St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-09-13
AT THE THEATERs.
Pitou's Company at the Grand,
Warde at the Lyceum and Other
Houses Full.

Pitou's Company at the Grand,
Houses Full.
At the Grand opera house tomorrow
evening Augustus Pitou's stock COM
pany will make their debut in this city
i'll Clyde Fitch's new society drama, "a
Modern Match.' Mr.. Fitch ranks as
one of the brightest dramatists of the
day, and his successful comedy "Beau
Brummell' has had two seasons run
in New York city. The play is COM
pared to Sheridan's School for Scan
dal'' and Goldsmith's "She Stops to
Conquer" In "A Modern Match" Mr..
Fitch has endeavored to portray metro
politan life as seen by him in the upper
circles of New York society. Synnott
d Hunt, an eminent banking firm, fail
in business, and it is their downfall that
brings to light the good and bad quail
ties of the characters in the play. The
contrasts he has made are bold. vivid
and lifelike. III Mrs. Hunt, the part as
sumed by Miss Minnie Seligman, he
shows us the heartless woman of the
world, whose only thoughts arc self
qualification and Self-indulgence. In
Mrs. Synnott, on the contrary. he has
drawn a picture of undetermined
woman, whose admirable qualities slime
forth in all their glory when her hour
of trouble comes. His contrast between
Hunt and Synnott is equally strong.
Hunt Nelson Wheatcroft is picture
of noble man. Robbed Of his fortune
in Wall street and betrayed by his wife
at home, he rises above his troubles and
man-like begins the struggle again. Syn
mott has neither the patience norcourage
- l0l, I EOl-
misfortune his weaknesses are all made
apparent. and fearing to face his fell
low men he seeks potroon's death. In
terwoven with the aforementioned
characters are those of MIR. and Mrs.
Jack Farren, loving and happy couple;
Susan Thompson and Mrs. Thompson,
the mother and sister of Mrs. Hunt:
Gerald Rankin, a shallow-brained club
man; Paul Manners, bright young
banker; Cecil Manners, the ubiquitous
reporter; Dorothy Hunt. the daughter
of Mr.. and Mrs. Hunt; James, the
family butler, and DR.. Walters, the
play transpires in New York city.
On Thursday evening this same
organization will appear in another
original American play entitled "Geof-
frey Middleton, Gentleman" by Miss
Martha Morton, the author of the New
York Worlds prize play, THE Mer-
chant" In this last-named play Miss
Morton gives proof of great ability as
dramatist, and it is natural that the
production of her latest comedy-drama
is attracting considerable attention. So
far America has not produced any emf
nent female playwrights. and Miss Nor
toms success means new field of labor
for American women, "Geotfrey Mid
dleton, Gentleman" is pure love story,
and such q one as cannot fail to interest
all theater patrons. There is no villain
| in the piece, and in its develoDement
Miss Morton has adhered closely to
nature. 1t is divided into three acts
andi contains great deal Of genuine
comedy.
OF Mr.. Pitou's company one can only
speak in terms of adulation, judging by
their past performances. Its ladies,
| Helen Bancroft, Ida Vernon, Jane
Stuart, Vida Croly. Annette Leland,
| Frances Drake and Jenny Leland. have
| all been connected with the theatrical
| profession for number of years and
| given proof of more than ordinary abil-
| ity. Miss Seligman is accounted q fin
| ished emotional actress, and her career
| has been a phenomenal one. Miss Stafl-
hope and Miss Vernon have both starred
in various plays. Miss Bancroft, IA
nous as a stage beauty, was formerly
with Dion Boucicauit. Miss Stuart and
Miss Croly have won success in ingenue
and soubrette roles with w. Il. Crane
and A. M. Palmer. Among the gentle
men, Nelson Wheatcroft. late of the
New York Lyceum theater stock COM
pany, heads the list, followed by Messrs.
William Faversham. w. II. Thompson,
j. w. Shannon, George w, Leslie,
George Backus, Gustaye Frankel, Fred
erick Perry. Alfred w. Palmer. Charles
Appleby and Louis Walker.