The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-04-02
ANNA HELD I'm AWHILE.
TO RECOGNIZE A GOOD
THING
AUDIENCE WAS APPREcIATIvE
Cosmopolitan Residents of Capital
City Make Amends for PrOvin-
ciaIism of Minne-
apolitans.

Minneapolis may affect the airs of a
| big city. st. Paul is TO the manor born.
| Last Monday night a Flour City audi
ence watched with a puzzled air Anna
Held as she mockingly piroutted through
| the devious ways of that French COM
! edy, 'Papa's Wife" Was it shocking 2
| Was it to be shuddered at, applauded
obviously, grudglngiy? Well, that Mime
| apolis audience had just about decided
| when the curtain fell on the third and
| final act that Miss Held was charming
to look at, that she could act and that,
| what was best OF all, she was eminently
| good style, but it was too late then to
| make its opinion evident
ST. Paul audience is different A
cosmopolitan readiness of judgment
caused the big audience at the Metro
politan theater last night to applaud Wig
orously from the moment the fascinating
little commenienne was driven on the
stage in her hower-laden victoria until
she bowed her last alluring little bow
before the footlights The entrance in the
autocycle was thoroughly appreciated so
were all the other smart little touches In
the play. It is always Your provincial
that is slow TO appreciate and backward
to praise.
The play, "Papa's Wife" was noticed
in the G o e after its appearance In
Minneapolis last Monday night, so that
extended comment now is unnecessary.
Seeing Anna Held for the second time
in the role OF "Papa's Wife, one is
compelled to give her more credit Tor
histrionic ability. Perhaps. because one
is less under the spell of her IN
dfv1duality. Miss Held has plenty of
opportunity for demonstrating this abiI-
1ty IN the second act of the play A small
thing would destroy the charm of that
second act. The slightest suggestion or
coarseness, the smallest effect of over
doing would cause the audience to for
get that it was little convent maiden
Tor whom the champagne had proven too
strong, and there would have been dis
gust instead Of genuine admiration. Miss
Held preserves delicacy throughout the
act that gives it its greatest charm
The feminine portion of the audience
gave little EXPLANATIONS Of delight over
Miss Held's gorgeous gowns, and es-
pecially was there a decided murn1ur
when she appeared in her stunning
poppy gown, with its jeweled accessories
1t would be difficult to imagine a more
effective ensemble picture than the one
which is given In that second act. The
pretty chorus girls IN their dainty
dresses, the ffower-trimmed tables and
the music and, for a center piece, the
gorgeous little cemmendenne, with her
excited French treble, make picture
and scene worth remembering. The best
thing about the play is the perfection OF
detail. The atmosphere of Paris-smart,
brilliant Paris, pervades it. This charm
compensates for that weak third act.
which one almost wishes didn't have to
happen If it were not for the two catchy
| songs that are sung during it's presenta-
ton.
Charles Bfgelow, the comedian made a
decided hit with the audience last ntobt
His work is distinctly individual and it
is refined. The play will be repeated to-
night and Wednesday night. with Wed
nesday matinee