The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-18
AT THE THEATERS.

"uon play rom the pen OF MIS-. Manele1n6
Lucette Ryley comes along. playgoers ought
70 see It One Of Mrs. Ryley's plays was
presented at the Metropolitan opera house
last night Its title Is "a Coat OF Many
Colors." 1t suggests now and then ths Bib
neal tale OF Joseph's mercenary brothers,
VINO enyied his coat of many co1ors, and It
bears startling resemblance to the Scrip
turaI story-whieh no romance has ever
equaled-in that Joseph" Is mot guilty"
ingenious, Mrs. Ryley's play certainly Is.
But the performance possesses q novelty. Ar
lists have been brought here to present the
play. Mrs. Ryley Is fortunate In this re-
spect. Nat Goodwin. showed the people of
81 Paul that Mrs. Ryley could write IAN
American Citizen Manager Kingston's COM
pany demonstrates that Mrs. Ryley can write
A Coat OF Many Colors." There are aggre-
gatlons OF players who would be everlasting
oelendants in damage suits for SANDER. with
the dramatists az plaintiffs. The shade of
Shakespeare, who Is with every true lover
OF tne drama, can vouch for the poets sur
viving cause of action.
But the company now playing at the Met
ropoltan Is sharing honors with Mrs. Ry-
ley. II Is interpreting a good work in a
worthy manner. Mrs. Ryley is an artist;
her interpreters are artists. Those who can
recognize distinction between the mere per-
former VINO looks the same in any costume
ICES chaacter, are too few. There are ac-
cohphsned actors in this company. It is
TO the credit Of the audience at the Metro
pohtan last evening that the distinctive merit
VI TINS company was not only observed, but
auuIDIy Vindfcated. Recently one Of the best
pays that an American dramatist has writ
ten met with a reception so chilly as to
discourage any more experiments in these
parts But this company insisted on being
recognized, even by the elite. The elite have
no apologies to offer
CHANGING over the programme the very first
name that meets the eye is that of
an nlustrious artist. william ]. lie
Moyne. The role Of susceptible father
with an eye nevertheless to the woman 8
doWry, Is allotted to this artist The char
acter lives. You never look at Florian Wall
boys and think Of an actor You simply
contemplate the man old enough to know
better. Mr. LIE Moyne asserts the individ-
ualfty Of the character not in loud tones
or ootrusiye mannerisms. Mr.. LIE Moyne
mas no property gestures that go with GER
tain lines. He Is essentially g. portrayer of
eccentric character, a man who might re-
produce Pecksniff. a Pickwick, a Chadband
or Squeers.
Herbert Kelley and Miss Efne Shannon
carry the burden of the play, and bear 1t
gracefully and without apparent effort Mr.
Kelley Is a manly. easy player, who makes
gentleman appear as though he belonged to
the scene. The efforts of some actors to imi-
tate the genus gentleman have been
known to provoke tears. Mr. Kelcey's gen.
tleman never offends. You don't notice his
manners. He might wear a sack coat in the
hrst act cutaway in the second a frock
In the third, and a swallow-tail in the last
II you are interested in the play you won't
remember how he was dressed. But Mr.
he!cey Is also a spontaneous actor, excellent
in the few dramatic situations. and breezy in
the comedy scenes with Miss Cunning
This role Is assumed by Miss
Shannon. A delightful personality has
Miss Shannon and much ability Is unmis-
takably suggested by her impersonation
Her powers OF facial expression are noticea BILE
IN that they indicate something beyond the
most ordinary emotions such as surprise or
terror, or mere amusement
Another admirable portrayal was contribut-
ed by Miss Ellie Wilton in the role of Mrs
Majendie, the woman who is at last restored
to the man who was about twenty years late
IN recognizing her worth as the mother of
his daughter. Miss Wilton played under
serious disadvantage last night, having lust
undergone the lancing operation that an u
cerated tooth sometimes necesstates Her
performance, 1t might be truly said was as
PHJ9iC"l4y HeIolc as IL was menta ~ artistic.
Edmund D. Lyons characterization of the
old Scotchman, McWhirter, was one Of the
artistic gems Of the performance. Mr.. Ly MS
exits and entrances are few in number.
but his exits were invariably followed by ap-
plGuse
Miss Georgia Busby was a picture of
blooming matron. and David Terrence was an
ideal Englishman who looked as though he
could resent an insult if need be- Edward
See was an ideal serving man.
Mrs Ryley's comedy" fully merits that
classification. 1t Is essentially a comedy.
It's sentiment is reserved for the climax of
the third act. where the cynica Waltoys CMr
Kelsey forgets his creed and kisses The hand
Of the woman he loves-Esther Cunning.
This distant osculation awakens Miss Gun
ming Miss Shannon) to a realizing sense that
there is man in the world for her. The
curtain is eloquent