The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-10-12
AT THE THEATERS.

~ iHterlor MISSOURI, which bears the apt and
simple title In Mizzoura,' was presented
at the Metropolitan opera house last night
The advance notices and theatrical pro-
grammes persist in heralding and announcing
this drama as Augustus Thomas greatest
success If Augustus Thomas had never
achieved success, as a dramatist. there
would be nothing invidious or untrue in such
an announcement. But Mr.. Thomas is re-
sponslble for Alabama" and in Justice to
that native dramatic gem, the assertions of
the press agent and the programme editor
should not go uncontradicted. ''In Mizzoura"
possesses merits, but they are of an inferior
order when compared with the charms that
have endeared Alabama" to the people. And
IL Is because Alabama" is so dear that the
writer takes pains to rescue it from the
charge of being less successful than "In
Mizzoura," for those who have witnessed the
1dyl, but have not seen the Missouri play
might rely implicitly upon the advance agent
In Mizzoura" is a reasonably faithful por-
trayal of set of simple country folk "in
Mizzoura." The distinctive feature OF these
Missouri rustics is their out!andish dialect
which, If 1t is as broad and drawing as rep
resented last night, must handicap the Mis-
sourians in the transaction of their daily
business. 1t certainly handicaps Mr.. Thomas
play for 1t makes the action wait upon the
speech, whereas in the exciting moments of
real life, even in Missouri. some Of the citi-
zens of that good Democratic state have been
known to act first and speak afterwards if
they cared to or could. The final curtain
was delayed by the dialect at least half an
hour.
This is not said in disparagement Of the
authors dramatic construction. The story is
simply and directly told, and the climax clos
ing the third act is properly approached and
effectively attained. The theme is not new.
The daughter of a village blacksmith falls in
love with smooth "city chap" who proves
to be a train robber-what villains these city
chaps are, anyway. The hero is the honest,
but untutored sheriff of the county, whose
honest love the heroine rejects forsooth be-
cause she has received seminary education
and he hasn't. The train robber is discovered
at last, and in escaping from the villagers he
shoots man and takes refuge in the house
of the village blacksmith. The honest sheriff
finds him there, but because, the daughter
loves the criminal the sheriff gives the
scoundrel his horse that he may elude his
pursuers. The scheme works well until the
robber reaches Louisiana. where a bullet
ends his career, so the audience is informed
in the last act.
If the work of the company presenting Mr..
Thomas play is to be described in general
way, it can be summarized in these three
words, the performance dragged. Between
the struggle with the Missouri dialect and the
elongated pauses between words and SEN
fences, some OF the scenes were stretched in
tolerably. A. S. Lipman, the capable actor
who impersonates the sheriff, offended in this
latter particular. He was unnaturally, not to
say exasperatingly slow-cool some might
term it-n word and action. Mr. Lipman is
an experienced player, who is seen to excel
lent advantage in sinister and designing char
acters He possesses a resonant voice and
commendable repose.
Mrs. Jean Clara Walters in the role Of Mrs.
Vernon, the village blacksmith's wife, con-
tributed the most satisfactory impersona-
ton though in the last act Miss Margaret
Mercer gave a pleasing sketch of a simple,
homespun country girl. Charles H. Riege
oyeracted and accomplished the role OF Joe
Vernon, the father.
The colored quartette was an enjoyable
feature. The back drop In the last act repre-
senting a country field, was justly applauded.
There was noticeable improvement in the
character Of the orchestra music between
the acts.
cor the Earth" with Eddie Foy in his
old role of "Cluster," opened the week at
the Grand last night with rush. The au-
dience was large enough to cheer the heart
of any manager, and sufficiently enthusiastic
to crafty even the most self-satished o.
actors.
The piece being an extravaganza, with spec
tacular features has only enough OF dash
of plot to form a framework for number
of speciaities and is sufficiently elastic 70
permit of the introduction OF novelties OF ali
sorts. and this has been literally done. Eddie
Foy liz as formerly the central figure, but
he shares the honors gracefully with Miss
Mary Marble, q petite and graceful soubrette,
who looks pretty and saucy. as a good
little soubrette should do sings well and
dances cIeverly: Miss Louise Willis, who
impersonates Luna in pleasing manner;
Miss Adele harrington and several other
members of the cast. Mr.. Foy, as usual, has
a number of new songs, among the best Of
which are your Political Candidate Say
Au Revoir.'' Miss Marbles singing of "All
Coons Look Alike to Me" and by the Sad
Sea Waves accorded her an enthusiastic
reception. Miss Harrington and Miss Willis
also earned much applause by their singing,
and q quartette, composed OF H. Stewart Put
man, James e. Sullivan and Henry Me-
Cauley and Arthur X. DEACON, found several
opportunities 20 add to the entertainment.
The company is not lacking In that great
essential to one Of Its character, a chorus
Of pretty girls with musical voices. The
costumes are pretty and the scenery hand
some and artistic. Between the second and
third acts is given an exhibition OF the
theatrograph, or animated photography. which
was received last night with much applause.
Unity Temple No. .. Rathbons Sisters have
postponed their social bop until Wednesday