St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-10-09
IN THE THEATERS.
Sol Smith Russell Pleases a Large
Audience.

Sol Smith Russell Pleases Large
Audience.
Sol Smith Russell is himself always,
and whether his audience is trying to
Imagine him as the hero of Clyde
| Fitch's pretty little comedy. or
I even as DR.. Pangloss, it is
| impossible to forget for a
moment that the odd wit, characteristic
of one of the best entertainers of the
American stage, is what amuses more
that the droll situations. Although d
large number of the audience that
gave him royal welcome at
the Metropolitan last night selected
the evening ON which he produced a
play not seen before in the city, it was
evident throughout the performance
that the applause that greet
ed him at intervals was accorded
to the comedian alone. Mr..
Russell has not been here for two
years, but he has not changed much
His Raphael Reed is absent-mtnded.
but witty as Russell only can be. He
nearly does something that IN
the eyes of the world would
be contemplate. but lives to
experience the comfortable conscious
ness of a good deed generously per-
formed. The character is that of all
artist that lives up in a seventh
story garnet, where he meets
charming widow, and helps
her to amuse and take care
of her children. This good little woman,
with whom he falls in love and is about
to marry, has husband some where
that she supposes TO be dead. He
had been accused of forging quantity
Of money. but during the progress of
the play the fact that his father instead
of himself had been the guilty party
come home just i'll time to give the
| would-be husband an opportunity to
| give the children "a real father" while
he remains to them only daddy"
The action throughout is smooth ana
slow. iuclining to dizziness, but this is
| forgotten entirely in the enjoyment of
MIR. RusselPs fine work and that OF Il
good company.
The several other characters brought
on serve to make the audi
ence understand the reason for
the young husbands absence, and also
10 establish his innocence. The play
shows Mr.. Russell to perfection in Il
favorie role
Of the company good deal may be
said. Miss Belle Archer is charming in
the leading part. She oyerdOes nothing.
Charles A. Smiley. as S. S. Carmen. was
good, although the part does not de-
mand very much. Miss Annie Blanche,
as Kitty the servant, is amusing,
although the character is rather super
fiuous. The children are clever, and
afford good deal OF amusement, and.
too, they are instrumental in bringing
Reed up to realization of tie fact
that knowingly he Is about to marry
another mans wife. This they accom-
plish in their little performance of q
scene from Henry VII" which. how
ever, is rather remarkable play to
md children performing for the amuse-
ment of would-be groom.
At the end of the first act MIR. Russell
responded to the repeated recalls by
coming before the curtain to thank the
people. and in his droH way to remind
them that greater quiet must be OBJ
served. as the children had gone to
sleep"
1.-The Ship of State" will remain at
the Grand the balance of the week.
Next Sunday Ward s. Vokes open at
this house in an entirely new farce,
entitled "a Run OIL the Bank" To-.
morrow afternoon floral matinee will
be given at the Grand.