The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-02-21

q Illus l.usical comedy ip three acts Adapted
rpm the German of L. Krenn and c.
1inQau; Book by Harry B.. Smith;
music IN sc py ludwig Highlander. Present.
81 LOT the nrst time in st. Paul at the
Melropohtan opera house by Nixon e.
zimmerman company
CAST OF CHARACTERS.
E kagTst Lump ..............John Henshaw
P s5i,,,plea 49,. Edwin Foy
P E[lnce Adolar de Bomsky. I'D. L. Don
rsulalo, A1aglSlrate.. Harry Fairleigh
Rudl Won ROdenstein- Wilmer Bentley
Aiokl Won Muggenheinl. 49,. Harry Stuart
So-at uIsI '...-.................. Al Morris
81 ga. a. Joseph Ratiff
1Ssi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. Marie George
Will Josie Dewitt
T RIA u, Louise Lawton
Ti iftIa 6araIWurSt .-.:,.........Mary Ament
Mazona Bradcombe.
OF the making of operate comedies
erstwhile styled .teonaic operas there is,
IN verify, no end Nor is there likely "a
be- So long as the public will part with
It's coin at the box office window in ex-
cnange for the slips of pasteboard that
allow them to pass the custodian of the
outer doors, so long compositions of
TINS class, will continue to come from fine
BUSY pens of librettist and composer.
MOST OF them will be devoid Of plot, pur-
poseiess, tenuous, little fairy nothings,,
amuse for the passing hour. It is hardly
to be expected that men who are writing
Two or three pieces every twelve months
VIII produce strong work 1T is
TO be expected that there will he
similarity of construction and in the
working out of details, and if the music
Oh one be reminiscent of that of some
olner' no one need be surprised. How
ever, there are always the stage man.
ager and the scenic artist, and if these
pc adopts in the business they can sur
round the work with a glamour that will
fects. -
Were it not for the fact that the pen
auiupn OF public favor has in its jour
neys pack and forth swung TO
the operate comedy portion of
the arc it traverses, it is more
than probable that, ''The Strollers''
would never have been written. In plot
II IS stronger than the other pieces of
the same genus which have been seen
mere this seasonal fact that is probably
que TO its German origin. In writing the
lyrlcs and in adapting the book to the
demands of the American stage Mr.
smith has not exhibited his former yiril-
lty The work as a whole lacks in spon-
taniety; the dialogue is forced and not
particularly snappy; there are no lyrics
worth mentioning, and the topical songs
are not radiantly bright. The music is
better than the words to which it is
set. The choruses are well harmonized I'd,
some of the melodies, notably sStrollers,
We, are catchy, and the orchestration
is admirably done. The costumer and the
artists have done their work SO well
that no criticism can be made. There is
an harmonious blending of rich tints,
flood of naulti-hued lights diaphanous
draperies that swish and rustic pleas
antly, pretty girls-a host of them-and
the thousand and one little accessories
that are indispensable in a production of
this kind. Summed up briefly, the YER
dict concerning ''The Strollers'' must be
that while neither the book nor the music
bears marks of extraordinary merit, the
production is eminently enjoyable and
deserves to be ranked as one of the sea-
sons best offerings. At any rate, it
pleased an audience that filled every scat
in the Metropolitan last night, and so
Well that insistent encores were demand
ed of all the principals, and kept those
in front of the footlights in continuous
roar of laughter.
The presenting company is one of the
best that has made its appearance in
st. Paul this winter, and is entirely adj
equate to production. Mr.. John Hen
shaw, who heads the male contingent, Is
a comedian of the free and easy types,
whose methods are natural, and whose
work is at all times convincing. The
role of the itinerant philosopher suits
him most admirably, and he appears to
the best advantage in that character.
Strange to say, he can sing as well as
act, and his work is at all times clean
cut and commendable Eddie F'oy was
discovered" as soon as he came On the
stage, and the welcome he received from
Ia -
cookies Of the veterans heart. During the
entire intermission between the second
and third acts there were repeated out
breaks of tunultous applause and loud
calls for Fey" and had he come be-
fore the curtain he would have received
an ovation. Mr.. Foy still wears the same
cast of countenanee that he carried
around in the palmy days of the old
Chicago opera house, when his name on
the play bills descriptive of the Hender-
son Extravaganzas, like Ben Adem's,
led all the rest. He can't sing any more
than he ever could, but there are parts
in which he can be funny, and lie has
found one of them in the role he is now
interpreting. D. L. Don, as Prince
Adolar de Bomsky, has a difficult task
cut out for him, but he comes off with
credit, as does Mr.. Harry Fairleigh. as
the judge. Marie George, as BERTHE, the
wife of the mendicant philosopher, does
most admirably. Unlike the premier vo-
calfsts of other organizations that have
been here this winter, she can really
sing, and her work last night was the
more appreciated because of this fact
In addition to her vocal gifts, Miss
George is also the possessor of a face
that is pleasant to look on, a graceful
stage presence, and the daintiness and
pieQuaney that characterizes all her work
make her a prime favorite from the
start Josie Dewett is seen to excellent
advantage, and her work has improved
greatly since her last appearance here.
The remaining members Of the cast are
satisfactory.
The audience was the largest of the
season, all the boxes and every seat in
the theater being occupied The engage
ment is for the remainder of the week
Nothing but praise is heard from all
sides fer the vaudeville performance
which is being presented at the Grand
Opera house this week. In this attrae-1
ton theater- goerS We're promised a. per-
Torrance embracing the best acts of their
kind that the vaudeville stage could af-
ford and the promise has been kept
The engagement will close with the per-
Torrance tomorrow afternoon and night.
Musical comedy is a style of dramatic
entertainment VIRGIN has proven exceed
ingly popular with local amusement low
ers and an especially good attraction of
this order is ''Mamselle 'AWkins" which
is announced to be seen at the Grand
the coming week, commencing Sunday
night. ia
The advance sale of seats for the re-
citals by Jan Kubelik at the Metropolitan
next Tuesday and Wednesday opened
yesterday morning. Contrary to general
expectation there was no great rush at