The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-09-19
AT St. Paul Theaters


Much happier than it's ominous title
as The Forbidden Land" the latest
musical comedy, and the first to visit
the metropolitan this season If its
successors afford as entertaining a
combination of words and music and
cast as felicitousiy adapted to their
exploitation, the patrons of the Metro
pontan have enjoyment in store.
The Forbidden Land, is Tibet.
whose deep mysteries the colonizing
Brit1sher has recently endeavored to
pefvade to such extent that new maps
OF Asia are now in vogue as result
OF his discoveries. Surely an ideal To-
Gale for comic opera or musical COM
edy which would be hampered by
or complications
This latest contribution is the eff
Fort of Guy f. Steely, who penned the
dialogue and lyrics. and penned them
smoothly and wittily. and Frederic
Chapin, who COL posed the music with
view to fitting the words, not try
Ing to emulate, Sir Arthur Sullivan, or
Onenbach. or Strauss, or Audran. The
consequence is a light and pleasing di-
version. that rests instead of wearying,
provekes smiles instead of tears, and
sends ten tenths of the people from the
theater saying: "A good show" or
words to that effect, which nobody
can deny"
1.-The Forbidden Land" is not comic
opera in the strict sense of the designa-
ton. 1t is melange of tinkling rhyth-
mic music of oriental flavor, dialogue
often crisp and funny, and situations
and specialties irresistibly conical. No
pretentious scenery is attempted The
settings of the two acts are reasonably
attractive, while the eostuming is de-
lightfully unconventional as well as
Tf,frI
would presume to suggest any amend
ments to the architecture of the Tar
jum's palace in the city of Lhasa? BY
the way, "LhaSa" would be a happier
title for this creation
As often happens, the performance
attained a higher average of merit than
aggregations of so-called stars some
times give. The comedy is in the
hands of funny people and the singing
is allotted to players who have the
prime essential of vocalists-voices.
The chorus, while not large, either in
number or the stature of it's soprani
and contrafti, can sing and act. 1t is
yIvaciouS,i animated and petite, SO far
as the feminine contingent figures, and
it figures gracefully.
The unique character is Hulda, the
Swedish maid, impersonated in inimit-
able fashion by Ethel Johnson Es-
scribably eomieal facial expression and
maryeiously nimble feet, Miss Johnson
is constant source of innocent merri-
ment' as long as she is in view. Her
song with chorus cay Want to Go Back
to Sweden" is one of the hits of the
performance She dances with rare
grace and consummate ease.
In addition to Miss Johnson. much
amusement is furnished by William
Cameron in the guise of chief of the
Amalgamated Beggars of Asia, whose
solo imitation of wrestling match
convulsed the house. Gus Weinburg
gave an amusing representation of DR..
KlotZ, of Battle Creek, Mich, the in
ventor of health foods, and Hugh Fla
herty furnished a laughable speciality
in the second act.
Vocally the honors We're shared by
W. III. Clarke, Alma Youlin and Joseph
A. Phillips. Mr.. Clarke's resonant bas-
SO was heard to excellent advantage
in the solos of the Tibetan potentate.
1t is rarely musical and satisfying
basso, true in every tone of it's extern
Sive compass.
Alma Youlin, who played the Tar
june's daughter, displayed a clear So
prano of considerable volume, and Mr..
Phillips tenor possesses melodious
quality.
sweet and refined representation of
Dorothy Fairfax was that contributed
by Mamie Ryan, who is not a vocalist,
but is Enthusiastically an actress. Her
scene with Mr.. Phillips in the first act
gave keen enjoyment.
"The Forbidden Land lags a trifle,
perhaps drags is the more exact word,
during the middle of the last act Less
talk and more of that chorus or an adj
ditional speciality or two might help.
The trio, MY Lhasa Maid" with
chorus, is the catchiest melody in the
work and is therefore encored repeat
eddy.
The orchestra, under the leadership
OF Frank Palma, acquitted itself
creditably. +. G. H