The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-04-02
AT THE THEATERS.
METROPOLITAN.


1t is the play that appeals to the bet
ter nature of humanity that is best. Such
Is the beautiful production of James
iierne, known as Shore Acres" which
was presented at the Metropolitan last
night. There We're in the audience many
who had witnessed previous productions
CT Shore Acres" and perhaps not one
" no failed to testify to the success of the
author in reaching the hearts of his au-
ditors. Shore Acres" is one of those
splendid yet simple New England Dramas
based upon the home, carrying just suffi-
Client humor to relieve the tragedy, the
denouement sending the audience home
filled with better impulses-eveT ybody
glad to have been there to Witnes the
triumph Of good over evil. The play is
based upon the yicissitudes Of the Berry
family, the head of which, Martin Berry
has been fired with the fever of specula-
ton to such an extent as to dwarf his
better self, and to make prominent the
greed that comes with the struggle for
wealth.
Atkins Lawrence makes a splendid Mar
tin Berry. He is not a stranger to st.
Paul audiences, and his work last night
was of the usual high order. Charles G.
Craig gained popularity that will prove
lasting by his clever presentation Of
most difficult role. William H. Burton's
Josiah Blake has also been seen before
in ST. Paul, and was last night up to his
standard of excellence.
Belle Theodore as Ann Berry, Martin s
wife, is new here. She did splendldly, as
did Marion Cullen as Helen Berry, the
daughter, whose natura n IS was decided
ly refreshing and pleasing. Rachel i.
Blake as Perley, Mrs. Berry's htIed GIRL
carries her part of the play nicely
Charles e. Fisher. as Joel Gates grass
widower, assisted by Gladys Crorfus, as
Mandy Gates, was as of yore.
All the little ones did splendidly-httle
Emily Clifton, Eva Clifton and Tommy
Clifton, in their respective roles, being
unSurpa ssed. The entire company is
above the average, and 'sShore Acres >
will prove a great drawing card at the
Metropolitan throughout the week. 1t is
one of those heart plays that, once sesn
is never forgotten, 1t is, perhaps, Herne's
greatest production, not excepting his
Hearts of Oak" which, for so many
years. easily led all Of it's kind.
GRAND.
People who saw ''The Grip of Steel"
which opened at the Grand last night
should not overlook the fact that the
scene Is laid in France. "They do such
| things and they say such things" in Paris
that at times the motif of certain French
dramatic productions is, to an American
almost incomprehensibfe.
There would be no ineptitude In de-
scrfbing 1.-THE Grip of Steel" as a ro-
| mantle tragedy spiced with farce COM
| edy, with dash of pastoral melodrama.
| One or two of the situations are strong,
some absurd and many comical. Benja-
min Landeck and Arthur Shirley have
| cencocted a play, conventional in plot,
| but with a brisk action, and four deaths
| of principal characters. Interluding the
| death scenes are broad burlesque touches
| that rather astound one until he recalls
the fact that the whole phantasmageria
| is planted on the soil Of France, and
therefore, not to blame for It's high trop-
| ical color.
1.-THE Grip of Steel comes to st. Paul
] for the first time. The story is of .one
Ronjarre, alias CASTOR, alias Capt. Her
cules, who marries a blind girl and at
tempts to reform a hitherto hayward life
In defending himself from Iniser whom
he is trying to rob, he inadvertently kills