The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-10-23

TWainS 'Pudd mead w llSOn TO DE
seen northwest of Chicago will be Civ
en- at the Metropolitan theater tonight
by Edwin Mayo and his clever com.
pany. This is the play that ran for
months a the Herald Square theater,
New York city, and also held the stage
at McNicker's in Oh. cage, for two long
engagements, and it is safe to predict
for il a most profitable weeks engage
ment at the hands Of st. Paul theater-
gOeTs. Critics seem to be unanimous
in their praises of this splendid play,
and the manner in which it is being
rendered by Edwin Mayo and his COM
pany.
One critic in particular eulogizes it
in the following manner, which will
give those who are not familiar with
the story an idea of the style of play
this is that sails under such a peculiar
tide:
There is a heap of human nature,
quiet heroism, genial humOr and en-
gasing romance in the lamented Frank
MayO'S ingenious dramatic version of
Mark Twan's delightful and quaint
story of 'PUdd nhead WILSON, 1t is so
pictorial in its revelation of peculiar
phases Of character and social cOndi-
tions existing in certain secluded COM
munities of the South Of ante-bellum
days; it depicts so wildly the customs,
habits and mental limitations of a time
Seemingly SO far removed from the
present and 50 graphically portrays
features of civilization so wholly at
variance with our own, in speech, ac-
ton and dress, that interest in the
drama is Quickened to a degree beyond
what can be felt in plays more crowd
ed with exciting incidents and more
finished in theatrical technique.
1T is comic; il is ira gle; it is romantic.
r. = ira
ed that the resulting dramatic mosaic
Possesses extraordinary fascination for
q spectator Of an imaginative turn Of
mind. Its comedy has that quality
which George Meredith believes essen
tial in the trueSt and highest comedy
the power TO provoke thoughtful laugh
ter; and its tragic note has the pene-
trating ring of that relentless fate
which visits up0n the son the sins of
his father. II is a curious and distinct
eudeaVOr in dramatic literature. It's
environment is peculiarly American,
and as a vivid reflection Of certain
types in our national development it
affords on interesting study and is ca
pable of giving enjoyment long after
Il has ceased 10 be a visual entertain
ment"
Edwin Mayo is a son Of the drama
fist, and the reputation he has made
has long since preceded this announce
ment The company supporting Mr.
Mayo is not only an exceptionally
large one, but is made up of clever
people, most OF whom were in the orig
iEal production. 1t includes Miss Ada
DWyer, John J. EdmOnds, Frank
Campeau Ralph Dean, Miss Maribel
Seymour, Miss Dickey Delano, Angus
tus Balfour, William S. Gill, Willard
Curtis, William Arthur, Miss Nellie La
Sale, w. r. Mickey, Louis WasseIf,
Charles Thiel and others, making what
is claimed by those who know to be
one Of the finest organizations on the
road.
Mr.. Mayo plays the title role, an &C.
centric, wise, witty old village lawyer
who patiently waits nearly d quarter
of century for his first client. In the
meantime he interests himself and
amuses his passing leisure in taking
prints Of the balls Of the thumbs OF
his neighbOrS on bits of glass, fling
them away that he might study the
curious lines, curves, Whirls, loops and
flCuIishes that adOrn the thumb of ev-
cry human being, and the wonder of it
all IS there are no two among the tenn
Ing millions Of this earth that are alike
This fad Of his, with his many other
eccentricities, leads TO Dave Wilson be-
iGg called by his neighbOrs a ''puddn-
head"
AT first, confident in himself and
feeling his own superiority, Wilson
does not mind the ridicule of the pee
pie After tWentv-three va9rs-tha Gan
between nr0Ioo11e and nIav-tbonob he
-. -" 80 -! PIOIo9 Gc anu pa Though he
still believes in himself and knows that
he is mentally above those about him.
Wilson shows how much he feels the
4onS years OF Inelf persistent mlSunder-
standing. Only once does he WAIVER in
his belief in his thumb mark theory
,,o5a h. l4 + LENS boI1; Saretully laoeied
49, -, j. - - - - 49,
CICS9 Il-8uG ny ne Same $50 he tnlnKs)
children when they are older. These
same marks, however, trlumphantly
win him his first case after his lone
waiting. and nrove which ie tho r,oe+a9,
to commit the murder and that the
tWins-those delightful twins-Were en-
tlIeIy innocent.
The following is the cast:
PTolQgue-
80 NiSoI '.'' - -, Edwin Mayo
T4oLtorJ P,3,,~ta ''''Inataes >. fGmoncs
blake "a W W uSt3S 6 SdW
Swan Wi1Iiar q HfiHy
Campbell 49, ........ william hrt1ur
3 95:$s: z:: ' s s:.: