The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-27
AT THE THEATERS.


musical melange that was presented at the
Metropolitan opera house last night. The pro-
gramme should be amended in this respect
A period, while 1t ends most discussions
| cannot do duty for the eloquent question
mark.
There are moments IN 'Lost Strayed or
Stolen,' as presented last night, that are not
| dull. They happen in the second act, when
quartette OF soldiers, led by Bert Thayer
who carries the solo verses with g. musical
tenor baritone, sing GIVE Married Your Red
Haired Daughter" and sing it well, and in
the fourth act, when Corporal Bridoux CA. NJ
HolbrooD and one Of his privates meet three
nurse girls in the park and contributs a
quartette that furnishes the third nurse girl
with inspiration for a pas seul. There was
tete-a-tete duet in the third act between
Miss Anna O'Keefe and Mr.. Thayer that
merited the applause 1t did not receive, for
the audience by this time had become skepti-
cal and could not trust its own ears or eyes.
The programme bears in bold-faced type the
name Of Harry Clay Blaney Naturally, one
expects something Of Mr.. Blaney that will
distinguish him from the rest Of the cast
In this "one" is not disappointed. Mr. Blaney
Is comic acrobat. Not a single member Of
the company can dispute his title to the dis
tinction. The inextricable confusion in which
he becomes involved with the rounds of a.
ladder in Act III. establishes his right to be
starred. 1t is absolutely the funniest thing in
the play
Lost, Strayed or Stolen"-It Is never
clear which Is the case-is skeleton of posi-
bilities. The possibilities are not realized by
the company at the Metropolitan. Mr.. BIaney
the star, Is called upon to sing and speak
lines. This Is manifestly too much, and Mr..
Blaney turns pirouette on his head to
square himself
Miss Anna OKeefe, whose attractive per-
sonallty Is undeniable, Is restricted to one act.
winch Is a short-sighted piece of economy.
Bert Thayer's voice Is not heard as often as
1t ought to be. Less horse play and more
music could be tolerated. The last act d.
vested OF the quintette speciality between the
soldiers and nurses, would appear to he With
out excuse.
Inc pleasing feature Of the COMPANY az
pressed itself through the medium of an at
tractiVe aggregation Of young women. WIN
displayed maze OF lingerie upon the slight
est proYocation. When they danced one
wished them a wave O. the sea-" that they
might always be thus. When they read novels
on the park benches, their lingerie was still
In evidence.
49, Ivy has never Deen accused OF writ
lug nuch OF the Puritanism Of his New En-
siahu nome into his farces, and "A Black
Sheep" Is not the most serious of his MANY
enorts. In Its original days it was not
stralght-laced, and now that it has been
adapted to the standard of popular audience
1t cannot be called austere In the change
the farce has lost rather than gained bnt
1t Is still funny. after Mr.. Hoyts clever fash
loh' ana the people who packed the Grand
last evening found much to admire and an
plaud. They liked Edward CARVE. who has
succeeded Otis Harlan. and they laughed most
Oh the time When he was on the stage A
clever little colored boy. introduced as Master
Mason was hit. and the house found DIFF
ncuity In letting him go. For Fame and
Victory" by Mr.. DEACON and the company
the best musical ensemble of the evening
was given double encore, and the speciaItv
by Miss Thompson, "The Gay Parisienne"
found unlimited favor.
Inc company. in fairness, should not be
compared with that which presented the farce
at higher prices. and the same thing is true
= - gpecialties. and yet such comDarison
would not be so odious as might be ex-
pected. The farce is presented with spirit
and go. and the specialties average we'll
The musical numbers are bright and catchy
anu inos' Vi the uahcinS capital. The COM
pany in general is adequate. the costuming
is elaborate and effective. and. as the per-
formance has no other mission than to
amuse. 1t is perhaps best to overlook its
comparative weakness and indorse the I'M
doubted verdict Of those who witnessed 1t
last night and write 1t down a success. Spe-
cfaltles are contributed to the programme by
Frank Latona. who. as Under Dog. was
funny. and whose musical turn" was as
coed as anything of the evening; Drew DON
aldson, The Queen Of the Burlesque;" Jo-
seph Natus. who sang two acceptable ballads
Miss Richie and the Sisters Clayton. 'The
Red Soubrettes." "a Black Sheep" will be
repeated at the Grand during the week.
with matinees Wednesday and Saturday.