St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-08-30
AT THE THEATERS.

Familiar as theatergoers are with
the simple picture of New England
life and manners presented by '"The
Old Homestead" they never tire OF
beholding it. Those rustic scenes
which bring to mind fond recolIections
of childhood never weary the eye. So
too, do we always welcome with
grateful recognition the quaint and
amusing characters that every coun-
try village possesses, while the honest
sentiments and pathetic touches with
which the play abounds stir the best
impulses of the heart.
1.-THE Old Homestead" opened the
regular season at the Metropolitan
opera house last evening. Larger au-
diences have gathered within this
handsome theater-though that of last
night YVES of goodly proportions-but
assuredly none ever experienced more
wholesome enjoyment that that afford
ed by this performance. The company
is not LIN all respects beyond criticism,
some Of the minor characters lacking
the semblance Of individuality, but the
principal roles are entrusted to COM
petent players, and the result is alto
gether satisfactory George W. Will
son assumes the role of Joshua Whit
comb, whose name is actually con-
fused with that of Dennan Thompson,
so identified has Mr.. Thompson become
with his own creation. Mr.. Wilson's
Yankee dialect is not always true, but
the occasional absence of the genuine
twang or infection is not so serious
as to detract from the pleasure his
IN,
commendable spontaneity, and is ever
in complete sympathy with the char
acter, inparting to it a delightful
personality.
Mr.. Wilson is ably seconded by viii
NJ. Cressy and Charles H. Clark, who
contribute most admirable portrayals
of Cy Prime and Seth Perkins, the
two old rustics. Mr.. Cressy's dialect
alone would transport a blind man to
a New England farm house It's eff
fectiveness consists not alone in the
characteristic Yankee pronunciation
at all times, but in the peculiar zest
with which the actor delivers certain
words and speeches intended to convey
repartee and sarcasm. MI. Clark was
equally successful in presenting an
other type of the New England rus
tic. The contrast between the two
portrayals was irresistible and greatly
heightened the effect of the laughable
scenes between them. The other prin-
cipal characters, such as Eb Ganzy,
the whistling boy; Rickety Ann and
Aunt Matilda, were acceptably
played.
distinct feature of the present pro-
duction is the double male quartette,
which is headed by r. J. jose, the
Well-known counter tenor. Mr.. Jose's
voice is as sweet, clear and resonant
as it ever was. The concerted sing
ing was excellent to a degreee. The
voices blend beautifully. Upon the
first appearance of the double quar-
tette, they stood around the farm
house we'll and sang 1.-The Old Oaken
Bucket" A perfect storm of applause
followed the last note of the familiar
song. The second number was an
adaptation to other words of the
ta1lor's arrow song and chorus from
Robin Hood" But the encores never
ceased until the quartette had sung
two more selections.
During the past three weeks the
metropolitan has been thoroughly rem
ovated within, while the entrance has
undergone a complete re-decoratio
rendering it one Of the handsomest in
the country if not the most beautiful.
The "Old Homestead" will fill out
the remainder Of the week, with a
matinee tomorrow afternoon.