The Saint Paul globe., 1900-12-11
At THE THEATERs.
METROPOLITAN.


Very smart and decidedly funny is
Augustus Thomas new comedy, "On the
Quiet" presented for the first time in
st. Paul last night, at the Metropolitan
theater with William Collier in the title
role. The play is original as well as
clever. 1t abounds in ludicrous situat ons,
liYely-sometimes even sWift-aetion and
smart sayings. If here and there it is a
trif1e, just a trifle-weA, it is amusing
and the play that's that nowadays pos
sesses more Voluminous cloak to cover
its shortcomings than even charity's
mantle. "On the Quiet is at least never
vulgar. The pay deals with the dispo-
sition of several millions of dollars. These
dollars go with pretty girl, provided
she marries with the consent of her rel
atives, especially her brother. There is
young man, Bob Ridgeway, who would
also like to go with the girl and her mil
lions. because he loves the girl. The
brother, however, having succeeded in
marrying one sister to an English duke
has his eyes fixed on a Russian title for
the other, and refuses his consent unless
one cond1tion-what he thinks an inpos-
sible condition-Will be fulfilled This con-
dition is that Bob shall go back to Yale
and be graduated. Bob has already been
expelled from the college, but he knows
that an apology will smooth matters over,
ana after some demurring he consents
Before ne goes however, he persuades his
sweetheart to marry him clandestineIy
The second act is the cleverest in the
play. Nothing funnier has been seen at
the Metropolitan for some time The
duke, who has married Bob's sister-in- /
law, presumably for her money, but really
Tor love, Is anxious to know whether she
loves him With Bob's aid he decides to
test her. Bob is to give a breakfast at
his hotel at New Haven, and is TO in
V1te two music halls girls. A bogus tele-
gram brings the duchess. The duke,
Who Is not very brilliant thinks he can tell
oy MS wife actions whether she loves
hlm Everybody who is invited and a
number who aren't come to the breakfast. |
Among the latter are Bob's wife, her
friend, his father and a clergyman The
Gayety girls are hurried into another
room when it is learned that Bob's wife
and her friend are coming in to see him.
1t Is very interesting for a while with
the world IN one room, the half world in
the other. Matters are Strengthened out
IN the third act, on board the yacht, by
second marriage between Bob and his
sweetheart, to which the hard-headed
brother consents. The scene is excellent
ly staged
William Golfers conception OF the char /
acter OF the thoroughly American Roh
is clever. At the end of the second act
ne received a decided ovation from the
large audience. An interesting character
IN the play is that of the duke. presented
by CranIey Douglas. ,As a rule when in
ternational marriages are pictured on the
stage, the titled person has the worst of
Il. But the duke in ''On the Quiet" is an
unassumfng, we'll bred fellow If he can,+
see joke. MIR. Douglas portrayal of tbe /
character was delightful Artistic narte i
OF an artistic whole were John SavilIe's !
Judge RidSWay, Charles B, Poor's DR. |
Wolcott, and Brigham Royce's Horace 1
Cot. The women were equally good. Miss
Louise Allen-Collier played the part of
AHce, Bons sweetheart; Miss Katherine
MUikinS was Ethel duchess of C,arbo,,
dale, and Miss Helen Collier was Ploelae eot..
hiegway Some Of the gowns were de- 4
cidedly Swagger W
Inc play WIFI be presented tonight and
nee no''i-
GRAND.
Mans Enemy drew A second 1aroo 4
audience at the Grand last evening 0f |
the numerous melodramas that have baen |
produced there this season. it ts ono Of /
the strongest, but the author has vvisaII, /
provided sufficient comedy to relieve tha i
serious situations. Scenically the pro- /
duction is superb. Miss Dorothy Rose
more is an actress of decided beantv aI1a
much talent o
Next week the NeiH company in reDer-
toire.
STAR.
No finer speciality has ever been seen
IN 81. Paul than the acrobatic act of the
Nelson sisters, who appear at the Star
this week with Rose SydeIl's Londo1
Bellies The farce, ''Satan's Wedding
Night, which finishes the bill. is a vvarno
NUMBER, and the show, taken as whole
one of the best the Star has yet put on