The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-04-17


in-law IN the comedy presented by William H.
crane and his company at the Metropolitan
last night. His Wife's Father Is the sug-
gestive title OF the play, which is the work Of
Martha Morton, who informs the public that
the central theme IS taken from the German
OF L'Arronge
The comedy is in four acts The last act
atones for the first three, which are boresome
at times. harping as they do upon the med
dlesome father-in-law, who constitutes the
central theme. The playwright is not wholly
az fault In this respect The players act with
too much deliberation. The action must be
accelerated in order to chase away the mo-
notony OF the subject. The speeches OF the
young people should be delivered with more
volubdllty. As 1t Is, the effervescent quality
SO potent In dispelling that tired feeling Is
absent. 1t can be supplied. But the last act re-
tr1eyes all. It is a whole comedy In itself
His wife's father is still the central figure
but ne Is no longer a meddlesome old man.
The situations are ingeniously conceived the
lines sparkle with wit. The scene in this act
between father-in-law and son-in-law, upon
the return home Of the latter after a months
absence, Is unquestionably the best in the
play. 1t Is Immediately followed by the unique
scene in which the father-in-law proposes to
the widow, and this ranks next In order.
Mr. Crane impersonates Buchanan Billings,
the father of Mr.. Hamilton's wife. He makes
Inc most Of character that at times I'M
presses one as somewhat overdrawn. Mr..
Billings does not engage our sympathy to any
appreciable extent until he comes to his
senses, realizes that he is the sole cause
Of the trouble between man and wife, and
changes his tactics by falling in love with an
attractive widow. Then he captures every
body, and then Mr.. Crane appears to the best
advantage.
In the role of the young husband Edwin
Arden is not entirely satisfactory, despite the
fact that he is graceful and intelligent actor.
He is tri1e stiff and too deliberate in action
and speech for the purposes Of this comedy.
Greater celebrity Of action and speech and a
quicker display of temper would improve his
impersonation Of this character and dispel
some Of the tedious moments. Miss Efie
Shannon, who plays the wife, might likewise
enhance and impart a spicy flavor to these
scenes by exhibiting a little more animation
and feminine perversity. Otherwise her por-
travail is all that can be desired.
Percy Brooke distinguished himself in tina
comparatively unimportant role of Matthew,
the faithful old servant The impersonation
was artistic to a degree.
The other roles were satisfactorily played
-
will end the engagement Of the clever farce
The Prodigal Father" at the Grand.
The introducing of high class vaudeville
for an indefinite period at the Grand to-
morrow night promises for local theater go
ers decided novelty in a new line of enter
tainment. Among the stellar lights included
in next weeks bill are Hallen and Fuller
Phyllis Rankin, Duncan, Les Freres Carpos
Irene Franklin, Conroy and Mcdonald Man
do!a and many others. The advance sale is
large
There has been change in the programme
for the Seibert concert Easter Sunday. and
IN place OF the vocal number previously an
nounced the talented child artist Miss Mar
garethe Mich, who created such favo able i'm
preston at the Danz symphony concert last
week, will play Chopin's "Fantasie I'M
promptu," very difficult piano selection, but
one in which the little pianiste Is said tn
excel. The unfavorable weather prevented
many people from enjoying the performance
of this little artistic on the occasion of the
Danz concert, and in response to numerous
requests Mr.. Seibert has consented to make
this change, which will also make the entire
concert instrumental.
The Gtffen & NeiIl stock company which
played summer season in this city two years
ago. VIII begin an engagement at the Metro
pontan opera house Monday evening, May
~. 1hls company was very popular during
It's previous engagement in this city. and
gave the most pleasing performances of any
similar organization that has ever appeared
here. The opening performance will probably
be The District Attorney" an Eastern sue
cess. The regular summer prices will be
charged during this engagement
William H. Crane will present "His Wife's
Father" at the Metropolitan opera house for
the matinee this afternoon, and will close his
engagement tonight in "A Fool of Fortune"
telegram was received by the GIob q
from New York last night saying it was re-
ported there that Ef1e Shannon. Of the w
ID. crane company was going to star with
Herbert Kelley in vaudeville next season. A
representative of this paper saw Miss Shan
non Immediately after the performance last
evening and announced the news to her. It
was news to her, indeed. She laughed heart
lily as she said: Il have corresponded with
nobody about going into vaudeville do not
expect to go into vaudeville and. in fact
never gave the matter a thought in nv
life"
The annual Easter concert of Seibert's or
chestra, which will also be the farewell con-
cert Of the season, will occur at the Metro
polltan opera house tomorrow afternoon. An
excellent programme Of standard classical
and popular music has been arranged, and
will be presented by the entire orchestra of
forty men, under the direction OF George
Seibert Jr.