The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-08-07
AT THE THEATERs.
METROPOLITAN

The NeiH stock company has a1ura7,s
oeen popular in this city; the reputation
OF this organization for presenting the
pest or standard dramatic and comedy
productions in a thorough and artistic
manner was first gained in st. Paul some
years ago, when Mr.. James NeiT as
Sumed the management and direction of
the company. They have Invariably
given satisfactory performances go
nave deserved the popularity and sue
cess they have won, but in the production
OF "A Bachelors Romance" at tha
Metropolitan last night they have ecIipsed
air previous efforts. 1t is undoubtedly the
best performance ever given by a stock
company in this city, the most brilliant
success scored by Mr. NeiII's clever plav-
ers since st Paul first made their ac
quaintance. Every member of the com
pany had an opportunity, each one made
the most OF it, and an appreciative audi
ence gave them the encouragement they
richly deserved
The story of the play is simple and has
been told many times and in many ways;
it is only a love story, such as is seen
in everyday life in one form or another
wherever we may turn, the foundation
of nearly every drama, comedy or
tragedy, but so daintily is it tod that
one could almost fancy It new. A IA
Their on his death-bed leaves his little
daughter to the care of his best friend,
a literary man who afterwards becomes
the literary critic on a metropolitan jour
nal In the cares of his work be becomes
prematurely aged; the years go by I'M
noticed, and the girl whom he leaves in
the care of a good woman is to him, in
her early wOrnanhood, only a child.
Then suddenly she is placed in his
hands, and ne finds N his care. instead of
the child to whom he has sent a rocking
morse on her last birthday, a beautiful
girl of seventeen, who Immediately pro
ceeds to fall desperately in love with her
guardian. Her youthful spirit electrifies
him, and under it's influence the book
worm becomes a man again, and finally
discovers that he is III love with his
ward The unraveling Of Cupid's COM
plica tiOnS requires four acts of beautifully
blended merriment and pathos, and the
pretty story ends with a happy marriage
Mr. NeilTs return to the company, after
a long illness, was the occasion of the
most brilliant triumph he has scored in
St Paul AS David Holmes, the literary
critic whose honorable instinct compels
him to give the girl he loves to his friend
and rival he Is at his best The light
and shade, the humor and pathos Of the
character are brought out in full relief,
and It is likely to stand for long time
as a standard by which to judge his
future work Miss Nane, as Sylvia, his
ward, is as dainty and lovable as one
could wish to see; it is role full of gold
en- opportunities. not one of which is lost
or sighted Mr.. Shaczleford's Martin
Beggs IS the best part this versatile
character has had this season. and his
work cannot be too hig hly praised. The
other members of the company 10 full
justice to their roles, and add materially
in making the production the best ever
given by the Neill company IN this city.
"a Bachelors Romance" will be repeated
tonight, tomorrow night and Wednesday
afternoon and evening.