The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-11-17
AT THE THEATERs.

Thoroughbred. an essentially English
comedy in three acts, was the medium
through which Thomas Q. Seabrooke made
his appearance at the Metropolitan last night,
ana most enjoyable medium it proved.
thoroughbred is a unique creation, un ..
IKE the work of any American dramatist
Its opening is not promising, devoid as it is
OF action In fact, the entire first act is a
little TOO quiet and tame to whet anticipa-
ton OF what is to follow. But the flavor i'm
proves vastly throughout the rest of the play
and the laughable story increases in interest
as it's denouement becomes more and more
uncertain, for it is not one of those conven-
tlonal dramatic makeshifts through which the
result can be seen before the mechanism has
made one revolution. The wit is that of
situation rather than Of dialogue for the
lines are not of the scntilating kind. They
are reasonably clever, however, and answer
the purpose well enough.
That purpose is to tell an amusing story
about worthy mayor of London suburb
who abominates horseracing in the abstract,
but who, becoming unwittingly the means CT
purchasing thoroughbred racehorse, catches
the fever, and is metamorphosed into a sport.
His wife, who is shocked beyond expression
at the mere mention of a horserace also
succumbs to the fascination of the sport and
goes to the races without the knowledge
OF her husband, whom she thinks she has left
at home. Circumstances render it necessary
for Mayor Rimple and Hon. Blenkensop Car
bingham, the young man who purchased the
flyer with money loaned him by Mr. Rimple,
to attend the race disguised as strolling
negro Ministries With them is one Jeb Tosh,
an unconscfonables tout, who is wanted by
the police. Hence, the occasion for the DIS
guises. The climax of comieality is reached
when the Ministries, with their cockney ne
gro dialect, encounter the tally-ho party, con-
slsting of Mrs. Rimple and her daughter
Della, Blenhensep;s sweetheart; hs sister,
Wiiheln,ina Carlingham; his father, Lord
Sa.ncacrc, and a number of soca. friends
1t is here that Seabrooke's comieal genius
becomes fairly irresistible, especially when
he mounts the tally-ho coach, after singing
negro dttty, and takes up collection with
his tambourine. Aside from the broad bur-
lesQue and ludicrous antics so successfully
employed in the final act Mr.. Seabrooke's
impersonatiaa of Mr.. Rimple is a cean-cut,
artistic characterization.
The company is efficient. Edgar L. Dayen-
port is eminently satisfactory in the roe of
Decker, the American which he plays in a
re reshing. unaffected and natural manner.
William Norris is adequate in the role of
Blenkensop, and H. NJ. Pitt is entirely at
home in the character of Lord Sandaere. An
excel ent approximation of Mrs. Rimple the
mayors respected and matronly better half
was contributed by Maggie Holloway Fisher.
Maud White was a pretty and interesting
Della, and Lucille Mum gave a graceful and
intelligent characterization of Wilhelmina
Birmingham. The audience was large.
Gus Heege and his clever supporting COM
pany have caught on we'll at the Grand and
are ente: tanning large audiences. Tomorrow
at 2;30 the first of the populaTpriced matinees
OF this engagement will be given