St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-04-22
AT The THEATERs.

The performance of Nancy & Co."
by the Griffen & Neill stock COM
pany at the Grand opera house last
night demonstrated a rare versatil
ity upon the part of that organization.
and versatility is a stock company's
most valuable virtue Nancy & Co."
is as distinctly different in character
from THE Jilt''-the play which
served to introduce this company to
st. Paul theatergoers-as tragedy is
from comedy, for, though The Jilt' is
anything but a tragedy, yet its COM
edy and general tone are in no wise
similar to the lively farce and ludi-
crous situations and predicaments
which make Nancy & Co. one of the
most amusing entertainments a thea
ter can furnish. Plays of its character
require frequent and painstaking re-
hearsals, as we'll as individual clever
ness upon the part of the players, for
the action is so rapid that the slight
est hesitation, even ordinary delibera-
ton, will make a scene drag, and that
is always a fatal defect in farce.
Consequently, the players must all
act with spontaneity, and only artists
can accomplish this feat.
" say ludI lllS SlOCh COulpdUy IlCl
with a cordial reception last night
would be but faint expression of the
enthusiastic demonstrations which
greeted the members at the close of
every act. They were invariably called
out, and the curtain was raised two
and three times upon each occasion.
The audience, moreover, frequently be-
slowed applause upon individual mem
bers of the company during the prog
ress of the play, and it is a pleasure to
say that this applause was Intelligent
and merited. The performance was
one of the most, if not actually the
most enjoyable given in st. Paul dur
ing the past year. The farce is eX-
tremely funny, exceedingly bright, en-
tirely novel and fairly bristling with
surprises and laughable predicamentS.
Miss Henrietta Crossman appeared
in the role of Nancy Brasher, Tippy
Brasher's wife, who, unknown to her
husband, has, in conjunction with one
Kiefe O'Kiefe, a New York literary
man, written a play, after which she
leaves her husband under pretext
and hurrieS away to New York city
TO witness the first performance of the
play. Her husband follows her. and
hence ensue the complications, for
Kiefe O'Kiefe is engaged to marry
Oriana Dangery. and cannot explain
his association with Nancy until after
the play has been produced.
Miss Cheeseman's impersonation of
Nancy afforded the keenest delight
1t was an unqualified artistic triumph
1t was spontaneous to a rare degree,
exquisitely shaded, breezy, refreshing,
brilliant. That it could be eXcelIed
seems impossible, for Miss Crossman
never relaxed her animation, never
shghted an opportunity, never over
acted. Her scenes in the second act
in the hotel apartment We're so adj
mlrably acted that she captivated the
audience, which responded with show
ers of applause.
To dwell upon the merits of the rest
or the company would amount to little
more than repetition in each case
George w. Denham gave a capital i'm
PRESERVATION of Ebenezer Griffing. the
old gentleman with penchant for
photographs. Charles Kent PLAYED
the role of Kiefe OKiefe with a full
appreciation of its peculiar humor.
and James Neill was entirely success
full as Capt. Paul Renseller, U. S. A.
lent character sketch in the role of
young Mr.. Skies Stockslow. a nice
little" fellow with a stammer and a
cane Tippy Brasher, the jealous hils-
band was amusingly portrayed by
Fred Perry, a young actor whose
work gives splendid promise.
Miss Kate Blancke was happily cast
for the role of Daisy which she PLAYED
with much spirit and vivacity. Annie
Blancke was an amusing Betsey. and
Fannie L. Burt satisfactory in the
role of Mrs. Huldah Dangery. Oriana
Dangery, her niece. was entrusted to
Miss Blanche Stoddard, a new mem
Der of the company. Miss Stoddara
has an attractive presence, but seemed
to lack confidence last night, and was
occasionally inaudible.
The Bostonians hold the record
breaking medal on advance sales this
season in st. Paul, to speak in the
language of the bill boards. so that a
large audience is assured for prince
Ananlas' at the Metropolitan tonight.
victor Herbert's melody has been
warmly praised, and the public is ex-
pecting much from Jessie Bartlett Da-
Wis, Henry Clay Barnabee, W. Fl. Mac
Donald, Eugene Cowles, Eloise Nor
gan, George rockingham and the
other favorites in the new work If
goes without saying, as the trite
phrase goes, that the engagement of
the Bostonians will be the notable
amusement event of the season.