The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-18
AT THE THEATERS.

has come to the Metropolitan opera house
Not new in title merely, but new in idea, Il
sort Of evolution of the farce comedy oi old.
The evaneseent plot is there. and the attend
ant specialties fill in the time but the whole
scheme is different The specialties pro-
yoked by the story itself. Tney are as spon-
taneOus the wink of tne sou5rette, the
sigh of the leading lady, the kick OF the
danseuse. They never interrupt the PLOT, but
rather enhance it's interest.
The title of Frank Tannehill's three acts Of
farce comedy very properly conveys no idea
of the subject matter. Mr.. TannehilI has
labeled it The Nancy Hanzs.-' BS any ether
name it would be just funny. But like
everything else written f.: the stage its fate
Is in the hands Of the players. Happily it has
been entrusted to an agg-eg,iti)l CT bright
and clever people, thu altaor himself among
them. The result Is emineutly satisfactory.
There is felicitous admixture of sense and
nonsense in this farce. The first acts whlle
not as rich in comic incident the reXt,
contains most amusing satire upon the
stage-struck maiden. we'll as the infatu-
ated old gentlemen who are popularity asso-
ciated with the front rows when female at
fractions exhibition The rehearsais
of the scenes from The Lady of Lyons, be-
tween Claude Melnette and Pauline, were ex-
ceedingly good. They would have brought
down the house at professional matinee.
But a new source Of entertainment and COM
plication arises in the second act, wnen lg-
nacio Martinetti the artist who essays the
really leading character, that of an excitable
Frenchman shaves his face in full view of
the audience" and, DOMINIC female attire.
passes himself aft as the wife of companion,
Dick Chandos Frank Tannehill Jr) Martin
ETH Is an exceptionally clever performer. He
sings Spanish fantasies to his own piano &C.
compartments with the flourish and flavor OF
a true Castiian, dances with the grace and
agility Of ballet master, and acts with the
spice and spontaneity of q French comedian.
He fairly effervesces.
That embodiment of animation, Miss Anna
Boyd, in the role OF popular-pr1ce favor
ite," contributed a goodly share to the en-
tertainment. Miss Boyd is one OF those
breezy vtvacious women who could sing
comic song successfully if she possessed voice.
AS it is, she is well enough equipped in
this respect to sing 'All Coons Look Alike to
Me-" my Girls a High-Born Lady" and
other Ethiopian character songs, with ire
sistible African essence.
In the course of the second act, Miss Riva
Gibson, whose appearance in the role Oh
iona fully justified the designation Of the
programme "a flower from natures field,
so pretty and sweet picture did she present
glided unobtruslvely to a piano and exc
cuted delightful moroccan in such dainty
and musicianly style to richly merit
the encore that rewarded her.
Miss Carrie Radcliffe was pleasing in the
role of Frances Lakewood, and Miss Louise
Muldener actress Of ripe experience IN
the highest sphere of the drama. contrib
uted a commendable characterization OF Aunt
Hetty Evergreen.
l. N. Morris hit upon an excellent idea
when he chose long-suffering Cuba and it's
fight for freedom as the subject for mis- lat
est play, and in THE Last Stroke" no has
successfully woven together thrilling plot
which holds the spectator in rapt atten-
ton until the curtain is rung down upon the
closing scene. 1.-The Last Stroke has been
seen here before, having made it's initial
performance before a st. Paul audience Feb.
"a last. The play has not lost any of its
attraction since its first appearance. In fact
in its year of absence THE Last Stroke" has
only gained In interest, inasmuch as the
country about which the plot tenters is
now the stage upon which drama Of war is
being enacted as realistic as was ever pro-
duced in playhouse.
The usual Sunday night audience greeted
Jacob Lifts players at the Grand opera house
enthusiasm which fairly shook the theater
from pit to dome at times. Indeed, il would
be q very unpatriotic audience that could
sit through play like ''The Last Stroke
without becoming demonstrative. Every one
sympathtzed with the handsome hero and
sweet heroine, whose trials and fluctuations.
of course. were many and every one rejoiced
when their two loving hearts were again unit
ed at the close of the last act.
|, Frederic De Belleville easily heads the cast
as Don Julio Valdez, of the Spanish secret
service. He is artist, every inch, and as
sumes the trying part of the Spanish spy
and villain with startling thoroughness. While
he is on the stage the attention of the au-
dienee Is moncpoiized by him, for his chafac-
terization is fascinating. De Belleville adds
humorous tinge to his rendition Of the
villain, and he only required one of hts orig
fnal shrugs and foreign half testing, half
serious sentences to raise a roar Of laughter
! Strange to say, that. although he IS supposed
to concoct major part Of the levltry dur
ing the four acts Of the play, he is prime
favorite with the gallery ''gois," and his
entrance upon the stage last night was al
ways the occasion for burst Of applause. A
villain who can gain the friendship Of The
gods can abhor other critics.
Scott Cooper as DR.. Nicholas Blake, United
izatien of true-hearted loyal old American
always ready to defend his country, befriend-
er of the helpless. His comedy work was
good.
Esther Lyons portrayal of Lucille Vance,
wife of the hero, who, through prosecutions
Of Don Julio, leads unhappy life until
the proper moment arrives, was excellent and
she executed the somewhat difficult part
ably.
T. S. James made an acceptable American
hero, and Oscar Eagle, as Padre Navarro
did his part full justice. Harry Mills sood
looks acted apologies for his somewhat
iistless rendition of the character of Lieut..
Drum. The lieutenant forgot himself in the
execution scene, when his face broke into
wreath of smiles after bidding the here a
last farewell.
The scenic effects reflect great credit on
Emans and Hart. All the week with usual
matinees.
The attraction at the Metropolitan opera
house the last three nights Of this week, with
Saturday matinee. will be Nell Burgess cele-
brated New England play. THE 81 ew County
Fair. The story Of this play is too well
known to need extended description. Dealing
with the oddities of some of the Quaint New
England people, 1t still possesses enough heart
interest to make it acceptable to all classes
of theater-goers. Ali the scenery used the
automatic race track invented and patented by
Mr.. Burgess, and the handsome thoroughbred
horses are carried by the company The
mechanical race track enables the showing
OF stirring race from beginning to finish !;
and the horses are actually run, although they
are never out of sight of the spectators. The
glimpse Of rural scenery Is realistic, and the