St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-12-12
A ROUSING BENEFIT.

The benefit TO Twin City Lodge No. %,
Theatrical Mechanics association, at the
Grand yesterday afternoon was great sue
cess, not merely in point OF attendance. but
as performance of merit. One of the most
unique features, and one that can rarely be
seen during performance, was the change
of stage decorations and scene shifting in
full view of the audience 1t proved to be
one of the most interesting scenes on the
stage during the entire afternoon, and it is
eminently fitting that it should have BEEN
Immediately after the players in the first
scene had left the stage. at the signal of the
manager about twenty stage hands, all
dressed in neat white suits, started to remove
and began to replace sceuery so rapidly and
smoothly, without even a sign of prompting
that the audience hardly realized what had
taken place until the entire new picture
stood before them. Then, with one accord,
In spite of the printed notice on the pro-
gramme that no encores would be allowed.
they applaIded necessarily till the stage
crew, property men and fly men appeared
and acknowledged the compliment. Man
ager BiXby in a neat speech then cautioned
the audience that they still had more than
81 worth of fun 10 see, and that they would
show them something later in this line that
would make this work seem like that of
amateurs. After this, although the audience
RETAINED from recall, the change from
castle to garden, from parlor to wood scene,
or from boarding house to railroad station
received the unqualified admiration of every
one present.
3
The selections choSeu from the companies
now playing in the Twin Cities were excel
lent. From the overture to the end it was one
s ~ 49, !
pleased audience never left the Grand opera
house. The Andrews Opera company in the
last act of Bohemian Girl were pleasing.
1.-THE Unequal Combat" by Messrs. Joseph
Perry and John Magrew, of Doekstad er's
minstrels. was amusing. The Quaker
City Quartette, Messrs. Pieri. Earn
est, Hanson and Graham, of Aunt
Bridgets Baby company, was a piece
of musical art. MesSrs James McIn-
tyre, Bro. 4. X. Heath and Frank Girard, of
Dockstader's, in the military sketch, ''Atten-
ton" were side-splitting. TIL Great
Carita, of the Paris Gaiety Girls company
was gracefulness itself. Pickett and P rim
rose showed themselves the greatest triple bar
experts III the world. FRANKLIN ". Lees reel
tation, "The Boarding House Rehearsal. " was
given in his own inimitable manner, which,
as is we'll known, no one can excel, and but
Jew eqGui tue murray (WluS were JUST as
cute as could be, and delighted each and
every mother present with their pretty song,
''Oh, Won't You Come Out and Play?'' John
r. Cumpson, in the shoeshOp scene from
"Lieber Franz" sang one of his sweetest
songs, and made pretty picture with the aid
of the two golden haired babies. The Twin
City Banjo, Mandolin and Guitar club played
"Bowery Bay Beach" with excellent pre-
cision. The second act of ~ Hole ii the
Ground" closed the first benefit of the asso-
citation i'll blaze Of glory.
Very tasty and elegant was the inset to the
drop curtain executed By the scenic artist
Fred E. Powers, that announced in hand
some letters Thanks to All. Twin City
Lodge No. %, Theatrical Mechanics Asso-
ciauon.''
The programmes, while not gorge GUS were
extremely neat and far more Ineligible than
the general run of theatrical programmes.
Everything was in proper sequence and could
be easily followed by patrons without hay
ing to turn over half dozen leaves and by
this rustling disturb your neighbor who de-
sired to listen TO the performance.
$
Other associations patronized the benefit
very literally, there being large number of
ks present, and an unusually large dele
CATION from the press club. while nearly
every other kindred society had some of its
representatives there.
5
To Frank L. Bixby is largely due the cred
it of the success o f the entertainment aided
by every member of the association, and
they all feel sincerely grateful to him for the
services rendered. The audience also had
chance to see Mr.. BiXbv in the role of
stage manager behind the scenes, and all are
unanimous in the opinion that as "a striker
and setter he is a grand success.
The association presented each lady per-
former with an elegant boquet tied with a
ribbon inscribed with the compliments OF
the association.
The boxes were ali filled. several OF them
being occupied by theatrical people who.
owing to the length of the programme, could
not participate