The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-10
49,
q The Theatets |. ;:
= *a IA -

The Metropolitan's attraction for the
coming week, commencing tonight, will be
Charles Coghlan's powerful drama, THE
Royal Box" The play will be presented
by Andrew Robson and Miss Gertrude
Coghlan. with the original support COM
pany that produced it in New York last
season. The elaborate scenery, costumes
and effects used during the long run in
the metropolis are carried by the compa-
ny in their entirety, and it is promised
that the production will be in every re-
spect as complete and perfect in detail
as that which delighted Eastern play
goers.
The Royal Box has been the attrac-
ton at the Metropolitan in Minneapolis
during the past week. and created a
veritable sensation among the theater
goers of that city. Press and public have
agreed in pronouncing 1t drama of the
highest type, dainty and refined in con-
ception direct and vigorous is action,
intensely interesting and thoroughly en-
joyable.
A striking touch of realism is given to
the fourth act by using one Of the regular
theater boxes for the reception of the
at the Metropolitan will be the Royal Box
for the coming week.
The play is founded on Alexander Du-
mas famous play of ''Kean,' which was
produced in 1886. Since that time ''Kean"
has had many presentations in Europe,
and about ten years ago was played in
this country by a noted German traSedi-
an, who made it a part of his repertoire.
Mr.. Charles Coghlan took this old play
bfS inSDiro tiO,1 in writing ''rlhe ROYAL
Box" He abandoned all but a mere
skeleton Of the Dumas creation, introduce
ed new scenes and situations, replacing
all that he took away with a masterful
skill that has made his production
stronger play than the original, and en-
tirely rewrote the dialogue. The Dumas
play has for it's subject English scenes
and English characters, drawn from the
standpoint of a French writer. Mr.. Cogh-
Ian localized the characters Of the orig
{nals which he retained, and drew them
from the standpoint of an English dram
atist. AS a character study The Royal
Box is remarkably vivid in its contrasts,
each person being as carefully developed
as if he or she were the star of the piece.
The scenes are all laid in London, and
the time of the action of the story is the
year 1910. The principal characters In
the story are Clarence, the actor, tie
Prince of Wales who afterwards became
regent, and George ", important diplo-
mats ladies of the court, actors, con-
stables and mountebanks. The plot and
the story are very novel The play is
given the title from an incident in the
fourth act, where Clarence, while playing
Romeo, in the balcony scene from ''Ro-
meo and Juliet" denounces the Prince
of Wales from the stage as he sits in
the royal box
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Prince of Wales afterwards
Count HFeisen, Swedish Ambassa-
Lord Basset io H azIa CSepWa5e
winch, landlord Of the Cat and
Montmorency, of the Theater
Marmaduke, of the TheateT Royal
Widgets, an acrobat Taylor Granville
Davis. dresser to Clarence. Hugh Arnott
Richards a wigmaker. George Leonard
Countess Helen. wife Of Count
servant Want at Swedish embassy
Lady Robert .............Grace F; Wolvin
Ebba. maid to Countess Helen
Josephine Adams
Celia Pryce .......:..:..: Gertrude Coghlan
Considerable surprise has been ex-
pressed by the patrons Of the Metropoli-
tan during the past week that Manager
Scott has been able to play the Frohman
company in "a Colonial Girl' at prices
ranging from 81 down. People who keep
track of theatrical affairs, and ST. Paul
numbers many such, are aware that this
attraction plays in the Eastern cities at
higher figures, and that such shows as
'PhrosO," THE Royal Box" and 1.-The
Little Minister are classed In the same
category. However, knowing the theatre
cal situation in the Twin Cities, Manager
Scott has convinced the management Of
these attractions of the advisa bility Of
playing here at dollar prices. The pa
irons of the Metropolitan ought to so
appreciate their opportunity Of seeing
some of the best attractions on the road
for one-third less than many of them
have paid to see the same shows IN New
York and Chicago that substantial re-
suits will confirm Mr.. SCOTS judgment
In this respect. The attractions at the
Metropolitan for the coming month will
be THE Royal Box" the revival of
"Humpt Tim Murphy in "The
Carpetbagger,' "Phroso" and THE Lit
lie Minister