The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-20
Dramatic and MUSICAL
METROPOLITAN.

| METROPOLITAN
James A. HerDe's strongly drawn play of
American home life, ''Shore Acres" opened
| at the Metropolitan last evening to an audi
ence that was thoroughly appreciative. The
| play itself. with it's finely woven elements
| of pathos and humor is one that has long
| since found a place with The Old Home
| stead in the hearts of the theater-goers.
| 1t is the old story of love and self-sacrifce
| told over again with New England setting
| and homely ruggedness that is wholesome
| and enjoyable. The company Is strong and
| evenly balanced Archie Boyd's characteri-
cation of Nathaniel Berry is strong and force
full, and the tender, self-sacrificing figure Of
! the old man who gives his all for those he
| loves is brought into broad relief with skill
full art. Miss Marie Falls makes a most
charming and acceptable Helen Berry, the
grill whose love story runs through the plot
and Belle Theadore gives an excellent repre-
sentation of the New England housewife as
Ann Berry Atkins Lawrence's representa-
| ton Of Martin Berry showed with true art
the ruggedest side of the down East char
acter. Josiah Blake postmaster and store
keeper, and the mildest sort of villain IS
we'll handled by William H. Burton, and Her
bert Flansburg as Sam Warren and James
Burrows as the skipper of the Lyddy Ann are
both good The minor roles are very capa-
bly, handled
''shore Acres will be at the Metropolitan
four nights, with matinee Wednesday,
sEIBERT CONCERT.
A good-sized audience attended the third Of
the Seibert concerts at the Metropolitan opera
house yesterday afternoon. Distinguishing
between former entertainments given by this
excellent musical organization it can be said
that the programme included the most pop
| ular compositions of this and last season. and
! was heightened by half dozen cordial en-
cores.
Aside from the orchestra numbers Master
Milton Firestone, accompanied by his sister,
Miss Firestone, executed catchy fantasia by
Hermann on the violin. He was warmly ap-
plauded, which he acknowledged with a neat
| little bow and encore number
| Gilet's LA Toupie' and Nevins "Narcis-
sus' both found special favor with the audi
ence, and were played over twice by the
orchestra. For encore pieces .'The Char
latan March," Mystic Shrine PATROL and
''Darkies' Jubilee. were presented. ''The
| Dewey March, local composition, was the
! opening number, followed BY the Temple
wehe' overture and four of the brightest
| well received. -
/Harold's Tampa overture and ''Traum-
bilder" Lumbye, were next to the last two
pieces on the programme.
Several of the prettiest selections from
1.-The Fortune Teller were given, concluding
| the musicale t1
GRAND.
| There were cheers in the Grand opera
| house last evening when the curtain fell upon
| the last act Of 1.-The Face in the Moonlight"
and they did not cease until the curtain was
raised and Robert B. Mantell and the mem
| bers Of his company bowed their acknowledge
ments
The performance was in every way one
| Of the finest that st. Paul theater-goers
| have enjoyed this season. Mr. Mantell is
| himself artist, and he has surrounded
himself with a company of excellent players
who give to the play balance that is sus-
| tanned throughout. The dual role of Jacques
Ferrand and Victor Ambrose was played by
| Mr.. Mantel, whose rapid transformations
| from character to the other sometimes
mystified the audience. This mystifcation
was deepened in the poison scene in the last
act. where Ambrose enters the prison yard
just as Ferrand expires.
Mr.. Mantell is one of the most natural of
| actors, and ~his characters at no time were
| overdrawn. AS Victor Ambrose he was dignf-
| fed and courtly and as the outlaw Ferrand
| he was exactly the reverse The dual role
| gave him opportunity to display his versa
| tility
Miss Corona Ricardo, as Lucille Munier
| and Miss Marie Booth Russell, as Marguerite,
are unusually clever actresses. In the first
| act, where theyevsit ,Ambrose's lodging, their
sleeping scene created much merriment,
which was quickly changed by the murder
scene which followed.
| Miss Blanche Moulton, as Madame Pique,
! was breezy and at times exceedingly clever,
! her acting in the prison scene being particu-
| larly good. Miss Ruth Ralston had but
small part in Madeline, but she made the
| most of it.
| The characteFSof Baudet, the Waterman and
| government spy, was played by Beverly w.
| Turner; Capt. Nareisse de Mill Fleur by A.
]. Whaley, ana Louis Munier by James L.
| Carhart. All the members of the company
were we'll cast.f s5t
! Mr.. Mantell was obliged several times dur
| ing the performancel to respond to curtain
| calls and the scene between Ambrose and
| Marguerite, where the woman's love is given
| full expression for the first time as he is
| about to leave for the war, ELECTED round
| after round Of applause.
| Mr. Mantell's company will play at the
| Grand every evening this week and Wednes-
| day and Saturday nlatinees. The play tonight
| will be The Secret Warrant" and tomorrow
night, "Mombars.' The Wednesday matinee
will be Romeo and Juliet, Mr., Mantell as
| Romeo and Miss Ricardo as Juliet. Mr..
Mantell will also play Hamlet with Miss
| Ricardo Ophelia, and "Othello," with
! Miss Riccardo a. Desdemona.