The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-18
ST.
T lea T r E S

Faust was sung last night by the
Castle Square Opera company at the
metropolitan. theater in Minneapolis.
Gounods masterpiece offers much
better test for soloists, chorus and or
chestra than does II Trovatore," and
night thRf {ft4 seems rather surprising
that the mana ement did not select it
for the opening night. III Trovatore''
opera plays on one key only, but Gou-
mods opera strikes many, and the re-
spouse Isl a great human drama in a
splendid scarlet setting Of sin. A Won
derful master of orchestration, the
great French composer has made the
instruments voice in marvelously hui
man way the half mystical, half vo-
luptous conception of his brain. Yet,
though passion throbs in every note of
the music, its lyrics breath only purity
ana refinement and that rare quality,
naiVete, Of which French writer's and
French composers are the only COM
plete masters.
The Castle Square Opera company
did not have the inspiration of large
audience last night, and the unpleasant
weather, responsible doubtless for this
small attendance, may also have been
responsible for the rather cold tenn
permanent of that audience. With the
exception Of MIR. Boyle and Mr.. Coombe,
none Of the principals who sang in I'll
Trovatore" appeared last night in
Faust" Miss RennysOn replaced Miss
Norwood as leading soprano; DAu-
b1gne was the tenor, instead of Shee-
han, and Mr.. Carrier, a new baritone.
sang the role of Valentine. Mr.. Boyle,
who sang the small role of Fernando
Monday night, sang last night the part
of Mephistophles.
Miss Rennyson's Marguerite was,
vocally and histrionically, the best piece
in %GO
Is comedy little woman who has The
advantage of looking the part. Her
voice has an excellent range, and it is
essentially dramatic in timbre. In the
garden scene, the great scene Of the
opera, the sweetness and fleXibility of
her voice and it's quick response to
the dramatic demands made upon it
was charmingly revealed. In the Jew
elI' song and later in the duet with
Faust Miss Rennyson fully rose to the
! heights the music insists upon,
Mr.. Boyle's Mephistopheles was d
bold and figOrou3 piece of acting and'
his big, but flexible, basso lent to the
role the impressiveness it demands. In
the "kermesse" scene, which Mepnis-
tophele5 dominates his picture of the
fiend who, hooking at all the world,
still breads the syrbOl of the cross,
was remarkably effective. D'Aubigne,
who sang the role of Faust, has
sweet and expressive tenor, but it is
lacking in more robust qualities and
physically the singer does not make an
ideal lover. But Mr.. DAubigne's vocal
art is good, and he played the part of
Faust last night With 4 sincerity that
wen for it respect
In the role of Siebel Miss Du Ere
scored distinct success, and Mr.. Oar
rier's Valentine was equally satisfac-
tory. The chorus sang with far more
mi Crf 10 n on iT1cr
Light, and all the ensemble numbers
ere excellent. The opera was hand
fomely staged and the performance
was remarkably smooth in every re-
spect. The orchestra, under the Girec-
ton of Mr. Emanuel, did some splen-
did work. This afternoon IL Trova-
tore" will be sung and this evening
Faust will be repeated.
The bill at the Star that is being
given by the Bon Ton Burlesque COM
pany is filling the house at every per-
Torrance. 1t is full of good features
and it would be invidious to pick out
tho best. There are many good musical
and vaudeville novelties and the bur-
lesque is quite up to the standard of
the house.
The first matinee performance Of
Hearts of Oak" which is holding forth
at the Grand this week, will take place
today at 2; 80 p. m. Hearts of Oak"
has very simple plot. 1t is a clean,
pure play that can be enjoyed by all
classes. The attendance has been sat
iSfactory so far.
In ga Ragged Hero" the melodrama
announced for next weeks attraction
at the Grand opera house, the princi-
pal character, as the title indicates, is
a knight of the road. Although wear
I'M thn a1,h Of q 6fhninoI Il