The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-06-03
At St. Paul Theaters


From. Dixie" provided a heaping meas
ure or entertainment at the Metropol-
ltan last night. In its capacity to en-
tertain, it certainly has not been sur
passed. II indeed it has been equaled,
py any musical comedy that has pre-
coded 1t during the entire season.
And this was not due to the expIoita-
ton OF any star, bat rather to gener-
Gus employment of the whole company
whose ensemble achievements are in
deed admirable.
Musicaliy. it is more satisfying than
many, Greationss of its class, for, unlike
some that suffer from monotony. be-
cause the composer has grown weary.
"A Girl From Dixie" engaged the at
tention of no less than thirteen writer's
OF music. This was a happy thought
or that prolific librettist, Harry B.
smith, who, after writing the words,
employed bakers dozen of recognized
composers to furnish the music. If one
number tailed to catch the people, it
was reasonably certain that another
would
That Mr.. Smith reasoned well was
convlnclngly demonstrated last night.
Every single number on the pro-
gramne received at least one encore.
ana several had to be repeated four,
flve and six times. Such a demonstra-
tion bespeaks the success Of any mu-
steal entertainment. The frequent de-
ma1lds fofathe repetition of a song. a
chorus, or a specially, tell the story
They Enthusiastically indicate that the
people, like poor Oliver, want more"
ana this 1t is that makes them go
| again.
| Not that any of this composite music
Is pretentious.~ No attempts to juggle
with counterpoint, or produce har-
monies SO close as to cause irritation.
were observable. Instead, each com
poser seemed inspired with the am
b1tlon to write a song and chorus
Tor the chorus was never neglected
that would captfyate the people and
| appeal to the universal sense of tune
and rhythm. AS BELTS the title, ragtime
! is given some rich opportunities.
AS comparisons between the acts OF
! any dramatic offering are inevitable, it
| is only fair to the first act of "A Girl
From Dixie" to say that it is the bet
| ter of the two, though the last act is
| by no means a disappointment. The
| first act shows the interior of a country
! schoolhouse in Maryland. The pupils
and teacher, too, sing upon the slight
! est proVocat1on, and the music is eX-
] cept1onally gay and melodious. The
| most fetching number is 1.-THE Lovers
A B c. sung by Charles H. Bowers,
OF "Sheltering Palms" fame in IFloro-
dora, and participated in by the pu-
| pills, girls and boys. The business
| accompanying is very effective, and
| the encoreS are numerous. The proni-
nence of the chorus throughout the
| entire piece is one of its chief attrac-
| lions. Detached and lonesome solos
are considerably omitted.
Neither is any member of this Or
| ganiZation starred. The principal fe-
| male role, Kitty Calvert, is assumed
| by Beatriz Bronte, a Vivacious bru-
! nette, whose soprano possesses a good
/ ly volume and melodious quality She
/ is happily paired with Mr.. Bowers,
! who can do something more than sing.
An amusing characterization of an
English lord was contributed by Cliff
| ford Leigh, to whom the lbrettist has
allotted some characteristic lines by
way of satire on fortune hunting Brit
| ish nobIemen. d. L. Don, in the role
| of an eccentric music teacher, did not
gain his opportunity until late in the
| second act, when he beguiled the time
| agreeably with a Teutonic monologue,
| specialties at the piano and an imita-
| ton of woman putting the finishing
touches on her toilet. 80,
Thomas J. Keogh furnished a laugh
able caricature of ranting lawyer,
and Charles H. Shelter made an unctu-
Gus old nanny, who wuked for de
Calverts when dey was rich"
1t has already been intimated that
1 CHO JO0A1S WOlIiSlI OI the SIOW dI0
comely. This virtue is notably exem-
plified by Essie Lyons, who plays the
suffering girl, Bess Jackson, and Olga
May in the role of Maude Mabel Earl,
whose papa owns the cigar factory.
A feature of the second act is the
song Bubbles" accompanied by the
blowing of soap bubbles by the chorus.
1t is very tuneful So also is the song
and chorus, Mary From Maryland"
in the first act we'll ct owe in an
Orchard"
"The Sunflower and the Sum- which
opens the second act; when the Moon
Comes Ger the Hill'' and Glory are
all three catchy, tunes, with captivat-
ing rhythm.
The costuming is varied and always
in good taste. F. G. H.
1.-THE Rogers Brothers in London"
the latest of the series of the funny
entertainments put forth by Messrs.
Klaw and Erlanger, with the Rogers
| brothers featured as the stars, will be
presented at the Metropolitan opera
house for four nights, beginning Sun
| day evening.
In compiling this skit, which the au-
thor deSignates as a vaudeville farce,
John J. McNally has had the assist
ance Of George V. Hobart and Ed
GARDENER, who wrote the lyrics for the
pfOQuCC1On. Inc I11uSlCS Dy MAX EOn-
man and Melville Ellis, is of the light,
jingling kind which fits in we'll with an
entertainment of this " sort wherein
vaudeville acts form one of the at
tractive features. 1t is in three elab-
crate scenes, which represent the deck
of the North German Lloyd steamship
Kronprinz Wilhelm; Trafalgar square,
London and Meet Me at the Foun-
tain," in Siegel- Cooper's, New York.
The -Four Cohans" will be the clos
ing attraction at the Metropolitan
opera house for this season, playing
an engagement of three nights and Sat
urday matinee, beginning Thursday
evening, June Is. The company num-
bers fifty people, and they will appear
in their latest vehicle, Running for
Office. The company is just return
ing from a tour of the Pacific coast.
There will be three more perform
ances, including a matinee Saturday,
of Remember the Maine" at the
Grand.
1.-The James Boys in Missouri will
be produced at the Grand next week.
Dramatic incidents in the lives Of these
notorious robbers furnish the excite
ment.
There will be a ladies' matinee at
the Star today, the bill being the usual
excellent performance of the Al Reeves
cOmDany The Offering for the matinee