The Saint Paul globe., 1897-04-19
AT THE. THEATERS.

The season of vaudeville at the Grand
opened most auspiciously last night, if the at
tendance may be considered a favorable sign
and managers are inclined to regard standing
room only as the best sign in the world At
any rate, that was the case at the Grand last
night, at 8:15, when the orchestra began play
ing the 'El Captain" march
1t was a gala night at Manager Lifts thea
ter. Palms and lilies ornamented the foyer
where promenade concert took place earlier
IN the evening. Potted plants also decorated
the stage at the extremities of the proscenium
arch. The orchestra, under the direction of
Q. NJ Selling, was notably enlarged and the
ushers were attfred in becoming uniforms
surmounted by white caps, that suggested, as
one of the specially performers put it. the
white squadron r
The vaudeville bill was in the main good
In its departure from the beaten track of
melodrama and alleged farce comedy, it un-
questionably proved relief to the people The
whole truth cannot be told about vaudeville
show without paining some of the artists who
contribute to it. At the risk then of becom
Ing invidious, the palm must be awarded to
Irene Franklin. the soubrette. Miss Franklin
is petite young woman, whose fortune is not
in her face or her feet alone, though both
BILE mimetic ability and keen sense of wit
Her imitation Of a tough waiter in a tough
restaurant and also of the various characters
who drop in and give orders deserved the
hearty applause bestowed. She also scored an
emphatic hit with the song "GoTden Gates
Wide Open"
Frederick Hallen and Molly Fuller were
welcomed more cordially than their act They
are clever people but are riding in shaky
vehicle. They must provide themselves with
better material. The idea conveyed by their
speciality is not uninteresting, but it might
be clothed in more attractive dress Fewer
lines and more dancing would improve the
act.
Miss Phyllis Rankin, a beautiful young
woman with pleasing voice. appears as an
American edition Of the celebrated Partisan
chanteuse Anna Held. Miss Held being a
stranger to st. Paul, any imitation of her
would necessarily fail to gain the desired
appreciation. All that can be said is that If
Miss Rankin's imitation closely resembles the
original, we are at a loss to account for
Miss Held's fame.
The closing act, comic sketch contributed
by Mr. Stinson and Miss Merton, sent the
audience home in a good humor Stinson Is
a funny man. 1t is as useless to attempt to
tell why as it would be for Mr. Stinson to
explain what that sketch of his is about
His partner. Miss Merton, makes a most
effective foil, though she speaks scarcely ten
lines during the entire act.
comparative novice on the programme
was Miss airline RumSey, a young woman
with a mezzo-soprano voice of musical oual
ity who should not sing Mabel's solo in the
Pirates Of Penzance.' Sir Arthur Sullivan
wrote that gem for a facile soprano Miss
Rumsey's lower register is of good quality
but II she would sing operate selections
effectively she must receive the benefit OF
proper cultivation.
Mandola, the Spanish equilibr:st. who per
forms all his balancing feats while standing
on a rolling sphere that is necessarily in
perpetual motion, and the Carpos brothers
acrooats OF unusual cleverness, occupied
half-hour of the evening in an entertain
ing manner. A. o. Duncan, the ventrilo-
quist, also amused the audience Conrov and
Macdonald offer an Irish turn that will
hardly pass muster.
Matinees will be given every day this week
The sale of seats for the coming enqaoa-
ment Of Nat C. Goodwin at the MetropoIitan
has commenced and proves one of the largest
known here for some time. Mr. Goodwin has
always held an enviable place in the affe,-
tons OF local theater-goers, and few actors
nave so many friends and admirers both in
and out Of the profession. His new play. can
American Citizen, has made a distinct hit
and in it the comedian has won fresh laurels
Mr.. Goodwin's productions have long been IA
nous for the care and attention bestowed
upon them and the staging Of the new COM
edy is said to far excel all of the comedians
earlier efforts. The engagement will be for
three night and Saturday matinee Thursday
and Friday nights and Saturday matinee. s'An
American Citizen will be presented. Sat
urday night great treat is in store for thea
ter-goers. as Mr.. Goodwin will give for the
first time in thislcity his version Of THE Ri
walls" He has scored great triumph in the
part Of Bob Acres.
s-*
The well-known actor and playwright, James
A. Herne will make his first appearance in
this city Nathaniel Berry in his own beau
tiful play, Shore Acres" at the Metropolitan
opera house on Monday evening next open
ing for a weeks engagement. Mr.. Herne prom
ises a superb production of this play.