St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-08-19
ADJUSTMENTS.
Opening Night of "spot Cash.


The production of new play is an event
and ii was quite natural that considerable spec
ulaton should have been INDUCED in both
by the profession and the public regarding
the new venture OF w. NJ. Curtis. Formerly
it was considered essential to the success of
new play that it should be first passed upon
by the tribe of specialized quidnunces who
have the privilege of residing
in New York, and to their critical
acumen and judgment was attributed the
success or failure of the particular drama
subjected to the test or ordeal. Happily all
this has been changed and wise and enter
prising managers, realizing that the drift of
all true excellence had set in towards st.
Paul, and desiring to share in her glory,
have at last selected this city as furnishing
at the same time the largest, most intelligent
and most critical audiences of any metropo-
lis in the country.
| When the curtain went up on the new
| play of ''Spot Cash, or Sam'l of Posen on the
road" at the Grand last night the audience
was therefore expectant. And what an i'm
mence audience it was for hot night. The
orchestra, parquett, dress circle and gallery
were almost filled to sufficatio1l, and the per-
Soeqel of the assemblage recalled some of the
nights when a favorite and popular opera was
to be given The character of ''Spot Cash. is
in many respects similar to 'Sam'l of Posen,"
the play in which Mr.. Curtis made his first
success. The comedy vein is worked out in
a similar manner and by pretty much the
same methods, the play indeed as the title
indicates. being sequel to the first comedy.
The first night of any play is always a crit
zeal period, and last night was no exception
to the rule.
Considering the similarity of the plays in
timated and the wonderful success achieved
! by Mr.. Curtis in his first venture, ''Spot
Cash. may be viewed as an equal success,
and it was so considered by the audience.
! The drama was accorded a hearty and en-
thusiastic reception, but the performance
was marred by several bitches, most of which
were incidental to a first night. Considered
per Sc, the play will no doubt be modified in
some respects, in which there is room for
improvement.
| The cast embraces over twenty performers,
| the principal comedy role being in the keep
ing of Mr.. Curtis. His dialect Of the He
brew drummer is quaint and taking, while
the dialogue throughout is of the bright,
quick order, favored with species of slang
common to mercantile and conversational
parlance There is little slang in the
last act which is out of . place and
might be eliminated altogether. The ap-
pearance of Mr.. Curtis as Sam'l Plastricb
in the first act is simply killing. He dawns
on the audience as fantastic as Chinese
frescoe or the tnts in a chrome sunset.
| lie al Si-tS nf or
coat, the rich lining of which is decorated
with lions heads, maroon colored suit
which reminds one of the hue of Phia
delphia pressed brick. a green velvet vest
highly figured, white plug hat and nobty
CATERS.
A sketch of 'iSpot Cash" appeared in Sun
days iseue of the GLOBE. 1t may be added
that among the queer tumble of incidents
something like plot runs, and besides the
comedy business is varied by vein of ira
gedv acting. The latter element is furnished
by Miss Albina de Mer, as Hortense, an ad
ventures, her scenes being detracted from by
the comedy business by which they arc
sandwiched The high tragedy elements in
bad form aud might be greatly modified. The
between which they are sandwiched. The
play is replete with stirring incidents and
the action was smooth for an initial perform.
ance.
The second act was spoiled by the failure
of an internal machine to explode
and what would have otherwise
made the audience roar fell rather tamely
But this was an accident and like severa
other defects will not be likely to occur
again. The scenes and properties are elab
crate and realistic, thu view of Niagara il
the last act being tine, while the hotel scene
is made realistic by the presence of an ON
nibus and live horses on the stage
The company contains several clever
actors, the roles taken by Davenport Bebus
Barney Reynolds, Mr.. Arnold, Mr.. Werner
MIR. Sullivan, Carlotta Evelyn and Jennie
Arnot all being marked by forcible acting
The scenes are laid at station on the Erie
railroad, the Office of the Grand Pacific hotel
Chicago, the bridal chamber of the hotel
and the drawing room of the Clifton house.
Niagara Falls.
Mr.. Barney Reynolds, one of the come
dams of the M. B. Curtis company, will be
remembered as having played the highly
amusing role of conductor in the sTourists
last season. He is clever comedian and a
present makes the most of not very CRATE
full part
The play will be repeated to night and
IA