St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-05-27
DRAMATIC DRIFT.

xs
st. Paul curiosity was gratified the
past week by sight of Mrs. JAMES
BROWN POTTER and her good clothes.
and the general verdict seems to be that
( the lady is not such killing beauty as
she had been reported, nor is her
wardrobe such dazzling affair as had
been imagined. Both the lady and her
clothes are passably fair, and that is all.
Mrs. POTTER doesn't act much. Still,
it is not to be inferred that she cannot
act. In fact, she has dramatic ability,
if she only understood how to
turn it to account. There are
times when she exhibits brilliant flashes
of dramatic genius, but they only
come when she is unconscious of her
self. AS rule her acting is mechanic
ally done-a sort of prestudied effort to
strike poses that will exhibit her good
clothes to best effect, without any re-
gard to the adaptabiIity of the pose to
the sentiment of the lines. And as for
facial expression or meditation of the
voice, she has none except now and
then. when she momentarily forgets
herself and catches the spirit of the part
she is playing. If Mrs. POTTER would
abandon her dress parade performances
and get down to good, honest dramatic
work, she would win success and win it
brilliantly.
The attractions at the Grand the COM
ing week are SAL1sBURY'S Trouba-
dourS and ANNIE PIXI.EY. NATE
SALISBURY is not travelling with his
company this season, owing to his ell
gagements with the Buffalo Bill combi-
nation. Still, he will hardly be missed,
as his company is a good one, and
SALISBURY was never very brilliant
addition to it. They have a new play
this seasOn-"The Humming Bird".
which has been well received through
out the country.
ANNIE PIXLEY is always favOrite in
st. Paul, and she will doubtless receive
as warm reception this season as she
has in the past. She is still playing
both OF which will be produced during
her engagement here. Miss PIxIEY's
singing has always been one of her
strongest attractions. She has introduced
this season several new songs and med
leyS composed and arranged especially
for her. Her engagement commences
Thursday evening and will continue
the remainder of the week.
All the next week Miss ETA HAw-
KINs will play at the Grand in 1.-The
Main Line" and will close the season
at that temple of art. This will be Miss
HAWKINS first appearance on the stage
in the city of her home, and it is con-
templated by her friends to make her
engagement here series of ovationS to
the young lady, who, in winning fame
for herself, has reflected credit upon
our own city. Miss HAWKINS is sup
ported by good company, including
such we'll known people as JOHN DAILY,
Mr.. and Mrs. n. G. FORESTER, FRANK
u. CoTTMAN and JOHN BANKSON.
The stock company for the Peoples
theater arrived in st. Paul from New
York last Wednesday, and are rehears-
ing the plays soon to be put on. This
is, perhaps, one of the strongest stock
companies III the employ of any theater
in the country. 1t is mystery to most
people how so many actors of the repu-
tatlon these people bear could be in
duced to accept service in a theater of
this size. The management still expect
to be ready to open the Peoples theater
next week, and the work is being pushed
rapidly with that end in view.
The principal theatrical event of the
week has been the WALLACK benefit in
New York last Monday night, and for
that matter it was the biggest theatrical
event this continent ever knew. 1t was
testimonial benefit to LESTER WAL
LACK, from which he realized the snug
sum of $4,000, and was an oc-
casion without precedent in the history
OF the American stage because of the
brilliant congregation of Thespian
c hrnr, Or,f L..
Hamlet" with EDWIN BOOTH in the
title role. LAWRENCE BARRETT played
the Ghost, JOSEPH JEFFERSON and
WILLIAM j. FLORENCE were the grave
dlggerS, Nine. MODJESKA took the part
OF Ophelia; and the cast included, be-
sides these eminent stars, such famous
stage people as JOHN GILBERT, FRANK
MAYO, MILNES LEyICK, FRANK NOR
DAUNT, EBEN PLyMPToN, GERTRUDE
KELLOGG and ROSE CoGHLAN. 1t was
perhaps the most complete "Hamlet"
ever produced, because it was compre-
henSlye Illustration of what disci-
plIne and experience can do
to emphasize dramatic art. Even
the "Supers" were people who
have made stage regulations, among
them being MCKEE RANKIN. MIN.
ME MADDERN, ADA DYAs, RACHEL
Booth, CHARLES VANDENHOFF EDGAR
DAVENPORT, R0SINA VoKES, HARRY
HILLIARD, and twenty or thirty others
of like fame. Mr. BOOTH is said to
have been inspired by the surroundings,
and gave finished Interpretation to
Hamlet that was marvellous even for
him.
Mrs. L. n. SCOTT, wife of the manager
of the Grand, is to be complimented
with benefit Wednesday evening,
June Is, by various local organizations,
including the st. Paul Ideal MINISTRIES,
the Garrick Dramatic club. and the st.
Paul Banjo club. The performance will
be given under the management of
GEORGE W. CORY, and will doubtless
prove great success.
x*
Mrs. POTTER has evidently profited by
the GLOBES suggestions, for her per
Torrance of Juliet last night was much
superior to her Pauline, and mainly SO
because she forgot herself and played
the character she assumed. Her con-
ception of the part of Juliet is absolutely
correct-that of fourteen-year-old girl,
the guileleSS child of impulse, swept
along by the ardOr of a newborn pas
sion, without Judgment of her own to
guide her, and wholly dependent on
everything and everybody around her.
Then, too, her costuming in this play is
in accord with the idea of the character
simple. yet tasteful. With the excep-
ton of MARGARET MATHER, it is safe
to say that Mrs. POTTER makes the best
Juliet that has been seen in this city.
After seeing the performance last night
the GLOBE feels Justified in predicting
that under Mr.. ABREY'S management,
next season, Mrs. POTTER is going Ito
win many laurelS.
-,
Miss Rives and the Blue Pencil.
Miss Amelia R;ves, the young author
eSS. will Snend the early part of next