The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-20
1sa
.1IapTF''aL9
A Royal Rogue.

doubt, the leading, comic opera comedian
on the stage, although younger, both
| IN years and experience, than a score
OF others Whose names may be recalled
almost without effort. 1t is not so many
years ago that he came to the Twin
Cities for the first time, and in COM
paratlVely minor roles; but the signs Of
promise were apparent even then, and
they have been realized in fuller measure
than was predicted at the time On
I every successive visit broadening of his
horizon has been apparent, and he is
now sui generis, and there is none to
make him afraid
In the present instance, it is fortunate
mat this is so; for candor compels the
statement that the piece he has brought
20 the city on this occasion is woefulIy
oeHclent in everything that goes to make
up successful opera. The book is a
weak tenuous thing, with but little CO.
herence; there are no lyrics worth a
second hearing; tie dialogue is yaptd
and pointless; and the music is for
the most part, abominably bad All it
ooes-ail 1t can dds to furnish a
groundwork for the art Of Mr. De Angels.
ana that apparently, is all he needs or
ASKS. whether the tremendous amount
Of business with which he has crowded
the play has been supplied by the authors
nl1seH, MS stage manager or by all
JolItiy' need not concern any one. 1t is
| suIhclent to know that it is there. and
that it is responsible for the success Of
the play In hands less skillful than
those OF the present star even this would
Hol feueem its BADNESS; but his ability
u adequate to the seemingly Impossible
task, and the result is one Of the most
enjoyable productions that has been seen
dt the metropolitan this season From
the time Mr.. De Angels comes rpon
INIT
thefe is not a dull moment. Every in
slant OF the time there is something
uolhg. Inc action often partakes Of
me nature of horse play and at times
tlle run that is going on behind the foot
!lShts even reaches a boisterous STAG
put It is undeniably funny and It keens
the audience in a continuous roar Of
| laughter 4o''l u
one other criticism that must he of-
Iered IS the weakness of the supporting
! company The chorus is both s,naIJ ~;
idllIehtaply weak. 1t is true the com
poser OF the music has failed to SUNNY
any strong concerted numbers. brt Tho
| people IN the cast are not ADEQUATE to
sucn as ne has written. On his previous
ISIS 70 tue frontier, Mr.. De Angels has
surrounded himself with cana HE aesie+
ants, and it is to be regretted that he
seems TO pe falling into the error that is
llidde py SO many capable stars of s11r
| rounding themselves with second-c1ass
singers, either that they NAV shine tho
more brightly by the contrast. or tha+
e,Apehses may be reduced in order that
t--0 o1ilddd1 pay day may not make
! 50 neaVy 1nrOads= on the .m9nagerioT
strong box. Whatever the motive az
result IS to be deplored for the be+te7.
the work OF the principals the more an
parent becomes the poverty Of the re-
naming members of the cast when they
! can De classed no better than second
ratefs. Inc strongest chorus in the world
Moulu not give "A Royal Rogue any de-
gree Of strength, but, to use the current
| term, it would help some''
AS has been stated already. the success
q inc piece is due wholly and unreserv
edly to the fact that Mr. De Angels is
aoIe 70 breathe into its dry bones the
breath OF life. In this lies his personal
triumph. AS the proprietor Of the Cafe
Ballou, masquerading unwilIingly in the
gulse OF a ncblemap, there are innumer
aDle opportunities offered him for the Gre
alton or laughter and he does not over
look single one. He can't sing anv
more than ne ever could, but he has an
eloquent pair of legs that more than
make up this small defciency-and. be-
sues, VINO ever heard Of a comic oDera
star being q singer, anyway? Time and
experience have served to accentuate the
characteristics that made him famous as
comedian. There is the same funny
walk, the face capable Of expressing an
parently without effort, all the emotions
that are usually bestowed upon a comic
opera creation, the same funny talk-in a
word, the same funny De Angels. only
funnier than ever before
Two members of the COMPANY stand ouf
from the mediocrity which is so appar-
ent whenever Mr.. De Angels is off the
stage. They are Henry Norman, whose
all who heard it, and whose comedy work
was Of high order. Helen Byron is nor
much from vocal standpoint but she
IS. Iiquant, chic and dainty, and her work
is satisfactory. Gertrude Mackenzie sings
fairly WcI, reads badly and is too self
conscious to be wholly convincing. The
remainder of the cast is weak yoco1Iv
and histrionical1y.
The piece is supcrbIy mounted. the cos
tuning is elegant and tasteful, and tha
performance is eminently enjoyable. "A
Royal Rogue will be repeated tonigb+
and Wednesday night, with a matinee on
Wednesday afternoon.
The Grand furnishes its patrons this
week with an attraction that is Of m
usual merit. True, popular prices ana
the taste of its devotees lave made nee
essary an atmosphere OF 1nelodrama
Whlch calls for scenes thrilling and bor
derlng upon the impossible but eat the
Old Cross Roads" does not suffer he
cause of this accompaniment.
The play, which has it's scenes wholly
laid in the South, and its plot an adam
ton from the vendettas so Character
lstlc Of that region, is a pretty vet thrill
ing story. It's lines have strength the
staging is smooth, while-a cast of ability
gives it presentation. It's only weak
point is the smattering of darkey life that
story OF the South could scarcely do
without The negro is there. but his
amusing dlalect has been abused by an
interpretion that is absurd.
In the character of Parepa- an oc+o.oon
MISS Esther Williams has a role that
IS an exciting one, but she is enual ~ i
| in every respect. There is little n cri+t1
clse IN her work. AS the woman scorp-
ed, her fury has that ferver and intar-
slty which literally makes her nar+
of-the character she so ably nor+ra,,s
A refreshing characterization i +ba+
OF Doc Keer, steamboat gambler ~
the ante-bellu1n river days, by Edwin
waiter. There is art in his work yThorn-
as f. Ince, in the OVAL roles Of trann
ana bogus count, exacts from both thaj,.
full requirements
Fully up to the standard is also tro
work OF John j. Pierson as Da4r.,,I
thornton, and Maurice Hedges. IS tba
MAJOR The colored population is takan
care of by Mrs Charles G. CRAIG 80
Aunt Liza and Miss Louise vallen+ine
as Young Mississippi The latter doas :
song and dance that is yerv eref5i+ohta
FRANK M Kelly, who gives an admir-
able portrayal of Tom Martin the va,,ne
owner OF Myrtle fern plantation. Is an