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

The first performance of Mark
Twain's "Pudd nhead Wilson" to be
seen northwest of Chicago will be Civ
en- at the Metropolitan theater tonight
by Edwin Mayo and his clever com.
paGy. This is the play that ran for
months at the Herald Square theater,
New York city, and also held the stage
at McNicker's, in Chicago, 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-
goers. 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 q peculiar
title:
There is a heap Of human nature,
quiet heroisrn, genial hum0r and en-
gagiug romance in the lamented Frank
MayO'S ingenious dramatic version Of
Mark Twain's delightful and quaint
story of 'PUdd' uhead WILSON, 1t is 50
pictorial in its revelation of peculiar
phases of character and social cOndi-
tons 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 SO graphically pOrtrays
features Of n 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; it is tr2gic; it is romantic.
It's ingredients are 50 admirably blend
ed that the resulting dramatic mosaic
possesses extraordinary fascination for
a spectator Of an imaginative turn of
mind. lis 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-
tratiHg ring of that relentless fate
which visits upon the son the sins of
his father. 1t is a curious and distinct
endeavOr in dramatic literature. Its
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
1t has ceased to be a visual entertain
ment."
Edwin Mayo is a son of the drama
list and the reputation he has made
HIS lO4l5 since HIGCCQGu Ills dIlHOQH
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
inal production. 1t includes Miss Ada
DWyer, John J. Edmonds. Frank
Campeau, Ralph Dean, Miss Married.
Seymour, Miss Dickey Del8no, Angus
tus Balfeur, William S. Gill, Willard
Curtis, William Arthur, Miss Nellie La
Sale, w. r. Mickey, Louis Wasself,
Edwin w. Lewis, Augustus Huse,
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 quarter
of q 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, filing
them away that he might study the
curious lines, curves, whirls, loops and
f1ourishes that adOrn the thumb Of ev-
cry human being, and the wonder of il
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-
ing called by his neighbors a "pudd'n-
head"
At first, confident in himself and
feeling his own superiority, Wilson
does not mind the ridicuIe of the peO-
pie. After tWenty-three years-the gap
between prologue and play-thOugh he
Still believes in himself and knows that
he is mentally above those about him,
Wilson shows how much he feels the
long years of their persistent misunder-
standing. Only once does he WAIVER in
his belief in his thumb mark theory
rTwA1~, lA ~
made by the babies do not agree with
those made by the same $50 he thinks
children when they are older. These
same marks, however, triumphantly
win him his first case after his long
waiting, and prove which is the master
and which is the slave; also who tried
to commit the murder, and that the
twins-those delightful twins-were en-
tirely innocent
The following is the cast:
Prologue
Dave Wilson Edwin MAYO
York Driscoll 49, -. Charles J. Edmonfs
Howard Pembroke Augustus BaIfour
Blake .........................W w. r. Mickey
Swan 80. -. -. -. $3.50. William s. Gill
Campbell -. William Arthur
Jasrar ...... ............ Edwin W. Lewis
Roxy, a sixteenth negress slave See
Authors Note) .............. Miss Ada DWyer
Patsey, Wilson's sister 49,. Miss D. Delaro
In the Play
David I}; Wilson, "Pudd'nhead" Edwin Mayo
A-I0LlUSIS ............... --........ a4ph Dean
York Driscoll. County Judge
Charles j. Edmonds
Tom DriscOll 80. ............ Frank Campeau
Howard Pembroke, Lawyer Augustus Balfour
Twins
Luigi Cappelo Willard Curtis
AngeIo CappeIo ............... Louis WaSsef
Flake, County Sheriff INV. R. Mickey
DWdH ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS William 5. Gill
Campbell 49,. William Arthur
JGuge Hoblnson ..........E Edwin w. Lewis
Deacon Jasper Charles Chaeffer
1phTalIn ''''.................:..' H: Helaby
Patsy Mason, Pudd'nhead's widowed
Rowey Miss Marbel Seymour
A combination of peculiarly attrac-
tive features and people will be seen
one present week at the Grand, com
mercing With a performance this Sun
day evening. Yank Newells "Mul-
doon's Picnic" one of the b. st Of a long
line OF farce comedies, will be the very
funny vehicle by which a number of
popular favOriteS will be introduced.
No one questions the undcubted funny
hpPETINE It creates ap.