The Saint Paul globe., 1900-04-28
At THE THEATERs.
METROPOLITAN.


Bad tools in the hands of a good work.
man never produced good work; bad
play in the hands of good players must
rail- to make a good impression on the
most tolerant audience The company
that gave THE Village Postmaster last
evening at the Metropolitan was. with
two or three exceptions, a mediocre one.
The play is succession of pictures of
village life, reproduced with Photographic
rather than artistic faithfulness. There
is the usual postoffice and village store.
and besides one is given a glimpse of the
village green with rain storm thrown in; !;
the interior of the village parsonage; a
threshing scene on the farm, and finally,
the wedding, the happy result of a plot
that is not at all intricate.
1t has to do with a village belle, two
lovers and an obdurate father. One lover
is unscrupulous, hence the woes of the
heroine, who, last night, was too prodi-
gal with her rouge
Archie Boyd, as Seth Higgins, the VIII
lage postmaster and hard-hearted IA
ther, has been seen in st. Paul before
and in parts more worthy his talents
He made good most out Of a weak role
last night. ss
James H. Bradbury was natural and
funny as Ebenezer Todd, the sexton Of
the Baptist church, with a weakness for
Samantha Higgins. Leslie Matthews,
as Ben Deane, the unscrupulous lover
looked as IL the part of the good young
man would have suited him better, but
he has an exceptionally good voice and
he uses it well.
The time of the story is just previous
to the Civil war, and the costumes of
the women were sufficiently ugly at that
time to prevent the prettiest woman from
looking her best. The women of the
company are not the prettiest. Miss
Angela Russell as Hattie Burley, the viii
lage coquette, who has been willed to a
young man like the family clock or sec
ond best bed" was sprightly. Two in
fants terrible, the parts essayed by Louise
Skelluan and Tom Mcguire. deserve
mention because of the impossible types
they portray.
Matinee today.
The coming engagement of Henry Irv-
ing and Ellen Terry, which takes place
at the Metropolitan Monday, Tuesday
and Wednesday of next week, will be the
most brilliant event of a season notable
for big dramatic offerings. The sale Of
seats for the opening performance,
"Robespierre," on Monday night, indi-
Gates that when the doors are opened
standing room will be at a premium.
The double bill, Nance Oldfield" and
''The Bells for Tuesday evening, also
comes in for a large advance sale, while
1.-The Merchant of Venice is arousing
much interest. The curtain will rise
promptly at o'clock for each perform
ance.
Hoyt's ga Contented Woman Is un-
derlined at the Metropolitan for the lat
ter part of next week, following the Irv-
iug-Terry engagement. The company is
headed by Belle Archer, a local favorite,
and one of the handsomest women of the
American stage.
GRAND.
A matinee today at 2:3O and perform
ance tonight at 8:15 will conclude the
stay in this city of ga Hot Old Time
which has been entertaining local thea
tergoers at the Grand opera house the
current week. Miss Dorothy Drew, who
sings I'D Leave My Happy Home for
YOU and dances in a most fetching man
ner, provides one of the most entertain
ing speciaittes Of the performance. John
W. Jess and William McRobie, as the
two Irishmen, are very clever.
The new farce comedy, Hello Fill. :"
has in its company George Ober, John
Hyams, Ada Deaves Madeline Lack,
Helen Bracket, Ada Bernard. Agnes
Stephen, Frank Walsh. James Bradley.
Lee James, Thomas L. Wood, John Mac
auley and little Frances Kepplar, a child
actress and dancer, whose work arouses
high pitch of enthusiasm wherever