The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-04-11

work in it in several ways One Lon
don paper. noting the success, patriot
ically regrets that the presentation
was made in New York instead of
London. Nine. Scott-Uda, wife of a
noted Italian art critic and a personal
friend of Duse, after seeing the play
declared that it was admirably fitted
TO the Italian actress, and has asked
permission to translate it for her.
Tess" in short, appears to be the
reigning sensation.
Farce comedy will have an inning
at the Grand the present week. A
good entertainment Of this order Is
promised in the visit here of The
Prodiga1 Father" The enga cement
will open tonight and will include the
usual Wednesday and Saturday matt
nees.
The ProdigaI Father" is from the
pen Of Glen Marlborough, who has met
with considerable success as a writer
Of farce comedies. The farce is in
three acts. The plot turns upon the
story Of the life of an unsophisticdted
old scientist, who has lived an limo
cent existence. He is about to make
trip to Africa for the purpose of ex-
plOring the Wilds of that country in the
interest Of a geographical society, of
which he is a member. Just as he IS
embarking on the steamer he is en-
Uranced by a vision of loneliness in the
shape of gay seriO-cOmic actress
He starts in pursuit Of her and follows
her for two months, endeavoring to
make an impression, but, finding tha-
he has made no progress, he finally
gives up the chase In his pursuit OF
the fair charmer, he has taken no
thought Of the flight of time. hence the
ship has sailed. and he is compelled ID
return home. Upon arriving there, he
uses his powers of imagination TO de-
scribe his trip, or supposed trip TO At
RIGA His Munchausen tales produce
much amusement His prospective SON
in-law leads him on to tell the story
of his wondrous escape until the cid
man becomes SO involved that he can
not eXtricate himself
The company is said to be well
adopted TO the piece Miss Rose Mel
/ vile will appear as the simple country
girl; Dave j. Halpin will be seen in the
character OF the tramp and the other
roles will be assumed by Charles Boyle
Carrie Graham, Lynn Welcher, Will
lam Logan and others.
The Serenade" at the Knickerbock-
CT. continues to please large audiences
and the BCstonians could apparently
go on singing it indefinitely. says a
New York exchange. The catchy music
and the really good libretto furnish
much that is pleasant TO hear, and the
scenery and costumes still more that
is good TO see. The comic opera is
great success.
William H Crane viii take possession
Of the boards of the Metropolitan opera
house on Thursday night. when he be-
gins his engagement OF three nights
and a matinee. The play selected for
the opening performance is entitled "A
Fool Of Fortune" A comedy by Miss
Martha Morton All of its scenes are
laid in New York and the story that it
UnfoIds is one embodying the main
features of the life of a man who won
and lost millions Of dollars in specula-
tiCn- This man is called Elisha Cum
bingham, and the opening act intro
duceS him and the members of his fam
lily Cunningham came from the coun-
try when a boy with little or no educa-
ton, but with a quantity of that COM
modify called by the world horse
sense" He drifted into Wall street and
every thing that he touched turned to
money. Having all of this worlds
&c eds that he thinks he needs, he is
about to retire from business. when his
partner drags him into a scheme TO
corner the stock Of a small railroad.
A plan is en- foot TO cOnsol- date the road
with a more powerful one which con-
smaller concern rise in value. AS the
brokers would control the stock. they
could boost its price, and thereby make
a fortune. CunniD CHAM does not like
the scheme at ALL but is forced TO take
part in il. There is a third party in
terested, and at the critical moment, he
plays Cunningham false with the result
that the broker is shorn of every dol
lar he has in the world. The blow is
an awful one to the broker and he
quickly begins rolling down hill. grow
ing aged in appearance, his clothes be-
coming shabby and his gait shutting
In moments Of desponcency. he takes
to drink and at the end of a year the
change in him is so great that his
friends find it hard to recognize him.
His one aim IN life is to get on his feet
again and be revenged on the false
friend who ruined him This he final
ly succeeds in doing, but the fight has
SO weakened him that in the hour Of
his triumph, death steps in and car
ries him away. Mr.. Crane will be seen
as the broker and the portrayal Is said
TO be a memorable one, The original
cast and settings will be seen in the
presentation.
The play to follow on Friday night
is His Wife's Father" a comedy that
ran the greater portion of season at
the Fifth Avenue theater in New York
The play deals with phase of human
nature that is very common. the sell
fish love Of so many parents for their
children Bushanan Billings. a wealthy
middle-aged man, has an only daughter
whom he w0FshfPS. She marries and he
thinks that then more than ever. ne
must look after her welfare it never
occurring TO him that the duty of MAX
fEg her happy has fallen to another
He insists upon the young couple liv-
iY-c in house and having nothing RI
do. he begins meddling. after the fash
ion aScribed by the humDrists to the
naCther-in-law. He looks upon his SON
in-law as a strange man and cannot
understand why he should claim so
much of his little girls time and at
tention. OF course, no young couple
are going TO put up with much of this.
and so they move I'd a home of their
own selection, where the husband ex-
poets to be able TO enjoy the society Of
his wife uudisturbed- When Billings
discovers that he has been deserted"
he is nearly heartbroken, and he threat
ems 10 sue his sOn-in-law for alternating
the affections of his child In their new
home the young people are not left
alone long The old man puts in his
appearance and unwittingly causes
quarrel between the husband and wife,
the result being that the young man
rushes off to Europe leaving his wife
Frustrated and broken hearted. A
buxom widow opens Billings eyes to
the part he played in the separation.
and he thereupon sets about effecting
reconciliation This done, he marries
the widow and withdraws a better and
a wiser man. The play is said TO be
exceedingly bright and in it's preSenta-
ton Mr. Crane will be seen as the
fussy. meddIesome old man. 1t. viii be
repeated on Saturday afternoon. and