The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-04-12
AT THE THEATERS.
METROPOLITAN.

Shakespeare must certainly have
known a bank whereon the wild thyme
grows for into his rarely played Mid
summer Nights Dream he has infused
an atmosphere SO woodsy, so Summery
so daintily poetic that 1t seems as if he
had imprisoned the very spirit Of nature
itself To grasp that spirit and put 1t
successfully behind glazing footlights is
a difficult task, almost as difficult as it
is to. convincingly present those wild
creatures Of the woods that people the
play the fairies that tangle up in their
gossamer threads the destinies of NOR
tails Those mortals themselves are not
wax work figures. The touch of the mas
ter, the humanness that he imparts to his
creations, is as completely shown in the
character of Nick Bottom as in any
character he ever created. His Hernia
and Helen reveal the deep insight he
seemed to have had into feminine hearts
The fine comedy that is the life of the
play has not been eXcelled in any other
play he ever wrote.
So much is demanded for a successful
presentation of 1.-THE Midsummer Night 8
Dream it is little wonder that it Is
seen but seldom on the stage. st. Paul
is to be congratulated that it has been
offered so well nigh faultless a presenta-
ton Of it as was given last evening at
der and Louis James. The witchery Of
the forest scene with it's swift moving.
fairy-like figures, its f1ref1ies that dipped
and glowed and daTted in and out among
the tree tops it's opening rocks and
trees out of which dainty little creatures
fitted. hardly needed the mad music Of
Mendelssohn to make it complete, though
the music certainly gave it an added
charm. |
The players who presented the play last
evening were so uniformly acceptable
and there were so many of them that 1t
would be difficult to give an adequate
notice of each zones work. Miss Kidder
was a statuesque and beautiful Helen
and she displayed her hfstrionic ability
to excellent advantage in the jealous
scene with Hernia. AS a eomedienne
Miss Kidder appeared in an unaecus-
toned role and therefore her success is
to be all the more commended. Mr..
James Nick Bottom was an effective and
original bit Of comedy work. His presen-
tation of the character of the rough,
illiterate and thoroughly self-satisfied
weaver was inimitable. Mr.. James has
apparently discovered the fountain Of per-
ennial youth for his Characterization
was fresh and vigorous. The part Of
Peter Ounce, the carpenter, was ably
PLAYED by Thomas Coffin Cooke Mr..
Cooke has jolly, whole-souled infec-
tious laugh that was in keeping with
his ludfcrous makeup. Miss Jane Oaker
was a pretty Hernia, small but fierce"
and she looked particularly Wen III The
Greeian robes.
Easily the first of those wild things Of
the woods the fairies, was Ethel Brown
ing. who played the part Of Puck. She
was mischief incarnate, a harmless,
hanpy mischief, light footed, light heart
ed. quick witted, and sweet voiced. A
sweet Titania did Miss Ina Brooks make,
though rather timid voiced. Mr.. Ashley
Miller was satisfactory as Oberon
The fairy dances, the approach of night,
the breaking of the dawn and the good
night scene were finished bits that added
10 the success of the presentation.
.GJ,ha midsummer Nights Dream will
no repeated tonight and tomorrow
night with Saturday matinee.
GRAND.
PM three more performances remain
Of The engagement at the Grand the
cl,,.ren+ week Of the Royal Liuiputiaps
in their merry spectacular farce, THE
NTa,,,v q,rarnps." The final afternoon
performance of the engagement occurs
tomorrow at 2:3O, for which an excep
tionally large sale IS reported.
Sale of seats( opened yesterday morn
ing at the Grand .IoI~the eHSdSehehl ol
All TT. Wilson in 1.-THE Watch on the
Rhine
STAR.
The excellent bill at the Star this week
Is deiighting the patrons of the Sew
enth street theater. The company is
strong in features Good songs, good
da neing and clever acting combine to fur
nish an excellent evenings entertain
ment.