rules Afghanistan. Always in need
of money, lie has hit upon the plan of
marrying a wealthy wife every year and
using her money to pay the tribute that
is demanded of him by the British. The
supply Of home girls with money gives
out, SO the Ameer arranges to marry an
American heiress. If she doesn't arrive
in time he is to be hurled into a dungeon.
To make the interval Of waiting lively,
brigands plot against his life, and he does
not find existence at all m0notonous.
Assisting him as funmakers are HeeZa-
burd, the lord chamberlain (Owen West
ford, and Crackasmile, the court jester
Civilian Corliss). They are both decid-
eddy clever. John Wheeler, as Knifem,
brfgaud, has an excellent voice, and his
makeup is sufficiently ferocious. Ralph
Winston, captain Of the British guards
is a picturesque figure in the opera. Rhys
Thomas, who plays the part, sings quite
as well as he looks, which is saying
much. Very little is demanded OF the
who is pretty and has pleasing soprano
voice, is Constance, the American heir
ess. Her Solo, "Fancies,'' Is ore of the
ambitious songs in the opera and 1t was
well sung. Kate TART makes a satfsfac-
terry Mirzah. the oriental dancer.
The audience was unusually outspoken
in its expression Of pleasure last evening.
Mr.. Daniels received many curtain calls
and a speech was demanded of him.
The speech, clever take-off on the am.
bilious orator. was characteristic of the
comedian and pleased the auGIience
nightly.
'sTbe Ameer" will continue at the Met
repolitan the first half of the week, with
Wednesday matinee.
GRAND.
f"Ffte Heart of Maryland" has not lost
any attraction by reason of familiarity.
At the Grand last evening an audience
packed almost to standing room wit
messed the initial performance of the
week of this same attraction, and gave
approval in the shape of unstinted ar-
plause.
"The Heart OF Maryland borders on
the meledrama and, as all war dramas go
in respect to booming cannon, hair
breadth escapes and valiant deeds, has
lost nothing in realism and the sensa-
tionaL
The plot is laid in the South, midst
scenes Of battle and carnage, and finds
interest to the beholder in the efforts
of the heroine, Maryland Calvert, true
sympathizer Of tine a'lest cause to aid
in the rescue of her lover, Northern
soldier. who. by the varying fortunes of
war, finds himself in the clutches of the
enemy. With 1t comes the conflicting
emotions arising from blood ties, which
often found father leading the gray
while son had joined his fortunes with
the blue, the climax, the sensational