St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-04
SAINT PAUL.
A FOREIGN CORRESPOND

Comedy Written by st. Paul
Citizen.
Leaving for the time the play and a
discussion of its merits and dement's
out of view. MIR. Bates was remarkably
fortunate with his dramatic venture
in having the first performance of
his play entitled "Our Foreign
Correspondent produced with such
splendid stage accessories and by SO
capable company. With such clever
people to take the parts and such
stage setting as Mr. Hill gave the per-
formance at the Peoples last night, It
would have to be mighty poor drama
success. Mir. Bates was like
wise fortunate in the audience,
for it was not only one
that was critical, but one that was COM
petent to be critical. Therefore, what
ever manifestations of approval
were exhibited were not given through
partiality, but because they were
merited. A fair criticism of the play
itself must pronounce it, as literary
composition, perfect success; as a
dramatic effort only a partial success.
In some points it is weak i'll dramatic
construction, particularly in the first
two acts. In the last two this weakness
disappears, and the plot is unraveled
with true dramatic force. The story is
a good one, somewhat of the CONVEX
tional type of stage stories, with an
innocent young girl the victim of
villains wiles, the villains accessory, the
protector and benefactor in the person
of handsome young cousin who, in the
end, turns out to be the fortunate lover;
the usual number of fathers, uncleS and
auntS who are necessary to make up the
dramatic perSon8; and last, but fore
most of all, the disinterested young fe-
male friend whose wit detects and heads
off the Villains schemes and who. i'll
this instance, proves to be 1.-The foreign
correspondent" of Chicago newspaper.
The scene of the first act is laid
at WestIake hall in England, where
the characters are introduced. Some
months later, in the second act. the en-
tire party are in Venice, and 1t was here
that Mr.. Bender, the stage painter,
found opportunity to get in his work in
producing one of the finest stage pict-
ures ever seen in this city. Act
third is fete night in Ven
ice two weeks later, and the
time of the last act is the morning fol-
lowing the carnival. The dialo ue Is
bright, and while written distinctiveiy
on comedy lines, the play does not in
cline entirely to the farcical. There are
many serious and pathetic lines, and all
beautifully expressed. Miss LIE Baron
and MIR. Stanley, who did the
principal comedy work, had the
The former in the title role, and the
latter in the character of Lucius BiXby,
furnished an abundance of amusement
for the evening. Mr.. Russell as Lord
Douglass was trifle stilted and not at
all time perfectly familiar with his
lines, yet in the main gave an accepta-
bic impersOnatiOn. Miss YOung's best
work, in the character of DIAL
lila, was in the third act in
the dialogue between herself and Lord
Douglass. Mr.. Huebner was at his
best. He had villainous character to
imperSonate. but he did it like an artist.
Nj S Aigen. as Josephine, gave charm
ing Interpretation of the character. She
read her lines correctly and looked the
part as prettily as she acted it. M.
Wyngate'S broken Italian was a success.
and Miss Williams was exceedingly
clever in the part of Fay.
Taking everything into consideration,
Mr.. Bates has reason to feel cOmpli-
mented by the reception his play met
with. A few touches from the
hand of an experienced playwright
would remove the few evidences of
amateurishness perceptible in its con-
structiOn, and then there would be no
reason why it would not be go. Mr..
Bates was called before the curtain at
the end of the second act, and bowed
his acknowledgements. At the close of
the performance he was called out
again, and in most happy manner eX-
pressed his gratitude to the audience
for their kindness to him and to his
play.
''SPARTACUS."
There was very fair audience at the
Grand last night to witness Robert
D0wning's production of ''SpartacuS,"
and there was no lack of enthusiasm.
Nature has enowed Mr.. Downing with
the physical qualities to impersOnate
Spartacus, and by thoughtful study
has attained fine conception of the
part. The play itself is of blood
curdling nature, but is so full of strong
dramatic situations as to give an actor a
splendid opportunity to develop all the
heroic qualities of his nature. MIR.
Downing has improved somewhat since
his last appearance in this city, and if
he is as studious in the future as he has
been in the past. will yet reat h the goal
of his ambition, to be the successor of
Forrest and Mccullough i'll heroic roles.
The same bill tonight.
AT THE DIME MUSEUM.
Maj. Atom liS a mighty little fellow
but he has all the airs and the dignity
of senator, and when he stands. be-
side great, strapping George Shields,
one of the two Texas giants at the
museum this week, he is not bit dis
comfited by his insignificance, and he
makes the big fellow bend way down
to the floor when they engage in con-
versation. The two men, Atom, the
midget and Shields, the giant. are fast
friends, it is said. They have travelled
together fol some time, and the giant
has great deal of respect for his little
friend the major, and it is very funny
to see the two talking together, telling
yarns and experiences like couple of
old crOnies. The Adams sisters COM
plete the group of great and little peo-
pie at the museum this week. Two
more pretty and interesting little people
are rarely met with. They are charm
ing converSationalists and make great
many friends wherever they go. Aggie
Toluti, in all the wonder of her f1aXen
hair and pink eyes, also attracts great
deal of attention. On the upper stage
the Fantosh troupe still holds the
boards, and in the lower theater Nc
1ntyre d Rice's Bijou company give a
very pleasing variety performance.
Next week Alice Swan, the famous
'whistling girl.''
OLYMPIC THEATER.
An exceptionally large audience was
in attendance at the Olympic last night,
and from the numerous encores the
different artists received it was evil
dent that the spectators we're highly en-
tertained. The first part was good and
quite pleasing. 1t included witty say
ings and several sentimental as well as
topical songs. The majority of the