The Saint Paul globe., 1905-03-18
At st. Paul Theaters

One OF the pleasantest and most i'm
pressive features of the Wagner feSti-
walls at Bayreuth>is the custom inau-
gurated by the composer himself Of
warning his audiences of the begin
ning or an act of the music drama by
having choir OF trumpeters stationed
IN 'front.' of the festival playhouse play
Ing various motifs from the music of
the work then being performed. This
custom Is not only ornamental. but it
is very useful, for. during the long in
termission the audience scatters in all
directions. and were not warning given
them many would be late and barred
from the auditorium: for, once the
lights are lowered, no one can be
seated.
Mr.. Savage has adopted this custom
in his performance in English of Wag-
ner'S music drama, in order to give
"ParsifaF as it should be given, which
means in accordance with the best ira
ditlonS of Bayreuth- 1t is impossible
to have 1t performed in one session
Therefore Mr. Savage gives the first
act In the afternoon. beginning at 80
O'Clock This act ends at 7:15: then
there is an intermission of an hour and
quarter. in which time the audience
may dine in comfort, returning to the
tneater Tor the second act, which be-
gins at $3.50. This acts ends at 9:33.
performance is over at 1O:45.
Ten minutes before the beginning of
each act. band of trumpets and from
bones viii play various motifs from
the music drama in different parts of
the theater. Thus before the first act
they play the Eucharist motifs. which is
the first one heard in the prelude and
pays so important a part in the mu-
sical scheme of the drama Before the
second act one hears a part of the
Duoyant. youthful Parsifal motif. which
is heard in the orchestra as ParsifaI
scales the wall of Klingsor's castle
BEFORE the last act, is heard from the
trumpets both the uplifting Grail motif
and the sturdy resonant motif of Faith
1t cannot be impressed too deeply
on the audience that il is most desir-
able for all to be seated when the con-
ductor takes his chair, for once the
lights are lowered the doors must be
closed.
"Parsifar' will be seen at the Met
ropolitan opera house the latter half of
next week, beginning Thursday even
ing, and includes a Saturday matinee.
The special matinee of Buster
Brown" at the Grand will commence
this morning at 10 o'clock and the reg
uiar matinee at the usual time, 2.30.
The last performance will be given to-
night at Sis. The musical attraction
has broken all records for attendance
this season at the Grand, which is the
best evidence in the world that the
performance is to the liking of local
theatergoers. Master Giovanni, Jack
Bell, May Walsh, Jordan and Crouch
have made individual hits. The mu-
steal numbers and costuming are fea-
lures of the performance
Beginning with a matinee tomorrow
at 2:30 and continuing throughout the
week, More to Be Pitied Than
Scorned," Charles Z. Blaney's latest
scenic melodrama, will receive its ini-
tial performance at the Grand opera
house. The story is that of the church
and stage. The cast is said to be a
large and efficient one.
B. c. Whitney's musical mixture,
Isle of Spice" will be the offering at
the Metropolitan tomorrow night.
The Isle of Spice" was first pro-
duced by the La Sale Theater stock
company in Chicago, where it remained
for $50 nights at the La Sale theater.
From there il was taken on the road,
playing just a few of the larger cities
of the middle states, and opened in
Boston, where it has record of four
teen weeks to a capacity business, and
Mr.. Whitney then arranged for a
Broadway appearance at the Majestic
theater, New York, where the piece
ran for $50 nights. The isle of Spice
enlists the services of large company
of capable players, including the Bos-
ton cast.