The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-09-25
CHOCOLATE SOLDIER
Fargoans Have a Treat in Store To-
morrow Night-New Leading
" ....t- Woman,

The Duluth Herald critic was de-
lighted with The Chocolate Soldier,
which is to be here tomorrow night.
The Herald said of Monday nights
performance: |
Rena Smith, D. C. H. S. 'O2, and but
little changed in appearance from the
day when she stepped up for her d.
ploma, came back to her home town
for the first time in an operate role
last evening, and proved to a large
audience at the LyCeum that she has
been working, studying and progress
ing since she was last heard here in
concert two years ago.
The delightful Shawian satire of
Arms and The Man set to the charm
ing music of Oscar Straus comprises
The Chocolate Soldier. Last evening
was not it's first appearance in Duluth,
but the company is fully the equal of
the one seen here last season, If not
superior to it.
Arms and The Man, Bernard Shaw's
brilliant satire on human pomp and
| conceit founded upon incidents of
imaginary war between Bulgaria and
Servia, is the source Of the libretto.
Around the scenes of this libretto Of
The Chocolate Soldier, which Is in
itself almost an independent drama,
Straus has written music that clothes
and lights up the significance of each
ClAClL oSLCAB - : DS4SNS ~NN OWL -
satirical, now petulant, now dreamy
and sentimental according to the pre-
dominant spirit Of each scene. The
echoes of such superb melodies as My
Hero, the pervading theme of the
opera, will still be heard when a
hundred that have come after 1t have
been forgotten,
The entire production is one of re-
markab1e beauty. The quaint costumes,
the gorgeous military ~trappings, the
p%rofusion of rich ornament, and the
wildness Of the Bulgarian landscape
intensity the glamor and romance sug-
gested by the bewitching music.
1t was in the prima donna role in
such a production that Duluth got its
first glimpse Of Miss Smith last even
ing, and Duluth was most pleasantly
surprised. She eve sang better than
she did last evening and her magnifi-
cent voice seems to have improved and
developed. In addition to this she
showed real ability as an actress and
she made a very graceful pewitcnlng-
and slender-Nadina. In short 1t looks
as If Miss Smith had been working
hard, faithfully and conscientiously
during the las year or two, N she
has her feet firmly placed on the
ladder toward better things than the
prima donna in even such a first class
production as Mr.. Whitney's Choco-
l IdL6 SOlulGT INODouy VIII WdLSIl ICl
progress with more interest or more
pleasure than her friends in Duluth.
The company throughout is a most
capable one. Charles Purcell played
the part of Lieutenant Bumeri with a
rare appreciation of Bernard Shaw's
delicate satire. and his Forgive sons
was one of the most delightful bits OF
the entire evening.
Hon Bergere as Mascha is a grace
full dancer and clever coincidence and
} her voice was more than equal to the
demands upon it. Lucille Saunders, as
Nadina's mother, has a rich c~ontralto
voice. j. Russell Powell was funny as
!, Captain Massakroff, and handled his
solo number well. J. r. McDonough
made a very self sufficient and con-
4 ceited hero and played his part with
intelligence. 1 His tenor voice could
have been heard much more than il
. was without firing the audience. Syl-
van Langlois, who is no stranger to
| Duluth by the way, was effective as
Col. Casimir Popoff.