St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-10-19
AT THE PLAY.

AT the metropolitan last night was begun
weeks engagement of the dramatization of
Gunter's Mr.. Potter of Texas" The house
was a large one, though It's bulk was notice
ably in the balcony and gallery. Ii the up
per weight expected anything of the blood
and thunder order it was mistaken. as the
Alexandrian episode is entirely eliminated,
and the play becomes a social drama, pure
and simple. Interest centers in the charac-
ter of Mr.. Potter, which is admirably inter-
preted by Joseph Wheelock. 1t is not the
Mr.. Potter of Gunter, but 1t is good one.
Mr.. Wheelock has difficult task in handling
the mixed cockney and Texan dia
lect; but he masters it. His strong
est parts are in the pathetic situations,
of which he makes the most. Jeffreys
Lewis makes good Lady Annerley. The
part is in line with her celebrated Stephanie
and La Belle Russo, and she handles it TO
perfection. of the other characters those
of Van Cott Lubbins, Bracket and Charles
Enroll are we'll taken. and the remainder
only fairly. The story begins with the re-
covery of Enroll and the introduction of the
English party at Venice. and its times run
well with those of the book to the conclu-
sion, emitting, of course the exciting chase
of Sergeant Brockett to and from Paris by
the redoubtable Mr.. Potter though all is
made clear to the auditor. Nothing vital to
the interest or sense of the plly is omitted
and it makes strong drama.
An amusing incident occurs at the conciu-
sion of the fourth act A strong encore was
given, and the entire company in groups of
twos parades across the stage in amusing
style. while the audience shrieks with
laughter.
10 Paige Smith, business manager of ''The
Stowaway," reports fair business with his
company since the season opened but adds
that so far the farce comedy companies have
had hard time of it. During the past two
weeks nearly forty companies have returned
to New York broke. This would evidence
that the day of farce comedy is about closed
1T is difficult to say" remarked Mr.. Smith,
what is going to catch the people From
the phenomenal business done by the 'Yon
Yonson' company, l am inclined to think
that plays of that character are going to be
the favorites for a time. 'Yon Yonson'
pulled over $1,000 out of Chicago in two
weeks engagement at the Grand. The fact
is that public opinion in the matter of plays
is just now, as it were, in the balance-vou
do not know which way it Is going 10 favor
ri
Twenty minutes to ociock last evening
Manager Bixby, of the Grand, had to give or
ders for the members of the orchestra to take
seats at the rear of the stage. Every seat in
the house had been sold, and the orchestra
seats were required by the crowd which had
gathered around the box office clamoring for
admittance. These seats were quickly sold.
ana the standing room only sign appeared at
8 O'Clock 1.-The Stowaway'' was the attrac-
ton, and. despite the previous times this
play has been given in st. Paul. its popular
ity is greater than ever. The play went last
evening with a rush; the large audience was
delighted, and repeated recalls were de-
manded 1.-THE Stowaway'' is admirably
staged, the scenic effects are good, and the
company is probably stronger and more ca
pable than has ever appeared therein. The
yacht scene is especially fine and those de-
string a thrilling scene nothing better could
be desired than the burglarizing of the safe
by Spike" Hennessey and Kid Mccoy
THE Stowawayn is eleyerly portrayed, and
a more enjoyable entertainment could not be
desired. The performance all round is
above the average.
II
The appearance of Locke Richardson in
the Winters Tale at the Peoples church
next Tuesday night, is announced to be pos
itively the last opportunity for the lovers of
Shakespeare to listen to the facile interpre.
tations of his magic voice. Mr.. Richardson
will leave st. Paul with the warmest thanks
of hundreds of persons to whom his art has
opened wealth OF beauty to which thew
were before strangers. The winters Tale
which is one of the most interesting of all
Shakespeare's pieces, lends itself also most
admirably to Mr.. Richardson's powers, and
is considered especially by the great English
critics of Oxford and London, to be his