The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-06-13
ai,;S;|l2ramatIc

the Giffen-Nein stock company. last weel
signed contracts to appear in the principa
feminine role next season in Edward Roses
latest dramatization called Under the Rex
Robe. The play was the most tremendous
success of anything presented in New YORK
last season and 1t ran at the Empire theatel
there several months. 1t Is particularly fat.
tering to Miss HaInpton's talents that Charles
FTohman selected her for the plays first toul
OF the road. to impersonate this importanB
role.
Reginald de Koven and Harry B. Smith
nave finished an operetta that will open the
season at the Broadway. 1t may be callel
The Highwayman." The scene is Scotch
Just as the case of Rob Roy This opera
VIII next year become the property of the
bostonians: 1t was submitted to them first
but rejected
Discussing the virtues of vaudeville Hillar,
Bell thus writes in the New York Press:
Extremes meet. That which was the enem,
OF art promises to be its best friend. Vaude
vile started to tear down the theater, bu
Will end by building it up.
Inc play was lethargic and luxurious. Il
needed cupping and leeching. 1t had gou
and plethora of blood. 1t was haught,
and OF forbidding countenance. Although
the most democratic OF institutions, it put
on aristocratic airs and applied for admis,
sion into the elite directory
Any enterprise In this country which en-.
oeavors to crowd out the common people
must fall into disaster.
Are we not all men and brothers, and, rich
OF poor, sons of Yankee Doodle?
Genius, often born in rags must not be
ciapped into royal purple. 1t sprung from
the people l 1t belongs to the people.
DO with grand opera what you will, but
the drama is democratic.
For some years the managers have sci
about making it aristocratic. They raised
the price of tickets out Of the poor mans
reach. Few folk in these times can afford
~ for seat at the play.
more than that for great actors-Bern-
hardt Duse, Irving and the hike. They travel
far and bring eloquent messages. They are
art.
But the small folk who have piping voice
and little to say should have remained
modest. In raising their prices they raised
the curtain Of vaudeville.
kefth-a wise man in his generation-per.
ce1ved the mistake OF the drama. He said
Go to! The people cannot afford legitimate
prices, yet they want legitimate art I will
ct al"
At his houses and others of modest prices
we can now witness good actors in sketches
1t Is argued that this system must be
short lived. But we think that its effects
may be far-reaching.
Keith and Proctor are wiser than the vaude-
ylliers and the latter managers pay enormous
prices for freaks, the former engage honest
art at fair rates
The American people are decent. They find
more enjoyment in good players than in
suioSbouS SiuSSrS. Agnes 6OOLn IN 'OtQ Love
6etterS, was better entertainment than
Fougere in filth or Guilbert in grossness-
t
The appearance OF Mr.. James Neill last
week at the metropolitan In q leading part
was a most welcome one. Few leading men
have ever appeared in st. Paul that have
gained such. an extensive circle of interested
friends and acquaintances as has this quiet
and unassuming gentleman. Mr.. Neilis time
during the present Giffen-Neill season Is de-
voted mostly to supervising rehearsals and the
presentation OF plays, at which he has few
superiors among the theatrical profession OF
this country.
Wilton Lackaye will pin his faith to new
play by Frances Reinau and w. T. Price, 1t is
original, although the story of Moliere who
is the hero, has been, in one way OF another,
used in various dramas.
The engagement of the Gifen-Neill company
at the Metropolitan opera house closes with
the final performance of "Jim the Penman. %
next Saturday night. Sunday evening, -lune
20, Mr.. Robert Downing and the Eugene Blair
presenting for the opening week, Mr. Down.
ings famous success, 1.-The Gladiator This
company has played to big business at the
Metropolitan In Minneapolis for the past six
weeks and will undoubtedly be accorded a cor
dial welcome on their. appearance In this city.
Mr.. Downing Joined the Eugene Blair stock
company in Minneapolis last week and was
enthusiastically received by. the patrons of the
=
given additional strength and popularity to an
already powerful organization, and their clos
ing week has been the most successful of the
entire engagement. During their season in
this city this company viii. present the follow
ing: The Gladiator .'Ingomar,' '.Pyg-
malion and. Gaaatea,'' French Marriage and
other popular plays. The sale of seats for
the opening week begins at the box office next
Thursday morning
Nine Ristori has accounted for the great
success of Eleanora Duse by pronouncing her
a degenerate. Now, If some one would. only
get the great artist to express an opinion on
Yvette Guiibert it would make good reading.
Herbert Kelley and Fife Shannon have
added William ]. Lemoyne to their venture
as co-stars, and these three from the Ly-
ceum will twinkle together next season in
Madeleine Ryley's "A Coat of Many Colors. -
Isn't this Maplesonian? inquiries the New
York Herald. Can anything permanently
down" the operate Phoenix? An English
paper says
ton of giving a short opera season in Lon
don, and his first idea is to arrange for these
representations at Drury Lane Col. Maple
son has some special advantages, among
them being the possession Of the sole rights
IN Andrea Chenier, the opera which the
late Sir Augustus Harris intended to pro-
duce last season.
The colonel has sent the clipping to New
The artists will comprise Mme Adelina
Patti, Nine. Albani, Nine. Nordica, Nine
Melba, Nine. Renee-Vidal, Nine. Scalchi
Signor Tamagno Signor Polsoki "a wonderful
Lew tenor and Signor Masini, Signor Ughet-
ii, Signor De Anna, Signor Dado and sew
eral dark horses; conductors, Signor BIN
boni, Signor Tango and Signor Toscanini
the great Italian conductor), supported by
the orchestra and chorus of La Scala, Milan
If the colonel really has hand of five aces
such as this communication suggests, what
is the use of any impresario trying to play
operate poker with him?
Charles Hoyt who has retired to New Hamp
shire, is busy at "a Stranger in New York "
that state. Mr.. Hoyt is preparing to open
his theater with the farce, and he is anxious
to get it into the best possible condition. Sc
far it has provoked various opinions. Mr.
libretto, but is at work on new farce, in
which Otis Harlan will have the leading role
Mrs. Hoyt reiterates her intention to retire
from the stage. permanently.
If it were not that Under the Red Robe
stubbornly holds it's place at the Empire, the
summer theatricals Of New York would be al,
together light and airy. The fervid meIo-
twice set for Its termination, but the prom
Use of profitable audiences was so positive that
extensions were made. The management
now says nothing about last night.
Minnie Ma6dern Fiske, whose success in
Tess of the DUrbervilles'' was the dramatic
event of the past season in New York, has
engaged Walter Hale to play Angel Clare
and he will go East to begin rehearsals In
August. Mr.. Hale intends TO direct a per-
Torrance at the Grand shortly, when "In
Honor Bound will be repeated and new
comedy by Glen Marlborough given its first
presentation.
Great Reduction in Rates to the East
Via Buffalo or Niagara Falls.
On June 18th, 18th and 18th the Wis
consin Central Lines will sell round
trip tickets to New York, Boston, Mon