The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-11-28
Dramatic and MUsic0L
METROPOLITAN

The Woodward Stock comDany's conquest
of st. Paurs playgoers seems to have been
a complete and thorough one It has won its
way into the good graces of the theater pa
irons with astonishing rapidity, and the sue
cess is we'll merited. Yesterday afternoon
and last night splendid houses greeted the
opening productions Of The Fair Rebel" and
the accompanying vaudeville. There were a
number OF changes in the cast, and several
new faces that were not seen last week
Whether this be the cause not, the people
seemed to acQuit themselves better, ana
The Fair Rebel" went somewhat smoother
than Men and Women" AS the name i'm
plies, the piece is a war drama stretching
over the several years of civil strife. With
but one exception, the scenes are laid about
the home of a Southern family in Virginia
The one exception was Libby prison. There
are the usual love affairs the Northern Off
GERS losing their hearts to the fair Southern
women, and. of course, the troubles created
In this connection owing to the war and It's
horrors, which are brought to the surface
just often enough to make the whole real
lsuc. The one thing above all others that is
good about the story is that there is very
little bloodshed and actual strife in view of
the audience. Most of this is left to the i'm
agfnation, and with good effect The stage
settings were splendid, the Monteith home
being fine representation of an old Southern
mansion and It's surroundings, and the cos
TUNES were handsome and in keeping with
the situation.
Beatrice Leib. as Clairette Monteith, the
fair rebel. made splendid young Southern
girl. The part is a difficult one, since 1t IS
necessary to love Northern officer and still
show hate for the cause he represents but
Miss Leib gave 1t fine Interpretation. Carl
Smith, as Col. Mason and Charles Peckham
as Maj. Stiiman, Northern officers, were
good. The latter drew much applause In his
efforts at love- making with Little Allen as
Aunt Margie, Southern maiden somewhat
advanced in years. Miss Allen gave an ex-
ceilent portrayal OF that part. Inez McCau-
ley. as Joan Fitzhugh, made a charming
little rebel. Walter Green. as Capt. Savaria
de Perrin. Of the French army: Charles
Warren as Maj. Warren; Will Davis as
negro servant: Samuel Marsden, as "Bill''
Bronson, typical backwoods Southerner,
and Louise Riplin, as Mrs. Wood, were
among the other prominent parts and all
were we'll taken. The rest Of the cast was
all that could be desired.
The vaudeville that is given between the
acts cannot be given too much praise 1t
alone Is wei worth going to see. Soiaret
gives a series OF five dances that are fine:
are. in fact as good as have ever been seen
here.
Harry Watson. Alice Hutchings and Ed
They are three exceedingly clever vaude-
vile people. and last night were compelled
to respond to curtain call.
The Carpos brothers are two very clever
acrobats. They do some lofty tumblinS
head balancing and feats Of strength that
won them much applause last night and
cannot fail to do so through the week With
| such clever vaudeville and such splendid per-
trayal of a pretty drama the METROPOLITAN
he cd
The same bill during the week, with the
usual matinees.
GRAND.
The biggest show and the fastest that has
been presented at the Grand this year was
that given last night under the title of The
Female Drummer" 1t is utterly and wholly
inconsequential IN its lines, but that maker
no difference. for there are all sorts OF fun
going on every moment that The curtain Is
up and If there is any room for complaint
1t is that the curtain stays up a bit too long,
The specialties, and they are all good pro-
tract the last act little too much, for one
may easily be surfelted even with good
| specialties. Charles E. Blaney has written a
funny skit in The Female Drummer" The
! leading and title role Is not the whole show
by any means. The plot. what there is of it.
deals with the Eruption OF female drummer
| into large dry goods establishment There
are Misunderstanding and the usual mixing
! up of the strange woman with the aged Ter
son at the head Of the house. The hill OF
the play itself is very funny and Blaney has
invented names for his characters that out
Hoyt Hoyt himself. Ha "a Bargain is the
name Of the drummer; Wood B. Smooth and
| Finas SILK are couple of samples from a list
| OF thirty or more.
tombstone Bennett is IN the title role and
( does IL, she would do anything very
eleveriy. There Is constant suspicion in the
| mind OF the spectator that Miss Bennett Is
| doing her own speciality. and only IN the
| hrSt act IS there room for communication for
| the straight character work. Her costumes
| were numerous and striking and she was very
satisfactory. But Miss Bennett has not always
| the center of the stage by any means. Theirs
| are several other very clever actors In the
| company, and perhaps the best comedy work
| Of the lot is that done by George Richards as
| Wood B. Smooth. He grssps the character and
sustains It with a yigor and spirit that add
very largely to the hlsrity OF the piece. Oscar
| L. F1Emzn, as Corset Stave, the moor walker
also makes the most, in makeup and aoting,
Of the fat part he has drawn. Little Nellie
4 ONetl has the breeZiness OF the soubrette
| that one likes TO see She Il chic, pretty,
| dances we'll and put plenty Of vim into her
! work Willis P. sweatnam is a. clever as
/ ever in his speciality work. and there is al
| WAYS room IN the heart Of the theater Gnsr
| for Eugene Garfield. who ia prominently cast.
| Some OF the stage settings ars elaborate.
4 There Is q scene in big dry goods store hat
gives plenty Of opportunity for the numerous
pretty girls in the piece to do some clever
work The detail in this scene b COM
mendably brought out, even TO the passenger
elevator. The last scene. an exterior. is hand
souaeiy put on. There Is some very beautiful
costuming and the company Is as large ss q
comic opera company need be-end the sing
4 ing much more tuneful than that OF the as-
/ erage opera company.
The piece went with snap, and the house.
| which was very large. exhibited Its pleasure
4 frequently There Is not dead minute in
/ the two hours and forty minutes ef the piece.
| and it is sure 20 be q hit. Tbs Same bill all
this week.