St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-09-02
DRAMATIC DRIFT.

DRAMATIC DRIFT.
The theatrical business had an up
ward tendency last week. The PeO-
pies gave good presentation of ROB-
ERrSoN's comedy School all the week
to audiences that averaged well. At
the Grand the first half of the week was
occupied by those Incompatible stars
III the production Of legitimate drama,
LOUIS JAMES and MARIE WAINWRIGHT.
The latter part of the week was taken
up with presentation of RICE'S BY
ronical burlesque opera. The Corsair."
-
1t is evident that st. Paul theatrical
taste is for that which pleases the eye
more than the other senses, as was
demonstrated by the immense audiences
which the ''Corsair" attracted. There
is nothing to the play, or opera, which
ever it may be designated, except the
elaborate stage settings and the gor-
geOus costuming. While the principals
were all well known people, still good
many of them were back numbers, and
away back at that. And yet, because
they wore tight-fitting clothes, artistic
ally padded, people paid their money
and tlocked in crowds to see them. On
the other hand, LOUIS JAMES, who
stands now next in succession 10
EDWIN BOOTH, and MARIE VAIN
WRIGHT, acknowledged to be the fore
most American woman in her prOfeS-
sion, played to houses that only little
more thau paid expenses. Such COM
parsons are sad commentary on the
degeneracy of the dramatic taste of this
age.
Vrba hill fo. III fI,ic xuaaly OF tho Grand
is FRENCH and SANGER's romantic spec
tacular melodrama "HarbOr Lights"
Nothing is known here of the play,
as it is new i'll this locality, but is
represented to have had run OF
ga nights in London and over 100 nights
in Boston and New York. 1t is de-
scribed as nautical drama, showing
series of pictures incidental to English
seaport life, and is announced to be
presented on more elaborate scale
than is usual with plays of that sort.
~
The Peoples theater will take new
departure this week in letting up on
the long run of comedy, which has
grown a little mOn0tonOuS, and Will
give touch of melOdrama. The play
selected for this week is BULwERs
Lady of Lyons" play familiar
with pay -SOSho1 49, 49,
lacking in the freshness of its charms.
The following is the cast: Claude Mel
notte, A. S. LIPMAN: Col. Damas,
CHARLES STANLEY; NJ. Deschapelles,
r. +. COTToN; Beauseant. +. Z.
HUEBNER; CLAWS, CHARLES WYNGATE;
Gaspard. HAROLD RUSSELL; Landlord,
BEN JOHNSON; Capt. Geryais. WILL
MARKS; Lieut.. Dupont, Mr.. WEEKS;
Pauline, Miss LoDUsKI Young; Ma
dame Deschapelles, Mrs. MARY MYERS.
~
LOUIS JAMES and MARIE VAIN
WRIGHT will not be seen in st. Paul for
some time again. Most of this season
will be spent OH the Pacific coast. Next
season their engagements will be con-
fined exclusively to four cities. New
York. BROOKLYN, Boston and Philadel-
phia, where they expect to produce the
Shakespearean plays with scenic splen-
dor even SURPRISING what BOOTH and
BARRETT have been doing In that line.
IS
JACK ST. MAUR, who during an ex-
tended stay in st. Paul,making prepara-
lions for the PATTI concert, won host
of friends by his genial manners and &C
cOmmodating disposition. died suddenly
in the CatSkill mountains last week.
Mr.. ST. MAUR had made brilliant rep
utation both as a journalist and as
theatrical manager. At one time ne
was an officer in the British navy, and
had been twice around the world. lie
had been engaged as LOTTA'S business
manager for this season, and had gone
up into the Catskills to enjoy short
vacation before ell .ering upon the sea-
sons work.
Manager ]. NJ. HILL announces the
re-opening of the Union Square theater,
New York, tomorrow night, with Miss
HELEN BARRY as the star in SIDNEY
RosENFELD's successfulAmerican play,
ga Possible Case" 1t will be remem-
bered that the Union Square was de-
stroyed by fire last spring, and Mr.. Hill.
has displayed wonderful energy and
enterprise in being able to reopen so
soon.
We offer our congratulations to
BILLY" FLORENCE on his success In
getting new play adapted to himself
and wife. lit is called "A Paper Chase"
written by LIONEL BROUGH, and has
created something Of sensation in
London.
As long as MARIE WAINWRIGHT, the
model wife, has been married, she never
attempted to wear the pantalOonS until
last FRIDAY evening. Her appearances
in the character of Rosalind at the Min
neapolis Grand was the first attempt
she had ever made to don male attire.
Her face was suffused with bushes
every time she cast eyes on herself, but
for all that she looked so sweet and
cunning, and won such rounds OF APP
plause, LOUIS JAMES declares she can
wear the brooches from this time out.
~
We note with sincerest qualification
that little MINNIE MADDERN is work.
inc herself up to the position she was
long ago entitled to occupy in the pro-
fesSion. and from which she has been
held back by bad management. Her
new play is brilliant success, and the
addition of JOHN j. JENNINGS, the emil
nent comedian, to her company was an
astute move on the part OF her new man
ager. MINNIE MADDERN's merit has
never been properly appreciated by the
American people. Ii given good
chance to show the stuff that is in her,
this little rosebud of the stage VIII DEM
onstrate that she comes nearer being a
rival of BERNHARDT than any or our
American actresses.
~
JOSEPH ANDERSON, brother of MARY,
is shortly to wed the oldest daughter of
LAWRENCE BARRETT. We hope Jo-
sEPH may make good husband, for he
is a most awfully Indifferent actor.
-
JACK HAvERLY has secured a new
musical skit which he proposes to put on
road this season. 1t is called "Blown
In" If it is founded on JACKS expert
ence in Colorado mining stock, it will
recall some unpleasant "reminiscences.
49,
MARGARET MATHER declares that II
she loses her suit with j. Nj. HILL, she
will quit the stage forever. 1t does look
as If there was little spite work mixed
nm in Mr. HILLS prosecution of the suit