St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-04-21
AT THE THEATERS.

son mas Iounu character so amenaDle TO
his odd and pleasing style that he succeeds
i'll amusing his audience for two hours.
Mrs. Ponderbury's Past" is one of those
typical English farces of recent years which
can boast Of little wit in the dialogue, but
are replete with situations of the most COM
ical and ludicrous character. The dramatis
personae seemingly make no attempt to be
funny, but are so because of the contrast
between their seriousness Of purpose and the
ridiculous predicaments in which they be-
come involved.
The subject of this farce, which is another
exposition Of the trials and tribulations of a
heE-pecked husband, it will be observed, is
not new, but the complication that ensues
is as novel as it laughable. Mrs. Ponder
bury, the dictatorial spouse of the elderly
Mr.. Ponderbury, had a past. Once upon a
time, when young and blushing beauty,
SO she informs her husband, a wicked man
scaled the balcony upon which the window
of her chamber opened and fain would make
love to her. She happened to be peeling
an orange with her knife at the time. and
to save her honor she jabbed the knife into
the brute and screamed for help, but the brute
escaped before assistance arrived. AS a con-
slant reminder of her bravery and conjugal
fidelity, she framed the knife behind plate
Of glass and hung it on the wall. Her
niece was compelled to make obeisance to 1t,
as she herself always did, and Mr.. Ponder
bury was frequently assigned the pleasant
task of relating the sanguinary episode for
the edifcation Of his and his wife's guests.
Mr.. Ponderbury, like many gentlemen of his
age, is susceptible to the charms Of youth
and beauty in creatures of the opposite sex.
In the country residence adjoining his
grounds lives a certain widowed countess,
young, pretty and chic, who, prior to her
marriage, was a London music hall singer.
Such things have happened outside of plays.
Mr.. Ponderbury is enamored of the young
lady, and at last succeeds in making an ap-
pointment by letter to meet her on a certain
evening in the studio Of young artist,
who is in love with Ponderbury's
niece. The countess keeps the appointment
under the impression that the note from
Ponderbury was written by the young artist,
who was an old flame of her music hall
days. The meeting between the old man and
the young woman is indescribably comical.
Ponderbury declares his love, but Polly
Stubbs-that was her maiden name-insists
that he shall leave the place at once, but
when he attempts to open the door, to the
dismay of both, 1t is locked, and the key
gone, as the artist locked it from the out
side, not knowing that Ponderbury was Sc
creted in his studio at the time Polly had
arrived some time before, and 1t was while
she was in an adjoining room donning drap-
cry for an artistic pose that the artist seized
the opportunity to escape from her. While
Ponderbury and Polly are devisng some
means Of escape for Ponderbury, the artist
and Ponderbury's niece arrive on the scene
and behold Ponderbury with rope around
his body preparing to be let down into
the street from the window. Ponderbury at
once has resort to a deception that he has
frequently practiced with success upon his
wife-he pretends to be walking in his
sleep, and so, with lighted candle in her
hand, and the rope around his body, he is led
home by his wife and niece.
In the last act his wife discovers him sing
ing and dancing with Polly, and this time
his somnambulistic dodge doesn't work.
Things look blue for the old man, when by
happy chance he discovers that his wife's
version of that knife story is a good ways
from representing the actual scene and thus
fortified he turns the tables on her and
forces her to consent to the marriage Of the
artist and his niece.
Mr.. Robson carries the burden of tha farce
and to him its entertaining qualities are
chiefly due, as there Is no interest apart from
Ponderbury. Mr.. Robson's amusing man
nerisms, unique voice and enunciation and
delightful personality, which have con-
tributed not little to his success, proved as
potent factors as ever, though it should also
be said that his acting is invariably excellent
and spontaneous.
Miss Carrie Radcliffe merits praise for her
sprightly and vivacious impersonation Of
Polly Stubbs," the gay music hall singer
and widowed countess. Miss Henrietta
Vaders impaired the requisite vigor to the
role of Mrs. Ponderbury, and Benjamin How
ard was acceptable as the artist.
The farce was preceded by curtain raiser
OF decidedly vapid character notwithstand-
ing its suggestive title "Blue Sulphur
Every act introduced on the programme of
the Gus Hills novelties, which is the cur
rent attraction at the Grand, is a distinctly
original feature. This refined vaudeville COM
pany is undoubtedly the strongest that has
been seen here for many seasons. There will
be the usual matinee at 2:30 on Wednesday,
at the popular prices of the theater.