St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-09-25
GOSSIP OF THE STAGE.

Augustus Pitous Stock company pre-
sented its second play, ''Geoffrey Middleton,
Gentleman to a st. Paul audience at the
Metropolitan last night Few modern plays
have the all-pervadiDg and irresistible
strength and fidelity to nature OF "Geoffrey
Middleton" 1t is built on unconventional
lines, and most of its characters are little
outside the ordinary type OF stage men and
women. It's situations are not in the least
melo-dramatic or thrilling. They compel at
tention and an absorbing interest from their
strong appeal to the sympathies of real life.
The humor of the play is utterly unexpected,
and for that reason extremely funny. AS
whole ''Geoffrey Middleton, Gentleman" is
equaled by very few plays on the modern
stage.
The important part among the women, that
of Margaret Merritt, falls to Miss Minnie Sell
igman, who adds to the favorable impression
she has already created. Without becoming
at any moment in the slightest degree STACEY.
she is intense with an intensity that unable
to find vent. and becomes almost painful.
Her last scene is very difficult, and if it did not
appeal irresistibly to the audience by reason
OF its dramatic truth, would be wearisome
Strength is too weak word to apply to Miss
Seligman. Miss Jane Stuart as Harry Mid
dleton was unconYentionally charming. Her
assumption or the mannish airs of a strong
minded woman and her inimitable scenes with
that very excellent actor, George Leslie, as
Tom Merritt. were roundly applauded. Ade-
laide Stanhope's Mrs. Hatchett won the
hearty favor of the audience. Nelson Wheat
croft plays the trying title role in a manly
way. He steers straight and true between
the Scylla of over-aeting and Charybdis OF
stiffness in way impossible to an actor of
less faultless taste and strength. Herr Won
Cratic, in the ma nds of George Backus. is
an artistically charming character, whom in
real life one would cordially detest. The
other characters OF The cast are for the most
part familiar stage people. They are all in
hands of competent players. and with excel
lent judgment fill in the scenes of the play
most acceptably.
Godfrey Middleton Gentleman will be
played the balance of the week. with the
usual Saturday matinee.
=I=
Thelegitimate New York comedy success,
''Dr. Bill, that run all last season at the
Garden theater, opened this season at the
Grand opera house, New York. then played
in Toronto, and was originally booked to
jump from there to the Pacific coast, and
during Manager SCOTS last visit to New
Y DIRK he prevailed upon the company. They
will appear here four nights and matinee,
commencing Sunday night and then they
jump direct to san Francisco. This company
does not play in Minneapolis.
-
The sale of seats for the engagement of
Sarah Bernhard opens at the box office of
the Metropolitan opera house Monday morn
ing.
II
Katie Emmett and THE Waits of New
YORK; have risen superior to the depressing
effects of hot weather. and business con-
tinues good at the Grand. The engagement
terminates with the matinee and night per-
formanceS tomorrow.
The entire lyon Yonsen" company, which
opens at the Grand Sunday night passed
through this city yesterday morning, en-
route to Duluth. Jacob Lift, manager of the
Grand, accompanies lyon Yonsen" to the
Pacific coast. He began the Western trip
Monday morning when the company left
Milwaukee,