The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-20
1(|Fv7'''l9
"Florodora."

Book by Owen Hall; music by Leslie
Stuart Produced for the firstStime in
st. Paul at the Metropolitan last night
by carefully selected and entirely
competent company.
CAST OF CHARACTERS.
Cyrus W. Gilfain 800. Mr.. W. T. Carleton
Capt. Arthur Donegal. Mr.. Louis Hooper
Anthony TweediepunchM 80 10y :
Mr.. Philip H. Ryley
Doiores ............. Miss Laura Willard
Estelle lamont. Miss Selma Mantell
Angela Gilfain Miss Frances Gordon
Lady Holyrood .... Miss Grace Dudley
Florodorean farmers. laborers. flower
girls, Welsh peasants.
1t is not difficult to believe that in the
case of 'Florodora' the veracious ad-
vance man has told nothing but the truth
in the glowing sentences he has written of
the success of the attraction of which
he was the ayaunt courier. Three years
at the Lyric theater, in London; two
years in New York-record-b reak king
years, at that and still packing the
houses to the doors; two, or 1t is three?
companies en- tour, and all of them at
tracing stream OF golden coins-this
is the record, as it has been told and
youched for, and there is no reason to
think that the tale is even an hyperbole.
For 'F1orodora" is easily one of the
most entertaining of the many good
Things which Manager Scott has Induced
TO come out on the frontier this season
Ihere is no reason why the piece
should not be popular; there Is every
reason why it Should be. The plot OF
the story, though tenuous, is consist
entity carried forward to a denouement
winch IS happy one. The lyrics have a
music of their own that is enhanced by
the lifting melodies to which they ara
set; the choruses are strong and full of
resonant harmonies and the solo num-
pefs are, as class, far and away above
the average of those usually encoun-
tered in a musical comedy. Color runs
riot throughout the piece and the stage
is filled with brilliant hues that come
and go and come again with Kaleidoscope
sw1ftness. 1t is not the same for very
long at any time and the eye that is
not held riveted to the stage must surely
lack in appreciation Of ensemble effects,
grouped and arranged in a manner that
would have done credit to some great
colorist.
But it is not the music alone that ap-
peals to the spectator From the time
the curtain rises until it descends on
the final act there is something DOING
And it is all done with a rush. Indeed.
there are times when the action is SO
rapid that it requires the closest atten-
ton to 3 grasp the details. Graceful
dances that, in their rapidity. are sug-
gestive of the gyrations of a bowling
Derxish, follow one another in quick sue
cession, and the swish of dainty robes
is stilled only at rare intervals. There
is comedy enough, and most of it is
&c fv-;a fJo,.
GUS, but for the most part it is sharp,
pointed, incisiye. The dialogue is crisp,
even brilliant; the situations wrought
out with a proper conception of the re-
lations they sustain to the piece as d
whole. tie scenic investiture tropical
in its warmth of color: the costumes
fresh and handsome, and the people ade-
quate. What more is needed or can be
asked for?
The presenting company could scarcely
be more acceptable. Those who have the
principal roles in charge acquit them
selves with honor, and the chorus is
large. wide awake all the time, and
keenly responsive to the direction of the
conductor. From vocal point of view
the honorsS among the men must be
awarded to Mr.. >,4iarleS Bowers, whose
fine baritone voice is easily one of the
best that has been heard in this city this
season. 1t is round, full, of excellent
quality and full of music. His solo
Under the Shade of the Palms was the
gem of the evening, and was warmly en-
cored. 1t is not too much to say that
Mr.. Bowers, if he makes good use of the
talent he possesses, has a great future.
Only at rare intervals are such perfect
voices as his met with, and he has, be,
sides, youth, an easy, graceful stage
presence, and a manner wholly void of
affectation and seif-consciouSness n. T.
Carleton, a singer from the time when
memory runneth not is happily cast as
the millionaire owner of the island of
Florodora. His once fine voice lacks its
pristine brilliancy, but it is adequate to
the demands made upon it, and he is still
the finished artist that he was two dec
AIDES ago. Mr.. Philip H. Ryder Is an
unctuous comedian with a funny pair OF
legs, which he makes use of in some
unique dances of a semi-acrobatic char
acter. The others of the men are sat
isfactory
Miss Grace Dudley, vivacious, chic,
dainty, leads the feminine contingent As
BELTS her part, that of Lady Holyrood,
she has an ultra-English accent, but her
enunciation, both when she is speaking
and singing, is delightfully."- clear-cut ana
every word can be easily understood.
Insistent applause rewarded all her eff
forts, and it was not until she had ex
hauSted numerous stanZaS that she was
permitted to retire after her topical song.
'sTact." Others deserving Of individual
mention are Miss Frances Gordon, Miss
Laura Willard, both of whom sang
charmingly and acted we'll
The musical numbers of the piece were
given with spirit, and none of them failed
a an encore. The greatest applause was
bestowed on the double seXtette, Tell
Me, Pretty Maiden which was asked
for until it became tiresome. In this one
particular the performance is open to Sc
rious criticism. It is possible to have too
much of a good thing.
'sFlorodora" will be the Dill for the re-
fnainder of the week, with a matinee
Saturday afternoon.
In MANS Enemy the current attrac-
ton at the Grand opera house, the story
centers around the incidents that sur
round the career of one who has been
started on the downward path by drink,
and during the course of the play there
are introduced a number of scenes and
situations of more than usual interest.
Scenically, the production is elaborate to
a degree. The last matinee performance
of the enga cement occurs tomorrow at
2:3O.
The original production of "Quo yadis,' -
dramatized by Stanislaus STANCE and
given gorgeous dress by Messrs. F. c.
Whitney and Edwin Knowles, is the
very attractive menu announced for
Christmas week at the Grand opera
house.
The Utopian bur1esquers are playing to
big houses at the Star this week. and
their performance is meeting with the
appreciation of their audiences. The en-
tertainment offered consists of two bright
burlesques and an uncommonly strong
olio. Next week Manchester's Stars will