The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-11-23
AT THE THEATERs.


the Grand last night 1t is an English melo-
drama and all theater- goers know what that
means. They at once understand that it is
play replete with stirring situations, thrill
ing episodes and daring climaxes. They know
better than to expect the author to adhere
strictly to the rational and probable. for that
would be to insist upon conditions that would
spoil most melodramas. To designate Saved
From the Sea- as an English melodrama is
really to commend 1t, for none but the English
melodramas fully satisfy the appetite for
sensation In the theater. The English melo-
dramatists thoroughly understand their bust
ness or their art, If you please, for it is an
art to please the people. The proof of this
lies in the excelling quality of the English
melodrama, as witness ''The Ticket-of-Leave
Man. THE Silver King and 'Hoodman
Blind" Saved From the Sea- scarcely
ranks with these melodramas, but it is SUI
perior to a host of connections that masquer-
ade as melodramas. 1t tells simple story
in which the mutual love of husband and
wife is the dominating theme, theme that
if employed more frequently by writer's for
the stage would cleanse the drama of much
that is Objectionable In this respect melo-
drama has the advantage over the social prob
lem play, for in the former vice is invariably
worsted and virtue is triumphant.
The authors Of Saved From the Sea-
there are two of them-have sacrificed words
for action, most commendable proceeding
on their part. There are no long speeches,
conveying hackneyed sentiments in stilted
language. When the time comes for a hair
raising situation, the situation is there
CARELESS of all probabilities or possibilities,
and it is always welcome. Whenever the
villains are about to murder the hero or
heroine, and that is what they are about
most of the time, there is always a savior
to the rescue, whether on land or sea. The
fisherman bound to the mast of his schooner
Is left there alone with a package of dyna-
mite connected with a lighted fuse. But his
loyal wife arrives in time to loosen the cords
that bind him, and both escape fearful
death. The point of a dagger is about to be
plunged into the heart of the heroine, when
knock at the door arrests the assassin's
hand, and the gentleman who so unkindly
knocked gets the dagger. And, finally after
the hero has assembled the scaffold, his life
is prolonged to ripe old age by three sue
cessive failures of the trap to do it's duty.
Such little incidents as these contribute to
the success Of melodrama. But the success
of last nights performance was likewise
due to the merits Of the players engaged in
presenting Saved From the Sea- The
company is superior to the average aggrega-
IiOA1 c1ooONidICQ WILL uTdudS Oh IllS CHdrdC-
ter. The role Of the hero was interpreted in
vigorous. manly fashion by Andrew Robson,
an actor of pleasing personal appearance and
natural methods. Miss Henrietta Lander i'm
personated the fsherman's wife with much
grace and sympathy, but was unfortunately
overtaxed by the emotional requirements of
the scene with her husband in the prison cell,
which should be shortened or omitted.
The comedy features were excellent sup
piled as they were by George W. Larsen and
Miss Gertie Palmer, two clever entertainers
who fully deserved all the laughter and ap-
plause they ELECTED. ]. E. Gilbert contributed
meritorious Characterization Of "Surly
Jim," the jealous fisherman, who loved his
partners wife, and Albert LANCE DISPLAYED
commendable dramatic force in representing
the remorse of the repentant murderer. Moth
Ing commendatory be said of William
Changers portrayal of Richard Fenton the
unrepentant villain. Mr.. Changers histrionic
art is an extremely doubtful quantity and of
equally dubious quality
The special feature of the evening followed
the play. 1t was the exhibition Of the bio
graph, which casts upon a screen living
photographs or pictures of moving objects.
presenting to view all forms of lfe from
Trilby and Little Bllee spooning in the Latin
quarter studio to the Empire State Express
train, rushing by at the rate Of forty miles
an hour. The last view, which was repeated,
aroused the audience to the highest pitch of
excitement. The biograph is a whole show
in itself.
Sol Smith Russell, who is now, by common
consent, conceded to be one of the foremost
actors and comedians in America will be
the welcome figure on the METROPOLITAN
opera house stage. beginning tonight Mr.
RuSsells beautiful art and his superb meth
DDS Of treatment are well shown in his new
play by Martha Morton. "a Bachelors Ro-