St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-11-16
The Rn,nnnu Rue %

This picturesque spectacular and dramatic
melodrama, which created great enthusiasm
and attracted crowded houses on its first pro-
duction here last season. will be the attrac-
ton at the Grand Opera house for week COM
mencing tomorrow (Monday), Nov. II.
''Romany Rye'' is by all odds the best mel
odrama we have had from London in a score
Of years. Indeed, we doubt whether Eng
land ever witnessed more coherent, varied,
logical and every way pleasing melodrama.
The romance that pcrvades ii is admirably
handled. The story is so simple that a child
can follow 1t. The incidents, of The most
striking and surprising nature, flow out of
each other naturally. The spectacular effects
are a succession of delightful surprises from
beginning to close. The most noteworthy
are the Hampton race course, the deck of the
Saratoga, the revolving scene which trans
fers dark and gloomy cellar into a magnif-
cent spectacle on the river Thames. where
Jack Hearne escapes from the villains who
have taken him drugged into a boat to the
middle Of the river with the intention of
drowning him; tween decks Of the Saratoga,
and the wreck of the Saratoga. This play
illustrates more strongly than we have ever
before seen the wonderful capacity of the
stage in the way Of scenic effects when d.
rected by an ingenious mind.
OF recent performance of this company,
the Courier-JournaL says:
''The Romany Rye with its glimpses of
gypsy life, IFS pictures of life in the slums Of
London and in the hedges of England, was
presented at Macaulay's last evening by the
company under the management of Brooks
81 Dickson. Those who remember this pic
turesque drama from last season need not
be told that it is one of the most successful
of the melo-dramas written by G.. r. Sims,
who gave to the WORK great deal of close
observation and study of gypsy life, and who
has drawn number of excellent character
sketches to illustrate the love story of Gertie
Heckett and Jack Hearne, the gypsy artist
Although the company arrived late yesterday
afternoon the elaborate and beautiful scenery
used in the play was all successfully and
smoothly displayed.
The bird store in Little Queen street, the
manor Of Craigsnest, the Hampton race
course, and the marine views, closing with
the graphic wreck OF the Saratoga, are all
fine specimens of scenic art, and won rounds
of applause as they were revealed. The COM
pany interpreting the drama is a well balanc-
ed and effective one, and there are few
changes from last season. Mr.. Walter l..
Dennis has succeeded James A. Hardie as
Jack Hearne, and gave picturesque per-
Torrance of the hero. He is manly and
handsome, and was leader and effective in
the scenes that fell to him Miss Victory
Bateman as Gertie Heckett, the heroine, was
equal effective. A slight and graceful girl
in appearance, she was earnest and sincere,
and won the sympathy of the audience from
the first. The Boss Knivett of Charles w.
Butler was a rafting bit of character acting.
and his comicalities kept the house in good
humor throughout the evening. AS old Joe
Heckett, the eccentric bird fancier, NJ. j.
Jordan was admirable in make up, and acted
the part with power. These are the principal
personages in a lengthy cast that embraced
thirty-four characters, and the drama was
evenly and strongly played throughout.