The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-08
THE METROPOLITAN.

The appearance tonight at the Met
gopolitan of Louis James and FTeder-
ick Warde as co-stars in WagenhalS
and Kemper's spectacular scenic pro-
duction Of THE Tempest" is the all
important theatrical event of the near
future. 1t is now some years since
these two famous artists have appear
ed together and lovers of the classic
drama in this as in other communities
will hail the double attraction with
keen pleasure.
In this instance, however, the per-
Torrance is certain to attract an audi
ence Of far more catholic taste than
usually attends a Shakespearean play.
Auditors need not necessarily be par
6iCularly intellectual or of a studious
turn Of mind to appreciate and enjoy
81 beautiful and fascinating spectacle,
in which music, dancing and pictures
of scenes which carry them away from
the world of everyday life, are welded
to the entertaining language and myth
zeal adventures of a people who ere
equally removed from the commonplace
types of men and women as we know
them. Of such a type of play is
Shakespeare's enhancing comedy, The
Tempest" a play in which the fancy
of youth and age, of boy and girl, child
and parent, may run riot. There is
no tragedy to leave a sense of horror
IN the mind of the nervous, but all is
sunshine and frolic. 1t is all so I'M
real, so much as we would like our
own lives to be, so perfect in it's har-
mony, that for the time being it seems
that this land and this people which
existed only in the mind of the i'm
mortal Shakespeare must be real after
all, it appears so delightful, SO posi-
BILE, SO plausible.
1t is easy to conjecture why 1.-THE
Tempest" had but so few stage repre-
sensations during the first century and
half after it was written. 1t has been
the difficulty of making the stage illu-
SlonS and scenes harmonic with the
text. Science, however, which has
discounted many of the miracles Of
the ancientS, has gradually been climb
ing to such heights as to be the hand
maiden of literary genius, and stage
craft must be given its place in the
sciences If it can make a satisfactory
setting for such crystal gem as The
Tempest"
The scene which put the ingenuity of
Managers WagenhaIs and Kemper to
the greatest test is the stage picture of
the storm and shipwreck which occurs
at the opening of the play. Every
known device has been used to make
this scene realistic and at the same
time to maintain an atmosphere of the
supernatural. Many gauzes are used
to effect the gradual change from dark
ness to dawn, the most intricate color
scheme has been evolved, that hues of
sunshade and shade in forest dell and
ocean wave may assume their actual
shades of color; musical and other in
struments of tone were made to MINI
.lc the sounds heard in the woods, the
roar of the waters and swish Of the
winds. Costumes were made to form
the most artistic contrasts, both in
color and design, so as to keep the fair
les and elves and COLLINS of the en-
chanted island a separate ara distinct
creation from that of the worldly cour-
tiers and rough sailors who make it
their temporary home. In fact, every
one concerned in the production, from
the man who makes the imitation flow
ers, toads and birds of the forest, the
carpenters, scene painters, musical
composers, every one up to the actors
who speak the lines, each and all were
instructed to study we'll the lines of
the play itself for their inspiration.
The general effect of the spectacular
scenes will be enhanced by the assist
ance of a competent ballet and a we'll
trained chorus. The engagement is
for four nights and Wednesday matt
nee.
AL G. FIELDS MINSTRELs,
Al G. Fields Ministries will begin an