The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-06-01
AT THE THEATERS.

ne" III tnese regions that the Giffen-Neill
stock company gave aEthe Metropolitan last
night THE AmAzons,is Is its interesting title.
It's cass is mirablfe dictp. correctly designated
on the programme, which defines it a
farcical romance Ut is therefore unique.
The combination of farce and romance as they
are blended in ;, this creation is
daring venture to be essayed only
oy such genius in the art Of
paywriting as Arthur w. Pinero, admitted
~ the most skillful and ingenious inventor
OF comic situations, the most succe, sful creator
OF eccentric characters now writing for the
English stage.
10 repeat, it was an engaging performance.
IL mad It's faults. . All first night perform
ances have. They were chiefly noticeable
throughout the first act. The prompter's
voice was heard two or three times-and some
OF the dranatis personae manifested q sus-
picion CT unfamiliarity with their lines, but.
ike artists, they never stuck" They went
right on, leaving the closest observers in
doubt whether they had really missed a
WORD or heard a word too many But as the
act progressed confidence was restored and
the earmarks of a first night performance
gradually became invisible
In addition to the excellence of the play
ana the achievements of the players, the oc-
caslon was especially gratifying in view of
the large and most apprecatjve audience in
attendance The admiring attention and fire.
quent laughter and applause that rewarded the
players furnished the most convincing testi-
mony as to the quality of their work The
atmosphere that surrounds the artist envel-
oped. the stage. No crudities were intruded
nor suggested. They would not have been
tolerated
The Amazons" tread upon delicate ground
But Mr. Pinero's Amazons are womanly, and
SO tney step lightly. There are three Of
tnem-Lady Noeline MARY HamptoH) Lady
Wlihelm1na (Kate 5Blancke) and Lady Thomas
In Gamma Blancke). Their mother, who so
deeply regrets that her girls are not boys,
drops the feminine terminate and addresses
them as Lord Noel, Lord Wilhelm and Lord
Ihomas. She also dresses them in masculine
accoutrements, that approach a composite
photograph of Rosalinds attire in the Forest
OF Arden and that of the modern bicyclist,
Miss Hampton, being uncommon tall" dons
the Rosalind garb while Miss Anna Blancke,
being uncommon short wears pair Of snug
ntting affairs that accentuate her "cuteness -
such thing is possible. Miss Kate
Biancke preserves happy medium equally
attractive In its expression Of the woman
vainly striving to look Hike horrid man.
The characters Of the fsisterly trio are quite
as wildly contrasted as their heights and cos
tunes. They were artisticalIy portrayed Miss
Hampton engaged the admiring attention of
all. She was ever a picture to the eye; she
acted with a keen relish of the spirit of the
fnement that might easily be missing, or, on
the other hand be so over-accentuated as to
make us feel uncomfortable.
Anna Blancke was capital in the role Of
Lady Thomasin. and Kate B.ancke easily full
filled all the demands of the character of Lady
Wilhelmina.
But the real masculine contingent must not
be forgotten There are, of course three Of
these lords of creation; one of them fine
specimen of English nobility, real man as
well as a real viscount, and two eccentric in
dividuals, an English earl who has nothing
but ancest tors, and French count, who affects
wise saws and modern, instances" In the
English language, and mixes them up In Judi
crous fashion Robert Drouet plays the ath-
letic and manly Englishman with commenda-
BILE freedom from theatrecism and, a .repose of
manner altogether gratifying. That pleasing
artist, John B. Maher, gives a most amusing
representation Of the excitable French count
The author has achieved his greatest success
In drawing the character of the Earl of Tween
Always, and In the representation of this role
William Sampson achieves artistic dHsinction.
His assumption of the individuality of this
specimen Of degenerated nobility is complete
The personality of the actor is totally masked
His form is hidden.
Charles Kent as the minister, with a live
sense of humor; William F. Owen, as the
game-keeper; James Wilson, as the poacher.
and Mrs. Eleanor Carey. in the role of the
Marehioness Of Castlejerdan with q penchant
for masculine daughters, were cast to play
comparatively unimpertant characters. 1t
would be superfuous to commend their work
The Giffen & NeiTl company will present
''The Amazons" for the entire week. including
a special matinee Wednesday afternoon and
the regular matinee Saturday, with the exeep-
ton of Thursday and Friday evenings, when
Primrose and Vests MINISTRIES will hold the
boards for those two nights only.
Don't overlook seeing the most character
fstic and interesting feature in Primrose e.
Vests Ministries Thursday and Friday even
ings, at the Metropolitan opera house. the
great cake walk.
The coming week at the Grand will afford
one OF the stellar events of the season in
the initial appearance this season of Rpbt.
Downing, the eminent tragedian In his most
successful historical play, 1.-THE Gladiator. -
Mr.. Downing's past visits here have estab-
lished for him a sterling reputation as an
artist of unquestioned ability. 1.-The Gladiator
Is play from the jen of A. Saumet and was
hrst produced in this country by the great
Italian tragedfsn, Tomasso Salyfni. 1t is
a drama Of strong interest and affords Mr.
Downing the best opportunity OF his stage
career. The assisting company will be In
every way adequate and the scenic appoint
ments superb. The engagement will include
performances only Sunday Monday and rr,1es