St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-09-28
TIL EATRICAL FIRST NIGHTS.


audience. prepared to enjoy what has been
heralded as popular laughmaker The
play is exceedingly well staged. we'll pre-
scented. and is high-class comedy trimming
over with amusement without the slightest
coarseness. DR.. Brown, young doctor with
hosts OF friends and sufficient income to
1--we on, throws up his practice. Mr.. Firman
DESTROYS of seeing him ACQUIRE more fame,
scatters circulars broadcast. inviting patients
to call on DR.. Brown to be cured, and during
his absence fixes a gigantic brass plate on
the door inviting a consultation to
DR.. Bill. The Browns have for neigh
bors Mr.. and Mrs. Horton.
lie is conservative don thrust
anyone" chief of police. while Mrs. Horton
is gay and giddy woman of the world, with
a knowledge Of mankind in general. In one
OF her wild moments she sends for Dr. Brown,
in order to find whether he has the Ienden-
cies she has observed in some other men, and
particularly her old friend, Dr. Bill This is
in order that she may report to his wife re-
suits. Brown. however, transfers the letter
to George Webster, who has OF invitation
been fascinated by the lady. The scheme Mr..
Webster decides upon is to personify DR..
Brown, and shows Mrs. horton while i'll this
guise that Mrs. Brown is far too trusting with
her husband. She induces the doctor (D to
retire to her boudoir, which is unlighted and
wait there. She then sends for his wife, who
promptly arrives and is told where she can
find her husband, who in the darkness,
will mistake her for Mrs. Horton. A cuff on
the head is the only sound that breaks the
stiffness. Mrs. Horton now locks her room
and places the key on the table. In few
moments DR.. Brown appears, and Mrs. Hor-
ton recognizes her old friend DR.. Bill. Find
ir1y nfrfx hOc In &c no 70,
restore her the doctor drops a key down her
back. This has the desired effect She now
tries to get his wife away without his knowl-
edge; but where, o where is the key? This
is the climax that throws the audience into
conyulsious. when il is known that the key
is down Mrs Horizons back. Trying TO get it
out she starts to disrobe. and amid scene of
confusion the jealous superintendent of po-
lice returns home. This is the story, and it
is admirably presented.
Il
The greatest dramatic artist no W before
the public is Sara Bernhard She. with
her grand supporting company will give
three performances at the Metropolitan
opera house this week. Friday night, "La
Tosca;" Saturday matinee, Fedora" Satur-
day evening, "Theodora'' The sale of seats
for this great event begins at the box office
at O'Clock this morning.
il
The presentation last evening at the Grand
opera house of Manager Jacob Lifts latest
successful farcical drama, lyon Yonson,n
was the most unqualified success which has
been seen at the pretty play hous e
which caters to popular taste. Much
had been said and written in advance
about the play, and the result was that popu-
lar sentiment was so reused that an hour be-
fore the usual time for opening the doors of
the theater the entire house was sold out
and hundreds of disappointed playgoers
were unable 10 secure seats, or even standing
room in the theater. In theatrical parlance,
the opening performance of "Yon Yonson"
in st. Paul broke the record, and the Grand
opera house last evening held the largest
audience which has ever gathered together
since the theater was opened. Every seat
was taken, and the gallery presented pecul-
lar spectacle with its mass of sweltering hui
mainly. Seldom has theater been the
scene or so many remarkable demonstrations.
The audience cheered wildly when vlllainy
was foiled, and laughed till the tears trickled
at the amusing scenes and complications
presented by the large-hearted, unsophisti-
Gated Swede who forms the hero of the play.
combines the elements OF farce, drama and
true comedy, but in the play written by
Messrs Coxey and Heege all three styles are
combined in most judicious manner.
The GLOBE has already given a plot of the
play. and it may be stated in reviewing last
evenings performance, that apart from the
farclcal complications it presents, the strong
dramatic st DRY which is also told is sufIi-
Client to form the groundwork of a
powerful drama. Many plays of medi-
OGRE merit have won popularity solely
on account of a single sensational scene, the
work of the stage carpenter and machinist
The second act of ''Yon Yonson" presents
one of the most novel and realistic scenes
ever placed upon the stage. The elaborate
stage picture shows a log jam in winter time.
Thousands of logs are piled up in solid
mass. which stretches away on the river
through the vista OF tall trees covered in
snow. When, IN the course of the story, the
villain throws his unconscious victim upon
the logs and, with a cant hook, releases some
of the logs and causes the jam to break, the
nerves of the spectators are strung to the
utmost tension. With a noise like
thunder the enormous pile commences to
move, and, amidst the falling and crashing
OF the logs the unconscious person is rescued
by ~ onson" who, as an experienced lum-
herman, knows Ii is safe to jump on NOV
ing log and float down the river. The scene
was last evening received with thunderous
applause, and the effect would alone make
the success of any play.
AS to the company Mr.. Lift presents, there
is not a single flaw. Gus Heege, the originator
of Swedish-Amerlcan dialect comedy, pre-
sents stage character which will run with
the work of the late Emmett or j. Scanl4n,
both of whom earned worldwide repute for
the presentation of German and Irish char
acters, respectively. Mr.. Heege has made a
close study of the peculiarities of Swedish
American dialect and his work is thoroughly
artistic and finished. Miss Annie Lewis, the
charming comedienne, has part in the play
which gives her every opportunity to display
her talents. She has a true conception of
comedy, and never once passes the line
which borders on farce. Her singing of a
topical song was received with loudest recog-
milton. aud encore after encore was de-
manded. William Stafford. as the villain.
gave powerful rendering of a difficult part,
and while detested in the character was ad-
mired for his skill. The rest of the company
afforded the most adequate support, Messrs
d. ID. Byers, +. Hurleigh, j. W. Dave nport
and Fred Hicks being most successful
among the male members of the cast while
Miss Sadie Connolly, as a matrimoniallv in
clined old Irish lady. was the perfection of
that peculiar style of character. Miss Hell
enc Lowell made sweet heroine, while
Master frankie Jones, though young in
years, is host Of fun in q comedy part A
fine quartette of 'lumbermenr
rendered vocal selections in a most pleasing
manner. Altogether, the play is certainly
the best Manager Lit hes ever presented at
his theater.