St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-04-01
At the Grand-The Ensign.

The intensely patriotic naval drama,
"The Ensign" opened weeks en-
gagement at the Grand last night to
an enthusiastic and crowded house.
The story Of the play is too well
known to necessitate relation. It is
constructed around a patriotic Incl
dent in the American navy in which
a brave-hearted ensign, who is the
central figure, kills an American rene
gade in a scuffie arising out of an in
suit to the stars and stripes. He is
subsequently court-martialed, con-
demned and sentenced to be hanged at
the yard arm, reprieve arriving just
as the moose is being drawn. Two
pretty love stories run throughout the
play. 1t is picturesque and stirring
Drama teeming with patriotic speeches
and incidents. 1t is laid mostly on
board an American man-of-war, and
Abraham Lincoln and Gideon Wells
figure in the touching scenes incident
to applications for the ensign's pardon.
Logan Pauls makeup as the immortal
Lincoln is admirable, and Oscar Eagle
is credited with second bit of ar
tistic work as the secretary of the
navy. James NJ. Brophy's work as the
ensign is very earnest, and for the
most part good. The only criticism that
can justly be applied is that at times
he is too boisterous and too intensely
dramatic. The most commendable work
is done by Marlborough Hardy, a nat
ural, easy actor, who portrays the Eng
lish officer with fidelity and unusual
grace. Atkins Lawrence is excellent
as the coxswain, and is skillful enough
to conceal the absurdity of some of
the lines given him to speak. Miss.
Esther Lyon is earnest, sweet and con-
sistent in the role of Alice Greer. the.
sweetheart of the ensign, and Little
Edlth Wright is one of the sweetest
ana most natural of the child ac-I
tresses seen here in recent years. Os-l
car Eagle contributes second good
role In Capt. Wilkes. Frank Kennedy
is entitled to much credit for his skillful
makeup as Admiral Farragut. All
the week, with the usual matinees.
That funniest of all comic operas
entitled DIR. Syntax," will be present
ed Ior the first time in this civ on
next Thursday evening at the Metro
polltan opera house, by De Wolf Hon
per and the members of his excellent
company, which is said to be the larg
est and best he has yet had. and the
entire original production, which held
the stage of the Broadway theater.
New York City, for eleven weeks. w,,i
be given to our amusement patrons in
its entirety, and the prevailing feat
ures OF the opera, such as refined and
wholesome fun, sprightiy melodies
that easily catch the popular taste,
as well as series of elaborate stage
settings and brilliant costumes, will
undoubtedly form a potent as well as
profitable attraction for the local
management.
Mr.. Hopper's company includes his
pretty young wife, Edna WaIlace-Hop-
per; Bertha Waltzinger, a former
member of the Bostonians; Jennie
Goldthwaite, an exceedingly clever
young actress; Alice Hosmer and rlor-
inc Murray, two admirable comedi-
ennes, as well as Cyril Scott, Edmund
Stanley, Alfred Klein, Thomas S.
Guise, Harry P. Stone, and large
and powerful chorus.
The sale Of reserved seats for this
engagement, which Is for three nights
and one matinee, opens this morning.