The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-02-02

That merry musical satire, 1.-The Chap
erons,'' with its quaint travesty on So
cietys most polite custom, furnished in
Frederick Ranken's libretto. it's gems of
melody by Isidore Witmark, its great
cast of players, chorus Of singers and it's
lavish production supplied by Manager
Frank L. Perley, will have its first pres
entation here at the Metropolitan to-
night.
''Thc Chaperons'' is the latest of all the
musical comedies launched in the East
this season. 1t is the happy vehicle
with which Mr.. Frank L. Perley's sing
ing comedians, an immense lyric organi-
zation,W will make it's first appearance west
of New York as the successor of Mr..
Perley's famous Alice Nielsen Opera
company. Both in singing strength and
in the magnifcence of production Mr.
Perley's new production is said to have
surpassed all his previous efforts. Mr.
PerIey has associated with him as stage
director, Mr.. George w Lederer. who
has given THE Chaperons'' the grace
and stage coloring necessary in a dash
and-go musical comedy success. 1.-The
Chapefons' hbretto calls for nearly
thirty singing and speaking characters,
Which, with Mr.. Perley's great chorus
gives grounds for the claim that "The
Chaperons" is the largest lyric comedy
organization in the country this sea
son.
The plot of THE Chaperons" is de-
scribed as being as light and airy as
was ever conceived for a musical tray-
esty, and yet provide a skeleton on
which to hang the frolicsome comedy
situations. Aramantha Bedincourt is
director of a school in Paris for trained
Shaperons, the lady being impersonated
oy MISS Marie Cahill, who offers her
SeiNICeS as PROFESSIONAL arguS-eyed du-
g 9d TO a wealthy American, Adam
bragS, whose self-willed ward is engaged
IN the midst Of a Irritation with a Latin
quarter student Harry Con0r is the
guardian, and once in the tolls of the
professional chaperon. his trO1IbIeS ne,-
er cease until he is safely married
Before this happy termination however.
ne IS induced to furnish capital for a
stroIlIhS opera company presided over by
IOseph =. Mlron, and containing nufner-
Gus talented folks who furnish diversion
as the plot thickenS. Unexpectedly. q
1ahmany subway contractor, in Shifting
study rapid transit because he has heard
1t is the fastest city in the world. ar
Tiyes on the Latin quarter scene in
charge Of one of the trained chanarons
from Nine Denincourt's conserTatorv'
ana ne insists on becoming identified
with the plot This character is the
one IN which Walter Jones displays his
singing, dancing and comedy accomplish
menus. A groteSque girl detective i'm
personated by Miss Eva Tanguav' Joins
the merry throng of Latin Quarter Bo
nehllanS, and as might be expected the
1eInaIe detective and the Tammany char
acter furnish frequent comedy INTERRUPT
u0ns TO the progress of the story
Inc plot takes an easy flight from the
gay Partisan atmosphere of the first
act to the Oriental surroundings of the
imperial Motel in Alexandria, Egypt i'm
the second act. Here the tourists appear
as members of the strolling opera com
Pahy, and the entertainment is said TO
De varied with song and dance that fur
nlshes opportunity for the talent that is
ganiZation.
Other members of the company MT
mentioned above include Ed Redway
PP aIo1i Make blake, George K. Henery, May
ana scores of others in this immense
sIn8lng organization. Miss Mae Stebbins
introduces her sensational instep dance
IN tne second act Oriental scene
Manager Perley has provided a produc-
ton Tor The Chaperons" that is said IN
eHceI anything he ever furnished the Mel
% sen AZ Op 6r company The first act scene
IN the Paris Latin quarter was built from
models designed from origina | photo-
graphs and sketches procu1e ed in France
ana ana the scenery is the largest ever sent
from the New York studio of Josep1
Physioc. The brilliant costumes are from
beautiful water color paintings by the
well known artist, Archie Gum.
The story of the libretto furnished nv
Frederick Ranken, is described as a de-
licious travesty on the polite custom of
chaperons, an idea of which is gained
from the following taken from one of Mr..
Ranken's lyrics:
If convention must be needed,
Then chaperon is needed
A chaperon of wOndrous versatility:
Who modest must be and quiet
Living well on any diet
That is offered by Ilebeian or nobility.
She is jocular and jolly,
Often sad and melancholy,
And her protege must never see a chap
alone;
But in manner most diverting
She alone must do the flirting,