The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-11-02
AT THE THEATERS.

After an absence of nearly three years,
Robert Mantel appeared at the Metropolitan
opera house last night in Dumas famous
drama, 1.-The Corsiean Brothers. The cor
dial welcome extended to Mr.. Mantell was
merited. for he is, all in all, the most salts
Tying, best equipped romantic actor that the
American stage possesses. One or two play
ers of the romantic school might be named
who equal, If they do not surpass him in
nervous force, intensity and pathos, but
they fall short of the physical attributes
that serve to impart to Mr.. Mantell so adj
mirable, so heroic and so convincing a stage
presence. Mr.. Mantell must be commended
for the intelligence, virility and invariable
good taste that mark his acting. His most
impressive histrionic virtues are a natural
dignity of bearing and the power to express
by expression. The latter excellence Mr..
Mantell unquestionably displays in the dual
role of Dumas play. His portrayal of the
two Corsican brothers is the more striking
and forceful. because of the power that al
ways seems to be in reserve. He needs not
the adjuncts of a black wig and a swarthy
face to reveal the implacable spirit that con-
trolls the wronged Corsican.
1t is rather late in the day to dissect Du-
mas drama, with view to exposing its de-
fects and improbablities such as they may
be. 1t is enough to know that they are not
SO vital as to rob the play Of its powers or
fascination over the people. 1t cannot be
urged with justice that this drama incul-
cafes any lesson or TRUTH or even aims to do
so, other than, in an incidental manner to
exploit the noble conduct of the brother who
was killed in duel as the result of his de-
termination to protect the honor Of another
mans wife. But lesson or no lesson, motive
or no motive, and there is little motive, THE
RrC0th nro'b mill
place on the stage and in the hearts of the
people as drama possessing a peculiar
fascination.
Inc secret OF this is to be found in It's SUI
pernatural side. The visions Of each other
wnlcn appear to the twin brothers upon all
momentous occasions in their lines appeal
to the love Of the mysterious and the spirit
ual. The mechanical contrivarees by which
these illusions produced In Mr. ManteIPs
presentation must be ingenious. So cIeverly
are they handled that each apparition creates
a sensation Of surprise, the spectators won
derfng how Mr.. Manten becomes metamor-
phosed into specter while he is supposed to
be spectator himself.
The supporting company rendered accepta-
Bile service. Miss Charlotte Behrens was
amply sufficient in the one brief scene al
lotted to Emile de Lespare. Asa Steele I'M
personated the villainous Chateau Renaud
with commendable fidelity to the character
albeit Mr.. Steele held his chin just trife
too high to look comfortable. E.A Eberle
was satisfactory in the role of Montgiron
the man of the world and easy-going gentle
man, but William ]. Hanley's Baron MarteIu
was not recognizable as a swell French
gentleman, his manner and style of speech
reminding one of frank and honest every
day American, unused to social functions
"a Boy Wanted is only happy chance In
connection with the farce comedy produced at
the Grand last evening. 1t might quite as we'll
have been called 'Cn the Beach" or Christ
mas Eve" The text and the title have only
the most distant of connections, the produc-
ton is not even a skit; it Is a musical alb
surdity, with an action about as rapid as
that Of kaleidoscope and a plot which, IL
1t were arranged in alphabetical order, would
be almost connected story as the Cen
fury Dictionary. 1t Is a production with
much the favor of the music hall and the
continuance performance, and will hardly ap-
peal to those who believe that the mission Of
the stage is to elevate; but to those who
want only to be entertained and amused it
offers a medley of bright music some Of 1t
new and all OF 1t tuneful; succession of
clever specialties, none vulgar and nearly all
taking-the whole presented by a company
made up of not uncomely young women,
who spend their time when not amusing the
audience in changing their clothes, and some
men who are all clever In one line or another.
To summarize "A Boy Wanted" is consd-
erably above the average Of farce comedies;
prettily mounted and handsomely costumed
To particularize, Harry Blaney is comedian
whose legs constant jest and who sees
that things do not lag. His dancing Is a
feature of performance in which dancing
is the strong point. Some of his steps would
surprise a conger EEL which is generally
credited with being reasonably supple The
speciality Of the Misses O'NeiI and Sutherland
is an excellent example Of the possibilities Of
human anatomy. AS dancing, 1t is graceful.
clever and perhaps broad; as a physical dem
onstratien 1t is wonderful, and there can be
no question that 1t is a pronounced hit The
dancing of Frank Young caught the crowd,
and the specalties of the Misses Allyn and
Lingard, Raymond Findley and Tom Peas
ley and the musical act of Bryant and Seville
were all successful in pleasing and all were
given hearty recalls.
The audience was an unusually large one.
and standing room was at a premium early
in the evening. One thing can be said
without fear of contradiction. A new catch
phrase has been added to the stock I'm the
boy is an expression you likely to hear
frequently in the near future.
"a Boy Wanted" will be repeated at the
Grand during the week, with matinees ON
Wednesday and Saturday.
Manager Scott has made elaborate arrange
ments to give the patrons of the MetropoI-
itan opera house on Tuesday, election night
the benefit of the election returns by placing
in the theater a special wire and an operator,
and the returns. they are received over
the special wire, before the performance, be-
tween the acts, and after the performance
UP to 1 a. m, will be thrown by means of
a stereopticon upon a large canvas In the
proscenium opening. This will be much more
satisfactory to the audience than reading
the returns, as has been done in the theaters
heretofore. The orchestra will remain after
the performance, and will entertain the au-
dience with an occasional overture, from the
close of the performance until a. N. This
will afford everybody an opportunity Of see
ing Mr.. Mantell in 'Monbars," and, at the
same time, having the pleasure of shifting in
comfortable auditorium and receiving all
the election returns as they are received.
The production OF Madame Sans Gene"
Sardou's famous comedy-drarna, at the Met
ropolitan opera house next Thursday even
ing promises to be brilliant event. 1t Will
be the first time the piece has ever been pre-
scented in this city. and Manager Augustus
Pitou promises that the staging will be of
character rarely, if ever, attempted in the
Northwest. Ka4 hryn Kidder viii assume the