St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-24
THEATRICAL.

The Peoples theater has al ways put
its plays upon the stage in manner
equaled by very few stock company
houses in the West. but even the regu-
lar patrons of this coy temple of amuse-
ment were unprepared for the brilliant
and elaborate spectacular production of
''The Forty Thieves" whicht was
presented last evening. Pieces
of this sort are very hard to
classify; perhaps romantic melodrama
comes as near to describing it as any
thing else. There is only suspicion of
a plot in The Forty Thieves" and the
dialogue does not amount to much. The
fairy chorus. the brilliant costumes, the
artistic groupings and the beautiful
scenic tlbleauX are the ''strong points"
of the production, and they are so
strong that they raised the audience
at the Peoples last night to a high
pitch of enthusiasm. The opening
scene, showing the fairy grotto with the
fairy queen on her throne of pearl, was
one of striking beauty. The lights were
admirably handled giving the effect of
mother of pearl and jewels to the walls
of the grotto. A small incandescent
electric light illuminated the crown
of the fairy queen, alternately
flashing up brilliantly and then subsid-
ing into darkness. The dances were
novel and eXcellently executed, Prof.
Lester and Alice Kemp contributing
some especially graceful figures. The
mechanical effects in the later scenes
were clever and Elusive. The march
ing of the forty thieves pleased the
galleries, and the brilliant cos
tunes added not little to the
general effect. John W. Burton was
Whimsical Ali Bahia, the wood chopper.
His somber rival, in the person of
very stubborn little brown jackass,
shared the applause in the comedy
scenes with him. j. B. Brown made
male roles were generally well taken.
Miss Marie WelleSleyswaS the Fairy of
the Lakes, and welded the magic wand
very gracefully. The chorus of Min
neapolis girls in the garb of Fairyland
was features that attracted much at
tentiOn, especially from the occupants
of the front row. The girls were shapely
and they danced well. 1.-The Forty
Thieves" will run all the week.
Frederick Warde, the tragedian,
opens his engagement at the Grand
tonight, in the tragedy "Galba." This
tragedy is entirely new to Minneapolis
here with an exceptionally strong COM
pany This tragedy was recently pre-
scented in Chicago, where it won the high
est enconimS from the critics, and MIR.
Warde gained fresh laurelS from his
performance Of the role of Galba.
it is entirely different from Spar
tacus. is written by modern play
write, and is picturesque and intensely
dramatic. At the Christmas matinee,
Tuesday, "Gaston Cadoe."
"A party by the name of Johnson
is the odd name of the leading character
in Lancashire Lass" the drama pro-
duced at the Pence last night. 1t is re-
garded as one of the strongest roles in
modern dramas and is great favorite
both with the public and among actors.
| Frederick Book assumed the character
last night and gave most
excellent portrayal, strong, thorough
and finished. JeSSaline Rogers
as Ruth Kirby, the Lancashire
Lass was seen at her best. The part
| is remarkably well adapted to her. Mr..
Connolly also shared largely in the
honorS of the performance. The play
itself has been favorite for many
years and is one of the best recently
produced at the Pence. 1t will be re-
peated at the beneht performance ten
| dered to the Carpenters assembly to-
night and at the Christmas matinee to-
morrow.
For the latter half of tine week the
Pence has been rented by the Western
Amateur Comedy club. which will pre-
sent, in cooperation with Grand Army
posts, 1.-The Drummer Boy of Gettys-
burg" The cast includes mostly local
| talent.
s.Pygmalion and Galatea'' Will be the
opening opera of 1.-The Bostonians" on
| Monday evening.
A romantic play will be produced,
| and Manager Conklin will give away
| presents to those purchasing down
| Stairs seats. A list of valuable books
will also be given to purchasers of bal
cony, parquette tickets, in numbers of
| ten, fifteen, twenty-five and fifty.
A number of K. of P. lodges will at
| tend Frederick Warde's performance of
| Damon and Pythias."