The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-03
AT THE THEATERs.
METROPOLITAN.


night for the nrsu time, at the Metro
polltdn, is a melouraIna OIL the Jest c!a.ss.
1t gives a stirring picture OF the lives OF
simple sea-IaIing folks, lives that $, EN-
to catch from the sea some of its poetry
and grandeur. 1t tells an intei ting story
in a natural fashion 1t is strongly hu-
man. Caleb West, master diver, las
charge of the building Of a light house on
the New England coast. He has married
young wife who is beloved by an assist
ant diver. This assistant dive with
the aid OF a cleveTer Villain Hampers
with the foundation of the light house
and runs away with the master divers
wife. He at first believes his w fe guilty
and when she is brought back, refuses to
forgive her. series of events brings
about an explanation and the couple are
reconcied, just as the light appears for
the first time in the new light house
While the stage settings and the vivid
picture of sea coast life were interest ely
depicted last evening, it is the heart in
terest attached to the pathetic little story
OF the play that makes it appeal wonder
fully to an audience. One is so accus-
toned TO having a heart-brezN smother
ed up in an epigram nowadays, that a
genuine burst Of emotion has all the spice
OF novelty. There were many such out
bursts of emotion last evening
A clever company of players presented
caleb West last evening. Easily first
OF these was Miss Alice Hunt who plays
the part OF Betty West. Miss Hunt re-
Veals so little of the tricks of the stage
that one wonders whether it is utter
haturalness or perfect art that makes her
portrayal Of the wrongly suspected wife
such successful piece of character work
She has fine little face whose exception
al mobility expresses emotion better than
words Or equal merit was George Faw-
cetts portrayal of the character OF Cart
Joe, the brave, bluff Old seaman Mr..
FaWcett's reputation as a clever actor
is admirably sustained In this latest
character Of his Elmer Grandin plays
the part Of Caleb West. IT is a cleverly
sketched character, that of the grim but
loving and loVable seaman, and it loses
nothing by Mr.. Grandin's portrayal. Miss
Kate Denim Wilson, as ''Aunty Bell"
and Miss Ada Gilman, as Miss Peebles,'
present In an irreproachable manner, two
cleYerly drawn types of New England
life. The two Villains in the plav earle.
ton' the government inspector, and Bill
Lacey, the assistant diver, are played re-
spect1vely by Charles B. WeIles and NAL
colin Williams, and their work, Ike that
OF the rest of the support, is adequate.
The stage settings are admirable. An
especially clever stage picture is that
showing Sharks ledge with the divers at
work
The audience was an appreciative one.
Curtain calls were numerous. Interested
spectators OF the play last evening were:
James Neill, Miss Edith Chapman, and
other members Of the Neill company. who
occupied boxes. --
The play will be repeated the first half
of the week with Wednesday matinee
GRAND.
Comedy has given way to meIodrama
at the Grand this week ''War on
Women" with Hope Booth in the lead
ing part opened at this popular play
house last night to one Of the largest
and most enthusiastic audiences OF the
season. The piece, which Is new to St
Paul theatergoers, is intensely nelo-
dramatic, highly sensational and abso-
lutely impossible. In all this it diff
fers but little from the average r4elo-
drama. From an artistic STANDPOINT hut
little can be said for it. 1t must be
said, however, that it is a most elaborate
production. Evidently no expense has
been spared in staging the Piece, and,
while it may not be called artistic it
certainly meets with the approval of
Grand patrons, judging from the ovation
given it last night
War on Women" like many melo-
dramas, deals with army life and is
filled, from curtain to curtain, with
thrilling events that. keep OF the tip
toe of expectation N won Iertng what
impossible thing can possibly happen
next to keep the audience up to TIE
high pitch of excitement in which it
is thrown in the opening act Margaret
Preston, the heroine, and the niece
of United States, general, is an object
of admiration for Capt Sterling, whose
affection for her is returned, and Col
Harvey, a traitor, VINO uses every DOW
q To II,
which are far from welcome. The
heroine also has an admirer in q half
breed Indian. First one and then am
other seem to be in a fair way to sue
coed, but in the end the villains are
foiled, and Capt. Sterling, the hero, is
the successful sutton. In this he is aid
ed materially by Red Bird, a young
but who places his wishes before her
own. Capt Sterling is the victim OF
many plots that look to his un6oing,
but he is rescued from all, through the
combined efforts of Red Bird ana the
heroine.
The piece is Tiled with ensatiG.sal and
unusual incidents from beginning to end.
One scene represents an Indian camp at
night, in which Capt. Sterling is res
cued by the heroine
The last act shows a handful Of whites
defending a blockhouse against a band
of blOodthirsty Indians, and it is here
that the hero and heroine play m st
prominent part. In spite Of their eff
forts, all hope is about to be aband med
when a detachment of United States
regulars come to the rescue. It is al
most thrilling if one is a devotee of melo-
drama.
Miss Rooth, CT course, is the Margaret
Preston of the piece. Every effort has
been made to give her the center of the
stage, and she is not slow to avail her
self of the opportunities presented. Miss
Booth is an actress of some ability Al
though her part is sensational in tie
extreme. and one that might easily be
OVerdone, she does not commit this error.
If anything, she goes to the other ex-
IRENE, and Of her supporting cast but
little can be said. One or two are good
but the majority are bad. Willard Bow
man is the Capt. Sterling of the piece.
ard he does not appear to advantage
Much credit is due to Edward Trevor
for his impersonation of the half breed
desperate Geronimo. He has evidently
made a careful study of this difficult part
and carries it through in manner that
deserves great praise H. F Clarers
makes a fair Col. Harvey. Miss Lille
Allyn is we'll fitted to carry the part OF
Noble Tom, a wild young girl who
makes her home at the fort. Miss Allyn
made a tremendous hit with last nights
audience. The rest of the cast have not
a great deal to do. Several specialties
are introduced through the acts, and
one, by Miss Allyn, is deserving of men
ton.
.'NNar On Women will the attraction
all the week at the Grand, with the
usual matinees.