St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-15
FOYER AND FOOTLIGHT.

hrSt time in this city to morrow evening at
the Metropolitan theater. In this new satir
ical comedy Mr.. Hoyt is sad to have done
his best work. There is strong and cohe
rent plot, several sharp, clean cut character
drawings, and dialogue which bristles with
bright sayings. "A Texas Steer is in
large measure indeed almost wholly. a
broad satire on some of the aspects of our
politics. The story follows the fortunes of
Maverick Brander, Texas cattle King, whose
name is witty play on The vernacular of
the cattle raiser, who, by the lavish use OF
money wins a seat in the national con
gress, 1t opens with his election and presents
an extTavagant picture, although perfectly
true 10 life, of the Publication i'll his settle
ment over his election, in which cowboys,
greasers, and the general riff raft of front
tier town, charactcally picturesque of the
Southwestern border land, celebrate the
event. The scene is then transferred to
Washington, where the newly elected con-
gressmen passes through his initiation into
political ways at the cost of a goodly addi-
tiOnal sum of doilars-nearly all of his eX-
periences illustrating in a clever way the
wldS of official life. Through the pictur-
esque warp OF the interesting fabric there
runs slender silvery thread of love, which
is just sufficiently intense to please. Upon
the fortunes of this love story between
Bossy Brander, the cattle kings daughter,
and Capt Bright, of the United States
army, turns the sentimental part of the plot.
Though the play is certainly a comedy, the
farcical features are not to be corfounded
with farce-comedy. as that class of work has
become known of late years. Miss Flora
Walsh has in the character OF Brander's
daughter-an unsophisticated but shrewd and
adaptable frontier girl-a part which differs
from others in which she has been seen in
that while allowing abundant opportunity
for the sprightliness for which she is famous,
it also gives her opportunity for the exhibit
ton of the development of character through
the change of surroundings to Washington,
and in portraying this development she shows
a breadth and grasp of the dramatic unitles
that stamp her remarkably clever woman.
Tim Murphy has the part of Brander, the cat
tie king. On him the burden of the humor
rests, and in the portrayal this cleanly- cut
character he has already drawn the attention
of the critics to his excellent delineation of
character. Mr.. Murphy is yet very young
man. and those who remember him In the
Brass Monkey" will be surprised at the
stride he has made as an actor. There IS
satire in the very names of the characters.
Brassy Gall, for example, the kind of polit-
zeal confidence man whose trade it is to en-
gineer jobs of various kinds through con-
gress. This part is i'll the hands of Newton
Chisnell. The trio, MesSrs. Yell, Bragg
and Blow, glorious products of Texas,
are a set of boisterous, opinonated
politicians of the far Southwestern
country type with thoroughly wellrecOgniza-
bic ear marks and accordingly amusing.
Christopher Columbus Fishback, with the
"Jr." i'll the middle of his name said to be
the first negro character that Mr.. HOyt has
draWn-illustrates in an amusing way the un
reasonable expectations the woes, the mis-
haps and the political fortunes of the ''col-
ored BROTHER" why he attempts to swim in
the political sea. This character is in the
hands of Will II. Bray. W. S. H0rkins is
seen as Capt. Bright, U. 8. A. Julian Mitchell
is seen as Knott limit, Mr.. Brander' s private
secretary. Mrs. Brander, the cattle king S
wife, is played by Mrs. Alice Walsh.
Miss Georgia Lake plays not un-
familiar role in Dixie Stile, an
orphan from Indiana. Among others in
the caste are Charles Stanley. William Gull
ington, Raymond Finlay, James f. Koran,
Barry Maxwell smart private waiter at the
Arlington; C. l.. Warren, William Gallagher,
John Deadly, Olney Griffin and Miss Annie
The American quartette, which is composed
of laborers around the Brander homestead.
will supply Southern melodies.
The prologue of the piece is laid in Texas
in the yard of the Br@ader homestead, and
the three acts all take place in Washington.
Mr.. Hoyt is himself travelling with the com
pany. "A Texas Steer will remain at the
Metropolitan for three nights only Monday,
Tuesday and Wednesday, and Il Wednesday
matinee.
~
NJ B. Leayitt's spectacular pantomimic
burlesque Spider and Fly begins week S
engagement at the Grand tonight, and will
doubtless duplicate its success of last season,
where the company and play LETT most ia
vorable impression The story of the Spider
and Fly" is not only deeply interesting, but
teaches a good moral, and serves as the
foundation for delightful evenings enjoy
ment; catchy music, funny topical songs
magnificent scenery, half dozen imposlngly
gorgeous balets PROFESSIONS marches, end
less grotesque comedy. scores of amusing
witticisms, and an even larger and
better stock of what are usually
called local hits. Spectacularly COLI
sidered, nothing more sumptuously and daz-
zlingly resplendent and glittering has been
seen in years; indeed one may say, and be
reasonably safe, that 1t surpasses as q whole
in glowing spleudor anything that has gone
before it, The costuming has been lavishly
supplied. Not a shabby or cheap-looking
item is seen in it. The materials are all of
The finest, the colors are rich and so artistic
ally distributed that in the successive group
ings there is scarcely ever a jarring shade,
but each lends effect to the others, while that
IN every particular it is fresh, new and
brilliantlooking, goes without saying.
of the forty odd people in the company the
more prominenC are Hilda Thomas, the ia
vorte of last seasons company. The singing
of Miss Thomas is unlike any other vocalist
on the operate stage, her voice being rich
sympathetic contralto, and her selections
range from Robert, tot que j. Anne" down
to the rolicking darkey song, and she shows
the instinct of genuine artist in them all.
Next to Miss Thomas is handsome ana
statuesque Irene Verona, last seen here as
Gabriel in ''Evangeline." The four Legion
Sisters from Aihambra Palace, London, the
famous Zanfretta family; French pantomim
ists Thomas W. Riley. Zamo's first appear
ance in this country; the Siegrist Bros,
Ida Clark and May Curtis, Will Dennis and
twenty-five Young ladies in the marches and
ballots.
~
The attractions at the Metropolitan opera
house for week commencing Monday. Feb.
%. are Gillettes Private Secretary ana
Margaret Mather in her new production,
Joan of Are
~
Manager Scott announces the following at
fractions to appear soon at the Metropolitan:
Donnelly and Girard. in their successful COM
edy Natural Cas- Francis Wilson, in his
great operate success, The Merry Mon
arch" Mr. Wilson'S success this season i'll
this opera has been something phenomenal,
having the best light opera and company that
was ever presented in America. Mr.. vii
sons friends quote his profits for this season
to be in the neghborhood of 100000. Also
the inimitable pair of comedians, Evans and
Hoey. in "A Parlor Match, which will be
reDlete with new songs new dances and new