The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-16
Dramatic.


For one week, beginning tomorrow
evening, at the Metropolitan opera
house, comedy will be the bill Herbert
Kelley and Miss Effie Shannon will
make their first appearance in this city
as stars. They will also present for
the first time here a new comedy by
Madeleine Lucette Ryley, entitled "a
Coat of Many Colors." Miss Ryley has
written several successful comedies.
IAN American Citizen" which is being
presented by Nat Goodwin, will prob
ably take first rank. About the stars
themselves little need be said. Mr.. KEEL
cey was leading man with the Lyceum
stock company for over ten years and
was always a favorite. His personal
ity and gentlemanly bearing won him
high esteem. Miss Shannon will also
be remembered as being with the same
organization, and it certainly must be
acknowledged that she possesses quail
ications which place her among meri-
torious actresses.
The scenes Of the play are laid in
New York city and Cedarwood, n. j.
Herman Walboys, the hero, is a staid
bachelor lawyer, with decided views
against matrimony. At the opening of
the play he has received a telegram
from young woman lawyer who has
been sent East as a representative of
a San Francisco firm. The young wo-
man has been entrusted with a deli
cate mission involving the bringing to-
gether of two people who have been
separated after a brief matrimonial
venture. Walboys becomes speedily in
torested and promises his help. Seek
ing for the woman in the case, he dis
covers the fact that she is engaged to
no less a person than his own father
"a Tightly person who takes nothing
seriously. Added to this is the knowl-
edge that the child of the unhappy
couple whom he is charged to bring
together, is none other than this young
Western acquaintance. 1t need not be
added that in the various complica-
lions that follow Walboys becomes
enamoured of the Western girl, and it,
of course, terminates in a life partner
ship. This theme is the main one in
Miss Ryley's work and furnishes a real
dramatic interest But there are other
complications which the author has
woven into the story and which help
to furnish the humor of the comedy.
For instance, W. boys attempt to keep
secret the matrimonial ENHANCEMENT of
y
of amusing incidents and complications.
Miss Ryley excels in character draw
ing, and all the roles in "A Coat of
Many Colors" are said to be so we'll
differentiated that they combine in pre-
senting an effective and harmonious
whole.
Herbert Kelley will be seen as Wal
boys, and Miss Effie Shannon as the girl
from the West roles that are admir-
ably suited to their personality. Sam
uel F. Kingston, the manager, has sur
rounded Mr. Kelley and Miss Shannon
with a supporting company in which
it would be difficult for the most cap
tious to pick "a flaw. The fact that
the company includes William J. Lee
Moyne, famed for the exquisite deli
cacy of his humor, gives the keynote
as to the quality of the support as a
whole, and he has worthy company in
Edwin D. Lyons, Bruce McRae, David
Terrence, Edward See, Edwin James,
Miss Ellie Wilton and Miss Georgia
Rusby. There will be a popular matt
nee Wednesday and the regular matt
nee on Saturday.
A New York dispatch says that Julia
Marlowe was warmly received Monday
night aiU HldIiy llIlleS cdll6u DeIOre the
curtain at the Knickerbocker theater
during the first presentation in Amer
lea of 1.-The Countess Valesje,'' the
English adaptation of last seasons
Berlin success, THE Tall Prussian,"
by Rudolph Spatz.
Poland is the scene of the play, and
the eve of the battle of Friesland, 1907
the time. CHARTERED in the countess
castle was Napoleon, he being threat
ened with assassination. The struggle