The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-11-13
MUSIC AND THE STAGE.
METROPOLITAN


me Nell company gave fine produc-
tlon OF captain Swift" at the Metropoli-
| tan last evening In the character of Mr..
"lioing' James Neill presented an excel
rent piece or work. 1t Is said that this
character Is the most to his liking of any
winch he has essayed. The manner in
Wnlch IL was presented was most accept
ape. Mr.. Neill grasps the possibilities Of
the role and makes of 1t thing of power
and beauty
1here Is little in the character of an
outlaw and thief to. make it desirable; yet,
Wnen such character Is blended with
strong comprehension of true gentleman
lness, striking touch Of the finer feel
1ngs and the power to love with all the
strength of a decided character, 1t be-
comes worthy of admiration. Suoh was
Mr.. Ne1lis presentation Of Wilding, alias
capt SWIFT, outlaw, highwayman and
bushranger.
Miss Chapman, as Mrs Seabrooke, gave
piece of work presenting many pleasur-
aole FEATURES. John w. Burton, as Mr..
oeaDrooke, country gentleman, was eff
fective. Many bits of his work contained
unusual naturalness. George Bloomquist
had the pleasant duty or interpreting
role or much attractiveness, as Harry
Seabrooke, while Frank McVicars, as Mr..
Gardiner. Queensland sQuatter, was
hardly less favorite.
was extremely graceful, and gave a finish
ed presentation Miss Lamkin, as Mabel
Seabrooke, 1nterspersed IN the action
many bit of spice, and was natural and
entertaining. Lillian Andrews and Robert
Morris appeared in minor roles
Captain Swift will be given four even
Ing productions and q matinee.
Primrose & Dockstader's Minstrels at
the Metropolitan will fill the latter half Of
the week.
GRAND.
1t is "allee light" Charles e. Blaneys
big scenic production, King of the Opt
UNI Ring" has caught on in ST. Paul, and
crowded houses are assured for the en-
tire week at the Grand. The record
breaking attendance at this ever popu-
lar amusement house was witnessed last
night, when the initial performance Of the
much-heralded melodrama was given.
King of the Opium Ring had run Of
100 nights in New York, and received
favorable verdicts from press and people
at each succeeding presentation. 1t is
novel and attractive because 1t IS new.
Nothing like 1t has before been presented
in st. Paul. 1t was expected by some to
prove somewhat risQue, whereas there Is
absolutely nothing to offend from the rise
to the fallof the curtain. Even in the scene
in Chinese opium den, where it might
be expected that there would be presented
Objectionable features there is not as
much as an insinuation of anything con-
trary to morals. The company is large
and evenly balanced. AS a whole it is
strong, though perhaps there are stars
among the many who assist in making
the whole. For instance the work of
George c. Staley as ''Ironsides" Is a bit
better than the average, though John
T L..
''the Opium King" the Wah Sing of M
j. Jordan is masterful piece Of diff
cult work, Georgette is well taken by
Gertrude Dion Magill, as is Bell Marcy,
wife of the Opium King, by Della Clarke,
and there is no room for unfavorable
criticism of Toby Rucker by Charles H.
Phillips, while the presentation Of the
roles assumed by Maurice Hodges, Dan
Williams, Fred r. Goodman, Alex. Cam
eron and a host Of other members of this
unusually numerous company is high
class.
The specialties are bright and new
Pearl Inman and Lizzie Mulvey, who were
star attractions with Bob F'itzsimmonsI
show at one time, do a cake walk that
is a dream. Both are good in their line
Miss Mulvey being one Of the most real
tsttc of the impersorators of the negro
amusement in the country. The Opium
Ring Quartette' received an encore, while
the famous Schrode brothers, America s
acrObatic stars, carried the house by
storm.
THE human tower of Chinks'' was a
feature of the entert ainment, and evoked
the heartiest applause. 1t is marvellous
piece Of work.
OF the play itself the story can be told
in a few lines. It is most realistic de-
lineation of underground life In the Chi
nese' quarter of San Francisco, and the
Vaccinations of a white man who is
crowned king Of their gang by the Chi
nese opium smugglers. There is a pretty
love story running through it all that re-
lieves the harshness of the scenes and
happenings in Chinatown THE King Of
the Opium Ring" is just sufficiently odd,
and new, and novel, to be worth seeing
whether one cares for the knowledge Of
what an opium den is like or how the
Chinese defy the laws of the country
and escape punishment in the conduct Of
their dens.
Next weeks bill will be 'EIotel Topsy-
Turvy," with a company of sixty people,
headed by Eddie Foy and Josie De Witt.