St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-08-08
A SUMMER AUDIENCE.


1t wasn't at ali cool anywhere in st. Paul
last night. No place was really cool, but
some places were cooler than others. Bar
ring the front seat i'll a suburban grip car,
the Metropolitan theater was about as.cool d
place as one could easily find. Even if it
had been as hot as future punishment, one
wouldn't have minded the heat after the
curtain rose. One often has a cough so
troublesome one remains away from Sab
bath service. 1t is often too cold or too
hot to go to church, but there is something
about the atmosphere of good theater that
makes one entirely forget coughs or the cold
or broiling heat.
The audience that greeted 'Mr. Wilkin-
sons Widows" was summer audience, and
summer audiences are as heterogeneous in
their composition as the illuminated sau-
sage .1There were men and women of society,"
the men vainly endeavoring to keep their
collars stiff by the radiating GOODNESS of a
clear social conscience. The women humbly
grateful for decollete frocks and painfully
conscious of their gloves There was the
su MINER girl-bless her firtatious heart-she
wore shirt waist and she was comfortable.
| There was the woman who wears clothes
made for another kind of person, and mixes
SILK shirt and four-in-hand tie with an
evening bonnet and a flock of bracelets.
There was the favored woman who never
gets red in the face, and her unfortunate sis
ter who looks like a lobster. There were
sack co ats and frock coats and dress coats;
silk shirts, billed shirts and neglige shirts.
All the first nighters were there-society PEG
pie and Bohemians, and as many other people
ascould find seats. They laughedland laughed
and sat between laughs with unconsciously
open-mouthed and distinctly idiotic looks of
enjoyment ''Mr. Wilkinson's Widows" is
funny. 1t isn't horse play. 1t is the height
of absurdity in improbable possibility. 1t is
artistic and it was played well.
%
To give the women the place of honor
Mrs. Dion Boucicault. as Mrs Perrin, comes
first. Her snaky walk and slender figure are
indescribably fascinating, and there is the
touch of genius in her gowns. The first was
dull ecru India silk, with all artistic ar
rangement of lilac silk scarf as bodice.
The toilette was demi-train. and the hat was
trimmed with lilacs Mrs. Boucicault wore
through all the acts large corsage bouquet.
In the last act she appeared in Henri VI.
cape, with a collar of white feathers. The
dress beneath was of pale silk neither pink
nor lavender with drapery and flowing
sleeves of Valeneiennes lace, and corselet of
silver braid. The hands were loaded with
tourquoise and diamonds. The part is not a
hard one, but was prettily played.
Miss Esther Lyon. as Mrs. Dickerman, was
very pleasing. and dressed the part well. Her
first gown was very unusual combination Of
yellow, brown. crepe de chine and heliotrope
Gil In |, II afeI,o Is
palest blue crepe over pale yellow, with a
silver braid girdle Her evening gown was
an unusually Agreeable frock of pale green
crepe with pearl fringe and passementerie.
Joseph Holland as Percival Perrin, has won
new laurels. He plays an utterly absurd
part with an intensity and gravity that are
irresistibly funny He does not overaet and
is so natural as to be quite the funniest thing
one has seen for years, Thomas Burras as
Major Mallory. could not be improved upon
His facial expression is marvellous and his
conception of his part well sustained and
consistent. Frederick Bond as Mr.. Dicker-
son, is very good, although he has a slight
tendency to caricature.
John Thompson. as Mr.. DuckwOrth, is
very talky. The rest of the cast are pleasing,
and do not mar the effect of the play in any
way.
The house was crowded, and the boxes
we'll filed In the various box parties were
Mrs. Robinson, Misses Maggie and Anna
Robinson, Miss Bertha Harmon, Mrs. H. B.
Ball, of Minneapolis, Mr. and Mrs Charles
p. Johnston. Miss Maud Clum, W. Wood
head, Mr.. and Mrs. Lewis Baker Jr., Mr. and
Mrs. A. Thompson, Mrs. a. Werner. of
Omaha, Basil L. Burwell, Miss Holman, Miss
Shaw, Miss Carpenter, Miss Martin, Miss
Morse, Mrs. Ansel Oppenheim Fred Rippan,
Emil KliDger, Mr.. and Mrs. E. s. Gibbs and
Frank Shaw.
Reserved seats are now selling at the Metro
politan box Office for the engagement of Bert
Shepard's Modern Minstrels which begins
tomorrow Sunday evening.
The matinee to-day closes the stock season
of the Grand, and this afternoon Lifts popu-
lar players will be seen for the last time The
performance commences with a charming
one act play entitled Dream Faces follow
ing which will be that immense comedy,
''Uncles and Aunts." Souvenir photographs
of each member of the company, a selection
OF which will be given to all ladies attending
to-day's performance.