St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-03-25
"SHAFT NO. q"
Frank l.. Bixby's New Play.

a GLOBE man had the pleasure of
listening to Frank Bixby's new domes.
tic drama yesterday, '.Shaft No. q"
which Mr.. Bixby is to put on the road
next season. and while the writer of |
this has known the manager author |
quite intimately for several years past,
during which time the latter has been
resident manager of the Grand operas
house, when this play is seen by the.
public it will be fully understood why,
the scribe expressed his surprise after d
hearing it. and also why he predicts ats
this time that tue play will he bigi
go"
The play has in it the elements of sue
cess, tor the reason that it is a domestic
story, free from rant and rubbish; its
characters are of the people and it isfor
the people. There is an Astounding
heart interest in it. and above ALI the
comedy. with which it is not only leav-s
ened but permeated. is so deity and
cleverly interviewer that one is carried
from the tears of most intense situa-
ton to laughter of the most hilarious.
kind, and the transition is most natural
and easy: In other words, tine story can
be said to be a web of tears and wool
OF smiles. But it is not in the story that
the great novelty and strength of the
play lies, although Mr.. Bixby has ciev-
erly conceived and worked out his plot;
1t is in the pretty situations that dawn
upon the listener, not only in the story,
but in the scenic surroundings, the
music and the mechanical effects. 1t is
simply full of surprises of the sort that
are entertaining aud amusing; in fact,
the greatest surprise Of all, and it is
thorough one, is just at the end of the
play, when it comes to you like clap
of thunder out of the clearest of skies.
Another thing that will give Shaft No2a
great thing on which to rely as drawing
card is its marvels in electrical effects.
The third act Is full of them. and, what
is better still, they are all new and fit
the story. TO produce these effects,
which are not only patented. but also
held by contract with the inventor, so
that inscriptions people cannot APP
prOpriate them. it will be necessary 10
carry an electric plant, but it will not
be cumbersome one. but marvel.
both in its workings and the smallness
of its construction. The electrical eff
fectS alone will create sensation. and
it is in the effects, as Mr.. BiXoy says,
that all of the sensation of the play lies,
for there is not gun, knife or pistol in
it, nor does murder or bloodshed for m
a part of it, and the prediction is made
by the GLOBE at this time that st. Paul
will be glad to claim the author of
"Shaft No. 2" as its own when the
world sees the manner of play he has
written during the odd moments he
could spare from his duties as manager
of the Grand. To sum up the play IN
few words, it is full of heart interest,
trimming with bright, brisk comedy;
is clean cut and concise. and has more
of novelties and surprises than usually
falls to the lot of half a dozen plays.
And then it introduces effects SO natur-
ally as a part of the story. What N ore
could the greedy amusement seeker
ask? Oh, yes; how is it 10 be served to
them? What manner of surroundings
IS this story to have? incidentally it
might be said that as a sample of the
quality of the company, Frank Losee
and Marion ElmOre are to play two of
the leading parts. Certainly ST. Paul
does not want any better certificate of
excellence than the announcement of
this fact, but Mr.. Bixby goes farther,
and says that the entire cast shall be in
keeping. and that as the play is not a
one-partone, all of the characters shall
be in good hands, and they will be- if
all opinion can be formed from the very
excellent selections already made aas
above. - s'4sS.
So much for the play and its players. d