St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-20
AT THE THEATERS.

Louis Harrison's musical farce 1.-THE Bicy-
Gle Girl was given its initial presentation
in st. Paul last night at the Metropolitan.
While it serves a vehicle of exploitation
of the new woman the coming man and
the bicycle craze, its success depends more
upon cleverly arranged melange of music
some Of it familiar and some new-and an
evenly balanced cast headed by Nellie Nc
Henry, the members of which put on some
interesting specialties, than for any serious
attempt at following the lines of a well-de-
fined plot.
The first act which shows the interior of
the Briarwood Bicycle club, warrants the
appearance of the ladies in strictly up-to-
date wheeling costume, while the surround
ings are calculated to at least arouse the
interest of those of the audience who are de-
voices of the bike
The only semblance of connection in the
piece lies in the fact that two men, Stephen
Stillwell. tenderfoot who needs breaking
in, and Baron Byke, a brummagem French
man, both make love to Grace Fordyce. The
Bicycle Girl who carries them through three
acts in doubt as to which she prefers, only
to accept what she had thought a mock mar
rage to the Baron as real, when, in the last
act, she pulls OFF his mask and says she
loves him.
''The Bicycle Girl is, of course, Nellie
McHenry, who despite the fact that she
is no longer an experiment puts into the
character much vim and life. Her style
which sayors just a bit of Rosna Vokes. has
lost none of its chic and infectious fun. and
she fairly carries the action with her rapid
personality
Charles Morrison shared with the star the
honors Of the evening. and was immensely
popular with the house on account of his
quaint business. The character which changes
from dyspeptic law student to a football
player and general hearty good fellow. Of
fer him opportunities which he is not
Slow to embrace, and his topical songs espe-
c'ally were well received. The Baron was
played by John Webster who schemed to
lose the bicycle girls money on Wall street
SO that she would be forced to wed him. with
the proper amount of savoir faire. and his
little bit Of character work was commenda-
bly, done.
Henry Laurent and Miss Laura Bennett.
as Mr. and Mrs. John Potiphar. the couple
whose spheres in life have been sadly twist
Gu maze the most of several ludicrous stu
atoms incident to the change
Inc clam bake scene in the second act is
maze the place for specialtes which are in
me main excellent. Miss Dele Jackson, as
Diahche Harcourt, has an unusually good So
praho voice. and sang several selections of
varied character in such a way as to earn
hearty encores. Miss Clahin's dancing and
concert hall speciality by Miss Julia Glover
were above the average, and added to the
interest of the act Miss Bennett who plaved
Mrs Potipher, showed her VERSATILITY NV
singing first Tyrolese Yodle song and aft
efwards several negro melodies.
Inc singing throughout the piece was an
entertaining feature, and was of all sorts
from operate excerpts to parodies on songs
Oh the day. Miss McHenry's song David
ana Goliah," in the last act, was very f,,nn,,
ana made distinct hit Not the least 90
the specially work was some frst-rate tricL
picyc4e riding done by w. E. Ritchie az
imis'er' the tramp rider. The play ends
WI IA, al exciting bicycle race which is won
e.. me Dicycie Girl. The play will be in
~ @ui Ior TOUR nights and a matinee.
The Hanlon Brothers are no+bino 20 80 :,
genlous' painstaking and thorough. Tbei,
fantasma, which was presented at +bo
Hranu opera house last night is an evietipo
demonstration of their inventive genius
antasIha was always a spectacular diver
sion or superior merit, but the Hanlons arc
progressive, and this year they offer a Fan
.asnia that not only embodies the most at
uactVe features of the original pantomime
and
surprising 1llusions-so surprising indeed
that grown-up folks who witnessed the nor
romance last night are still wondering bou
some OF those tricks were DONE George II
ADAMS, the funniest clown on the stage is
with this company. Nobody who saw him
iasC hisht can explain what on earth com
PEELED his boots to walk up the wall without
MN. Neither can they comprehend Mr.
ADAMS defiance of the laws of gravitation
lor certain 1t is he scared above and across
the stage with no visible means of support.
Mr.. Adams revels in the antics of Pico ond
the people laugh with every "revel." Mr..
Adams is an antidote for the blues
me players do not make or break what the
| Hanlon Brothers create. The trjumpbs of
their ingenuity obscure the ladies and gentle
men who walk amid their deceptive scenic
devices. Castle walls crumbIe before the
wand of the good fairy, and human beings
breathe without inconvenience fathoms under
the surface of the sea, thanks to the magic
OF the nefarious Neptune.
The chief characters are entrusted. as thew
should be, to picturesque ladies'. Miss Nellie
Black is a voluptuous Fantasma and a
equally satisfactory medium for the interpre-
tation of that captivating ballad, Paradise
Alley which she sings with unmistakable
success. Miss Sadie Stephens contributed a
clever speciality.
The specialties are exceptionally clever not
ably that of the McDonough brothers, con-
tortionists and acrobats. Their feats are re-
markable. Miss Pauline Glidden's cornet
solos in the last act are also worthy of no
tice.
The final transformation scene is a marvel
of originality and beauty well deserving the
enthusiastic applause bestowed upon it.
The audience was large and appreciative.
Following ''The Bicycle Grl' at the Met
ropolitan opera house, Salter & Martins big
production of Uncle Toms Cabin" will be
put on for three nights and Saturday mat
inee, beginning Thursday evening, Jan. %.
DIVINES NEAT SCHEME.