The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-01-30
-AT ST.
T II E AT RE S
"Robin Hoodv At the MetropoIitan.


an absence of seven long years. The
very best comic opera of native crea-
ton. 1t is doubly welcome The audi
ence which greeted it at the Metro
polltan last night. demonstrated this.
coming as it does after a surfeit of
musical comedies and alleged comic
operas, how refreshing it is! For this
relief much thanks
rms opera naturally brought back
The Bostonians," who are solely iden-
tined with it, and this was another
cause for feItcitation.
what though the familiar faces Of
all of the original, BostonianS did not
represent the characters of De Koven
and Smiths delightful opera, enough
We're IN evidence to give it an old-time
relish. Barnabee. was there and so
was rockingham "a and there you have
your comedy. For age cannot wither
them nor custom stale their infinite
variety.
But more than all, the opera itself
was there-an extraordinarily clever
creation that it's own authors have
never duplicated. Had the roles call
ing for vocal efficiency been allotted to
mediocre singers there might be cause
Tor regret. But such was not the case.
On the contrary, the opera was per-
maps never sung more satisfactorily.
And as 1t Is rep1ete with gems of
melody barking back to merry Eng
lands madrigals and rich with deli
c1ous harmonies that delight the ear,
sounds its presentation last night
afforded unalloyed pleasure. For "the
operas the thing" to paraphrase the
melancholy Dane.
AS there is really nothing new about
Robin Hood" except the new faces
and fresh voices. seen and heard in the
principal roles, they furnish the text
for review nnOn thiC OpC9 sion.
In the first place Robin Hood" is
equipped with prima donna who does
ample justice to the lyrics allotted to
Maid Marian. Grace Van Studdiford
is her name. Gifted with soprano
voice of dramatic quality, displaying
ind1Sputable evidence of culture, Miss
Van Studdiford sings with zest,
dash and a spirit that awaken enthu-
EsSiaSm in the hearer. Distressing
symptoms of the conscious effort nee
essary to climb and descend the scale
and execute trills and cadenzaS do not
appear. She sings with consumrnate
ease, and her tones are clear and pure.
1t is positively restful to hear her carol
forth the ornate aria in Sherwood for
est, so distinctly is each tone sounded.
so facile is her execution of the trillS,
and so brilliant her final note.
In addition to her vocal accomplish
ments, Miss Van Studdiford is indebt-
presSive countenance, valuable adj
juncts even on the operate stage.
The role of Robin Hood was en-
trusted to Harold Gordon, q young man
possessing IyricStenor of a melodfous
quality. His personality, while in no
sense striking nor heroic, is pleasing.
He sings with good taste and earned
eneores where others have failed, nota-T
bly, for the serenades in Sherwood for
est.
Olive Celeste Moore, in the role. Of
Alan-A- Dale, was Obliged to face con-
slant comparison with Jessie Bartlett
Davis. That she acquitted herself 80
successfully is greatly to her credit.
Miss Moore is undenfably pretty, and
likewise the posseSsor of a mellow
mezZo- sopranos voice of even quality,
which she controls with admirable
taste.
Howard Chambers follows Eugene
Cowies as VIII Scarlet, another trying
task. Mr.. Chambers has a. basSo cam
tante voice, which was heard to the
best advantages inA. the cross-bow"
song with chorus in the forest He
was rewarded With three encores.
Macdonald Darlington, a nephew of
w. H. Macdonald, who resembles his
! uncle in feature andsvoice, sang Little
John. Mr.: Darlington displayed a
resonant, musical Baritone, which was
heard to excellent advantage in the
Brown October Ale" song. This IS one
of the most effective numbers in the
opera, owing to the HARMONIOUS chorus
with. which it Closes
Josephine Bartlett's Dame Burden
was as amusing as Of yore.t Her scene
with Barnabeej in the forest is by all
odds the funniest IN the opera.
Why dwell upon Barnabee's Sheriff
| of Nottingham or Ffothingham's F'riaf
Tuck. They are both unique and ire
| sistible. Barnabee speaks those self-a
| plauding lines of the sheriff with the
same insinuating JUNCTION as ever and
accompanies them with the same
graphic and telling facial expressions.
rockingham elicits a laugh every
| time he speaks, just as he always did.
The augmented orchestra. under the
| direction of the veteran, Samuel L.
| Studley, rendered admirable support.
The chorus, as is always the case
with The Bostonians, sang with fine
| precision and spirit.
Fred G.. Hunt.
| Tonight the Bostonians will present
| the sequel to Robin Hood entitled
| Maid Marian" Competent musical