St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-09-10
THE PLAYS THE THING
WIDELY DIFFERING ATTRACTIONS At
THE LEADING THEATERS.
"FRIENDs'' TO BE SEEN AGAIN.

Royle's Great Production to Be
Put On in Full strength The
Possibilities of Bypnotism
Woven Into the Drama Booked
for the Grand-A kound-Up of
Dramatic Drift.
It was nothing less than deplorab.e
that John Drew and his capable COM
Dany were not seen by more st. Paul
people during the past week. There is
opportunity tor education as we'll as
enjoyment in witnessing such stage
work as was done at the Metropolitan
every night last week, and such oppor-
tunities are much too scarce, as rule.
1t is pleasant to note, however, that not
the slightest detail was slurred through
veXatlon, pioue or disbursement.
When really excellent dramatic food is
offered, and the public rejects It. the
public Is really the greatestIoser.
For the present week Royle's admir-
able production, Friends" is to be
seen at the Metropolitan. 1t is a favor
ite. not only here, but everywhere, and
should record successful weeks work
Hypnotism worked into drama Will
form the basis of the Offering at the
Grand.
"Friends'' is an American play that
has every where been hailed as a distinct
fuliillment of the present and prophe tic
OF noble future for q national stage.
1t is the work Of a young American,
who. without previous reputation, influ-
ence or financial resources, managed,
by one of those miracles known only to
genius and luck, to get his play hear
ing at one of the New York theaterS.
1t was produced at the Standard thea
ter in the summer. admittedly the
worse part of the theatrical season, in
deed quite out of it. The opening
night the actor that had been en-
gagged for the leading part was
taken suddenly ill, and at a mo-
ment's notice the trembling author,
with all the responsibility and nervous
ness melted to such great trial, was
forced to assume the leading role. The
theater was scarcely half full, and of
those present, the majority were critics
and cold first nighters." In spite of
these accommodating and prostratlng dis
advantages, Friends" achieved instant
recognition. AS the Illustrated America
aptly says: 1.-The play itself. unconven-
tiOnal both as TO method and matter.
was hailed as the type OF new school
OF ldealistic realism, and was as re-
markable for its literary qualities as for
its appeal, to homely public taste"
Since its New York run "FriendS'
has been received everywhere with the
most t1attering critical and financial ell
couragement. 1t is source of pride to
: every American that the warmed-oyer
European dramatic product, with its
questionable morality and conventional
tricks, is at last making way for good
wholesome stuff of the homemade Or
der. MIR. Royle's success is an inspira-
ton both to the public and to every
struggling author. He has succeeded
because he chose to disregard accepted
types and conventional standards; be-
cause his humOr is diStihctively Amer
lean and his pathoS deep and wide as
human sympathy. He has shown that
powerful and amusing play could be
fashioned without the aid of tanks, saw
mills and locomotives, and without an
incident or line to bring blush TO the
most sensitive check. lie has done
well.
II is claimed by the management that
Friends" is Interpreted by a company
tnat has no superior in America. 1t S
practically the same cast that produced
the comedy in ST. Paul last season. and
was conceded 10 be almost an all star
one. a glance at the list of names will
convince any one at all conversant with
theatrical affairs that the company is
composed of the best and highest-sal-
aried artists. Amongst the prominent
ones may be mentioned Selena Fetter,
the actor-pianist, Lucius Henderson, E.
ID. Lyons, Henry Bergman, Harry Allen.
Carrie Berg, Louise Wakelee, Nettelie
Reed, Fred Chandler. and the author.
Edwin Milton Royle.
"FrIends" Will be the attraction at the
metropolitan opera house all tins week,
beginning tonight, ana including the
"Wednesday and Saturday matinees. The
regular prices of the theater will be
charged for this engagement. 25 cents.
So cents, IS cents and 81. with the eX-
ception of the Wednesday matinee.
when the prices will be reduced to 25,
SO and IS cents. AS the play made such
a tremendous hit at the Metropolitan
last season. there is no question but