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

rendered by Jessie Bartlett Davis. speak vol
umes with music lovers This week a duo for
bass and tenor. given by Eugene Cow.es and
William Philip is announced as a feature Of
the third act.
Frederick Bryton tells OF a curious expert
ence on the road while starring in For
given" He was in California town of, per-
haps, LOCO inhabitants.
ut was past o'clock" said he. and al
though the members of the orchestra were on
manager fumed and swore, and, finally, not
seeing the leader IN his place, sent for the
vioinist. who asked, with great unconcern.
what the trouble was f' '@I''f3 ~
" Trouble" said my manager. why don't
you strike up? Where's your orchestra
LEADER?
He's gettin shaved replied the musi-
cian- ta'H
Well, why don't you play just the same?
It's nearly $50. Where's the local manager?'
ply"
1.-The Prodigal Father" will follow THE
Showman's Daughter at the Grand The
piece was constructed for laughing purposes
only, and IL Is said to fulfill its mission. The
plot centers the escapades of Stanley
Dodge. who misses his ship to Africa through
flirting with an actress. His son becomes
prodigal. marries the actress and a regular
mix-up results. The complications are OF the
nostamusng kind and the fun is constant
from start to finish.
Manager Jacob Lit announces for the
benefit Of the patrons OF the Grand opera
house important change in the usual pro-
gramme for the summer season. Instead or
combinations. it has been decided to present
high-class vaudeville entertainment. begin
ming the week of April 49, and continuing
as long there Is a demand for this kind
of entertainment. Clean vaudeville Is just
now the most popular form of amusement in
all the large cities. So great. indeed, is the
demand for it that 1t has attracted many OF
the best actors: People like Maurice Barry
more, Lew DOCkstader Robert billiard. Marie
Dressler, Fred Bryton. Fred Halen, Molie
Fuller, Pauline Hall. Verona Jarbeau. Sid
ney Drew. Mckee Rankin and countless 9TH
ers Of exceptional ability have entered the
vaudeville fed within the past season, and
have achieved great success. They have
raised vaudeville far beyond that which was
once contemptuously called variety. There
is no kind Of stage performance more di-
vert!ng when given by clever people: Mr..
Lit will engage the best talent available.
Dasn,te the pIorIes of the dramatic season
which has now passed the high-water mark Of
novelty. though not Of attractlYeness. there
are thousands Of Nsg Workers who regret,
OF years that our N4in4Pses or Shakespeare
have been SO few and 50 brief says the New
York Mail and ExFgsas Indeed with ,, the
York now depends Asnfsst wholly upon two
or three women of tAsS stage, and upon a
single local manager dor, such semi,occaslonai
EFFORTS. This compaAatise monopoly by the
ladies' notwithstanding It's enjoyable features,
naturally confines our Meeting pleasure 10
few comedies and a-singae tragedy, and rods
US of those heroic stage figures in which
50 much of AmereaH-hfstrioni greatness has
been achieved in foE5fer@geReratiens.
That ShakespeaI e. s-fef%stage use, is prac-
tically dead or dying no man of intelligence
and information is zlikefy to admit He is
dormant. 1t has been said that three events
In the literary history OF England tended
10 @eaic
out of the barbarism and ignorance Of the
early times-the translation of the Bib,e the
works of Bacon and the dramas of Shake
speare. The latter may pass through an
era of adverse popular taste or paucity
of talent adequate TO their acceptable pre-
seTtaton or what not. but they were not
born to die or to rest permanently upon the
shelf.
But Shakespeare must be moderrized for
the twentieth century as Coley Cibber and
others brought him up to date for the eigh-
teenth. Manager Days presentation of GER
tain Of the comedies marks the line along
which revival will eventually become general
Such ''tinkering" as he has been accused
Of represents the surest method OF bringing
back to familiar contemplation the greatest
of dramatists, and in no way Injuries, in the
discriminating view. the value of the play. It
is true that we no longer will accept isolated
greatness in the midst OF mediocrfty or worse
We want no stars supported by sticks. What
many now accept when the opportunity IS
given will eventually bel accepted by the peo-
pie of this and every city which pretends
to culture-constant production Of even merit
with liberty but not license In dealing with
the lines and the scenes, and the whole set In
such exquisite frames as have been the Daily
productions referred to.
When we have brought back the comedies.
the tragedies Will follow. Only let us break
away from the bugbear tradition, cut and
slash IL need be for the stage and reserve
the bard unscathed for the library. and the
new generation will discover beauties Of
which it had been skepticai, and become in
terested where now ht would be bored. Let
US have our Shakespeare. like our coats
cut up to date, II, this be necessary as
seems certain-to rescue It from the theatrical
storeroom- Let us encourage those who have
beer bold enough to take the initiative.
The average star today is only the lead
Ing man or woman OF good stock company
! This fact paves theqwaS for the hope that
the Bard OF Avon Will sill be with when
sardou and Ibsen age forgotten. And while
we await the modern treatment that will
attract the modern audience. we have an
abundance Of other things with which to
pass the time.