The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-25
AT THE THEATERs.

DR.. BILL" which began q three nights
engagement at the Metropolitan last night,
resembles Charleys Aunt and all the
other modern English farces in one respect.
Everything depends upon the action When
you laugh you laugh at a situation, not at
witty speech. The English farce writer of
today doesn't trust the sluggish wit of his
countrymen far enough to believe that they
Will appreciate clever bon mot or a bit Of
delicate repartee. He knows that keen
stroke Of humor will spend its force on the
desert air. so he wisely abandons any at
tempt to write bright dialogue, even II he
can do. it, and bends all his energies toward
deyising ludicrous situations. perplexing en-
Engagements and thrilling predicaments. 1t Is
easier to excite the disabilities through the
eye than through the ear, especially when
the hearing is defective, as 1t often is in the
presence of a modest unebtrusive bit of wit.
But this same ''fareewrght," understanding
that the reward of his labors is to provoke
laughter, works solely to that end, and gen
orally accomplishes his purpose. He has
done in "Dr. BILL
Nobody who witnesses this ingenious COM
plicatfon of mistaken identities farce with
out one is not farce-wiH ever carry away
line Of the play. But he will remember
the extravagant and uproarious climax at
the end Of the second act, and laugh when
he thinks of it, Husbands, wives, mothers
fn-law and fathers-in-law become hopelessly
mixed. To tell how they lose their bearings
and how they reassume their normal course
of life would require more words than
good story can stand.
The company engaged in presenting DR.
Bill' is fair. The leading female role that
of Mrs. Horton, an ex-queen of the ballet,
who has settled down to suclf a degree of
domestic life as the wife of a police inspec-
ter can reasonably expect to enjoy, is vi
yaciously impersonated by Miss Celie Ellis, a
pretty young woman, with peerless teeth and
lustrous dark eyes. Miss Ellis contributed
some specialties calling into service a mezzo-
soprano voice of pleasing quality, and like
wise the exhibition of good pantomimic abili-
ties. Her last speciality, in which she be-
comes involved in colleagues with the Teu-
tons In the orchestra, might well be omitted.
The player should never engage in CONVERSE
ton with anybody on the other side of the
footlights, least of all with a bass fiddle or a
second trombone, for these gentlemen are
invariably slow at repartee in the English
language.
OF the remainder Of the company, Miss
Amy Stone, in the role Of the mother-in-
law, was decidedly the most satisfactory,
though Franklyn Hurleigh made the charac-
<.
The introduction of a character from the
Frivolity theater-a young lady of high kick
ing propensties, who elevates her pedal ex-
tremities alternately to level with the top
Of her head, by way of emphasizing her re-
marks, imparts an occasional risque favor
to the performance.
Christmas day will be celebrated at the
Grand by an extra performance of BARLEY
CampbelPs stirring meiodrama, Siberia"
| This play is wonderfully effective, and its
treatment of Russian life recites story of
absorbing interest. Judging from the ad-
vance saie large attendance will be pres
ent today.
Those popular comedians, Ferguson and
Limerick, come to the Grand next week in
their latest farce comedy success "McSor-
ley's Twins 1t is claimed that in this
laughter-producing comedy everything has
been skillfuliy arranged. The dialogue is
| especially bright, introducing odd and witty
sayings, unique ideas and funny situations.
The cast has been augmented by some pretty
| girls, who are seen in appropriate character
and burlesques of all the popular fads Of the
day.
ftThe Prisoner of Zenda,'' the dramatiza-
ton of Anthony Hopes romantic story, will
be the attraction at the Metropolitan next
week. A company under the management OF
Daniel Frohman will present the drama,
| which met with great success in New York
city during the season of 1885, Howard
| Gould and Isabel Irving, two capable players,
will assume the leading roles.