St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-01-01
AT THE THEATERS.

"Charley's Aunt" farcical creation
by Brandon Thomas, which has met
with great favor in all the metropolitan
Eng speaking cities of the world,
was performed before st. Paul audi
ence for the first tine at the Metropoli-
tan opera house last evening. If ''Char-
Iey's Aunt" were to be Judged by the
exacting standard established by the
exquisite, polished comedies and farces
of the eighteenth century and early
nineteenth. it would be pronounced
wanting in literary finish and refine
ment of wit; but. gagged by its laugh
reproducing powers, it is an I'M
qualified success. Its wit is not
subtle; neither is it coarse. 1t is,
however, always obvious. The author
has not exhausted his inventive powers
aiming to write Scintillating epigrams,
but has put forth all efforts towards de.
vsing comical situations, odd contrasts,
amusing predicaments. The result is a
succession of laughable incidents, some
of which reach the height of absurdity,
but without shocking or offending the
most squeamish spectator. A flavor OF
hurlesque pervades the entire play, but
does not destroy interest in the slender
plot, for the fortunes of lovers, young
and old, form the basis OF the story and
preserve it throughout. Love is theme
that will accommodate itself to any COM
bination OF circumstances, from the
highest tragedy to the lowest comedy.
The plot of "Charley's Aunt" is sim
pie in outline, but once carried out it
leads to unexpected complications.
The company is adequate, if not
brilliant. There is no conSpicuousiy
weak member in it. and some members
are decidedly worthy of mention.
RamondG Copp, an English actor
unknown here, contributed capital
impersonation of Jack Chesney. Moth
ing could excel the JUNCTION and spon-
tanelty of Owen Fawcetl's characterize
ton OF Spettigue, the Oxford So
lcltor. MIR. Owen is seasoned
artist. whose performances bear
the stamp of intelligence and thought.
Arthur LarkIn's impersonation of
Charley's Aunt is hardly susceptible of
CRITICS hi, for the role itself is amenable
to no rules or principles of hstrionic
art. 1t can only be said that Mr.. Lar
kin succeeded thoroughly in amusing
the audience. The quartette of ladies
appearing in this farce did creditaby.
Grace Thorne Coulton filled the role of
Donna Lucia with becoming dignity
and grace. Della Stacy was vivacious
Kitty, Frances Stevens gentle and
sweet as Amy, and Mile James was
satisfactory as Ella, the orphan girl.
The audience was large.
~
Unusual interest is manifested in the
first appearance of the great Sandow at
the Metropolitan theater next Sunday
night, at the head of the famous cOmpa-
nv known as the Sandow Trocadero
Vaudevilles. Sandow is, of course. the
central figure in the company. His
extraordinary perfect physical develop
ment and marvellous teatS Of strength
have made him one of the most cOnspic-
uous as we'll as one of the most discussed
men Of the day. both in Europe and This
country. Eminent physicians have de-
clared him to be the most perfect man
physically that the world has ever
known, as we'll as the strongest man in
the world.
The 'Span of Lite" is in for a good
week at the Grand. Judging from the
advance sale of seats for the matinee
today and the evening performances.
The play is taking immensely. and is
one of the best OF its kind. Calder's
"Span Of Life" company in Utrecht,
Holland, reports all Incident which &C.
cured during the performance there
last week. On Thursday night at the
Schoubourx, Utrecht, the theater was
full of students from the Utrecht uni
versity, and after the brothers Leonard
had performed the ''span" scene the
students all rose and presented the
brothers Through their president, Mons.
Jcnkleer Van Rappard) with large
crown of taurels, accompanied by let
ter expressing their great satisfaction
and appreciation of their performance.
Charming, graceful Corinne will be
the attraction at the Grand next week
in "Hendrick Hudson"
--e1----