St. Paul daily globe., 1891-09-06
IN THE WINGS.

| it is not claimed for 'sThe Old, Old Story
| that its authors have discovered a surprise in
| the substance from which they have built the
frame work of their comedy. The authors
| rather pride themselves on their success in
having rearranged and Geftly handled an old
theme in such manner as to bring out new
beauties and make an enjoyable performance
| out of play, based upon the familiar story
| of Wall street speculation and its often at
| tendant disaster-a young woman willing to
| sacrifice herself and marry one man while
| size is in love with another, making herself
thereby the saving means by which family
| name and honor are held unstained. This in
| brief, is the main current of the story, and,
| while there is no claim of originality made
for it, there is claimed something new in the
| play by the clever manner in which a series
OF comical scenes have been woven into the
| serious and heart portion of the story. The
| authors have succeeded in drawing stage
| picture that. by its lighter shadings, softens
| and blends the intensity of the story in such
| way that an audience does not carry away
burden of woe after the performance, and
| yet cannot but acknowledge its sympathy
with the heroine during the working out of
the plot. The play is one in which the aim
has been to give the public bright, healthy
amusement; something to laugh at, and even
an excuse for tears-a play you will remem-
|
| you an evenings enjoyment. The cast pre-
senting THE Old, Old Story is said to be
composed of most capable people, without
| any stars, but just thoroughly competent,
| weil-balanced company. 1t embraces among
others Miss Fanny McIntire, a Minneapolis
| girl, who has numbers of friends in this CITY,
| 1.-The old, Old Story will be seen for the en-
tire week, with regular matinees ana will be
followed next Sunday by Hoyt's laughing
success, "a Trip to Chinatown.
#
''Men and Women, the Joint work of Da-
vid Belasco and Henry De Mile, is to be pre-
sented at the Metropolitan tomorrow even
ing. This play isadmitted the strongest yet
| produced by these talented young play
wrights. 1t tells.a story of contemporaneous hu
man interest dealing in the joys and sorrows
| of young and loving hearts, and the whole
self-sacriice of the innocent to save the mis-
guided and unfortunate.
IT
Israel Cohen is president of the New York
bank. William Prescott is its chashier Both
love the same woman, Agnes Rodman, who
pledges herself to young Prescott, believing
| him the soul of honor and above reproach-
| Edward Seabury, the assistant cashier of the
same bank. the Jefferson National, is en-
| gagged to be married to Dora Prescott, sister
or William. and the two young men are de-
| voted friends. Both have been specializing
through one Arnold Kirke, a Wall street
broker, and while Seabury is successful
| Kirke in the long run fails, William Prescott
| losing through this failure bonds to the
amount of 100000, the property of the bank
Calvin Stedman, the counsellor of the bank,
loves Dora Prescott, and for that reason de-
| termines to ruin young Seabury. his rival.
If
The bank Is on the eve of failure through
the misappropriation of the bonds mentioned.
and SeaburY is accused by Stedman and
openly denounced as thief at secret meet
ing Of the board of directors, which, taken
| all in all, affords one.of the strongest scenes
seemingly possible on the stage. 1t has al
ways been the wish of Gov. Rodman, the
| father or Agnes, that before his daughter is
nnally pledged to marry any man that he
meet him face to face and alone. just
prior to the disclosure of the threatening con-
ditioD Of the affairs of the bank, Gov. Rod
man and William Prescott are brought face
to face by Agnes, and the young man, know
ing that ruin and disgrace awaits him, at
tempts to shield Agnes by confessing his mis-
fortune to her father and declaring himself
unworthy of her love.
+t+
Gov. Rodman, however has story to ell
and, refusing to hear Williams recitals. con-
fesses that in his youth he himself had been
oetaulter, and, upon conviction, had served
SIX years IN Auburn prison in punishment of
MS crime. His one ambition had been to
live for Agnes his only child, and upon his
release he had, under an assumed name. way
out Ill Arizona, won both fortune and fame.
the secret OF the past being buried as he
thought, beyond the hope of resurrection by
affianced husband of his adored child
however. to reveal the truth, as he did not
wish her happiness clouded by the shadow
OF crime. William Prescott was thus pre-
vented from rejecting Agnes, as he had in
tended, seeing that his motives would be
misconstrued. He could not on the other
hand confess his own guilt as his moral
courage was not equal to it. and he was.
therefore, reluctant witness to the accusa
ton and arrest Of his almost brother
| Edward Seabury
IL
Through the widow of Arnold Kirke. the
ruined broker having killed himself upon fail
ure' Agnes learned that William, and not Ed
ward was guilty of the misappropriation of
bonds. She therefore induces her father to
offer his fortune to avert the failure of the
bank, upon the condition that Edward be
spared. Stedman refuses the assistance
profered, preferring to see Seabury dis
graced, he not dreaming that the real crimi-
nal was William Prescott Through an old
director the bank is finally saved; but Will
lams confession and Mr.. Cohen's influence
are necessary to set matters Alright and a
happy denouement is thus effected
/ #
The Charles Frohman's company numbers
twenty-three people, and is said to be most
complete organization. Among the members
is Miss Eta Hawkins young lady from this
city. The engagement is for six nights and
Wednesday and Saturday matinees
| ~
The "Oliyer Twist Dramatic company con-
cludes its engagement at the Olympic this
evening, and tomorrow evening Manager
Wells announces the Devils Com pact,
Spectacular company. The company is very
highly spoken of, and contains some yery
clever men and women. The speciaties TO
be introduced are of the highest order They
include the Brown Brothers, celebrated Lau-
cashire clog dancers; Miss Bobby Carson. n
vocalist of high merit; Maynard and Celeste
aerial stars; Minnie Clifton artistic club
swinger; Mcintyre and Rice. the inimitable
character sketch duo: Thomas Peaslev. q
comedian late of the ''Grab Bag company
The spectacular display by the company is
iSpoiseu GO Aishiy lneIIIorlous, the entertain
ment being one full of bright music catchy
songs and elegant dancing
#
The latest edition of 1.-THE City Direct
ory" is to be produced at the METROPOLITAN
next Sunday evening, the 18th inst. The COM
pany is that OF John Russells, which is said
to be the most expensive farce comedy or
ganization on the road
+t+
''The County Fair this evening concludes
a successful engagement at the Metropolitan.