The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-26
AT THE THEATERs.

THE Wrong Mr.. Wright" the farce pre-
sented by Roland Reed and his company at
the Metropolitan last night is an ingeniously
constructed affair." quite original as 1t. is
clever George IH. Broadhurst, the author,
has certainly handled his material In thor
oughly unconventional style. To be sure, wit
is w.t.. and hum6r h humor. but Mr.. Broad
bursts farce displays these entertaining vir-
tues in manner almost unique, and unde-
niably refreshing This is not to say that
The Wrong Mr.. Wright dispenses with
that mainstay * all farces, mistaken iden-
tlty, that fruitful expedient, from which
spring countless Complications and perplexi-
ties OF the most 5laughable character. On
the contrary, the very essence of Mr., Broad
hurst's achievement is mistaken identity in
It's most concentrated form. The authors
iginality consists int the inventive genius mani
tested in the relatiAis of the characters and
the Development of their oss-purposes to-
ward each otherH The wit is not Of the most
refined or subtle order, neither is it coarse or
commonplace. The dialogue is occasionally
punctuated with sharp thrust at some OF
society's fads and hypocrisies, and shade
or satire is sometimes visible, but in the
main the amusement the farce affords Is pro-
voked by rapid succession Of funny situa-
tons, short, crisp speeches, and unexpected
denouements
The chief interest is centered in two char
acters, Seymour Sites, San Francisco
millionaire CMr. Reed, and Miss Henrietta
oliver, fin de steele detective Miss Isadore
Rush). The relation between the two is novel
enough to prove extremely interesting, If
properly managed. Mr.. Broadhurst has
ceeded in never permitting this interest to
flag, inasmuch as the two characters are
nicely drawn, both possessing distinct and
sharply contrasted Municipalities, highly col
ored, 1t Is true, and therefore doubly effective
for the purposes of farce.
Other interesting dramatis personae an
English lord Of the degenerate type, excellent
ly impersonated by that pleasing artist
Charles Coote, and a nephew and niece of
Mr.. Sites, and finally the niece's maid. Fur
Their complications are supplied by these peo-
pie, inasmuch as the niece, who is heiress to
large fortune, passes herself off the
maid for purposes of her own, while the maid
masquerades the mistress. The possibili-
ties for confusion are we'll nigh boundless, and
the author has certainly taken full advantage
of them.
To say that the farce is admirably presented
is not extravagant praise. MIR. Reed has
never been seen in a more congenial role
He improves as the farce develops, until in
the last act his every speech and movement
are cues for laughter. Between the second
and third acts Mr.. Reed was called in front
OF the curtain, where, in response to continued
applause, he regaledI the audience with a sort
of comic monologue of anecdotes and personal
"reminiscences Of his professional life that
proved highly amusing.
| Miss Isadore Rush contributed characteri-
cation new to the stage in the role of Miss
| Oliver, the woman detective. Miss Rush is
pretty woman with a graceful figure, a
bewitching smile and unquestionable dramatic
instinct. Her acting is spontaneous. In the
second act Miss Rush sang an Ethiopian mel
ody with irresistible African essence.
| Mr.. Coote's sketch Of Lord Brazenface is
deserving of special praise. 1t was recognized
as representing the most intense type of hope
| less inanity as Sometimes exemPlifed in the
| foppish Britisher whose title is his all. Oh
The other characters were satisfactorily i'm
personated. Miss May Monte Donico acted
the role Of Julia Bonds. the niece, with be-
coming refinement and good taste, and Miss
Alethea Luce managed the rather difficult
task Of impersonating the maid in the mis-
tress' clothes quite acceptaby. Sheridan
Tupper's Characterization of the eccentric
Clingstone was good.
| A stirring American drama of unusual
merit is promised local play-goers in THE
War of Wealth., which will be given at the
Grand next week. 1t three months at
business last season, and, it is claimed,
achieved a more substantial success than any
melodrama produced there during the year.
1t is very big &nd costly production, and
Is pretty sure to interest local theater-goers,
more especially as the complete New York
production and complete cast headed by
Fanny Mcintyre, are to be seen here.
The wire walking scene in ''When London
Sleeps at the Grand is a most thrilling
scene. There are other features of this
piece which combine to make 1t an attraction
of much interest. The engagement will, CEN
clude with performances tomorrow afternoon
and evening.
The Seibert orchestra will give their next
concert at the Metropolitan opera house Sun
day afternoon at $780, The programme for
this concert, which has been very carefully
selected and thoroughly rehearsed, promises
to be one Of the most enjoyable of the SERIES
and includes selections from the different
schools of Auber, Verdi, Goldmark Tschai-
kowsky, Meyerbeer and others. The attend
ance at these Sunday concerts, generous as
it was in the beginning, has been steadily in
creasing, and next Sunday promises to eclipse
all the previous concerts, both in audience
and music aIt