The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-03-18
AT THE THEATERs.
METROPOLITAN

Auolences have become skeptical Of tha
return engagement Of even the most Sue
cessful plays. Too often managers ro-
lying ON the success of the first season
TO carry the play through with financial
success, entrust the roles to mediocre
payers ana the play is robbed of most Of
It's charm. Arizona" however. is one
OF the rare exceptions to this more than
ordinarily unpleasant role The good siz
ed audience which welcomed it's reaUpear-
ance In st. Paul last evening at the Met
fopolltan had nothing to regret for the
play is still in the hands of a capable
company.
ana 1t Is a play that deserves a good
company. 1t is not so much the story
that the play tells that makes "Arizona'
SO satls1ylng drama, although that has
strong human interest. 1t is the atmos-
phere OF the big Western plains. the
sense OF largeness and freedom that en-
compasses 1t and vibrates through II
that make its greatest charm. When men
nave become accustomed to measuring
distance by acres and miles rather than
lots and blocks they forget to be pretty.
Their standards are as big as their
plains, as high as their mountains and
as white as the alkali dust that covers
the uniforms of the troopers They are
nearly all thoroughbreds, those men and
women whose lives become tangled up in
the story that has for it's setting an Ari-
iona cattle ranch and frontier military
pest I'VE haven't much water out here
in Arizona" says bluff old Ranehman
CANDY, but we have more charity for
our women than you can find in the COS
pei OF St John,'' and that's the sentiment
of the play.
Charles w. Stokes was Henry Candy,
the ranchman. His conception of the
character is above criticism William f.
Clifton, as Col Bonham, and Sidney
A1nsworth, as Lieut.. Denton, wore their
uniforms not like stage soldiers, but like
real ones. The part of Dr. Fenlon the
eccentric army surgeon, played by Fred
w. Strong, was in excellent hands. Dust
IN Farnum acquitted himself capabiy in
part that made the gallery hiss, that of
Capt. Hodgman. John Drury, as Mos
tano, the vaquero, sang melodiously and
was otherwise satisfactory. Miss Elsie
Esmond was very fair and girlish
Bonita, and a charming little actress as
we'll. Miss Emma Stowe was excellent
as the vigorous minded Mrs. Candy Miss
Beatrice Ray, as Lena Kellar, the be-
trayed girl, was not satisfactory. One
does not mention the tragedy Of ones
life with smiling, artless unconcern, or
gaze upon the peril of good friends with
placid unconcern. Miss Ray does this
and therefore she IS not at all convincing.
Miss Castelle, as Estrella Bonham, has
an unsatisfactory role to play and she
is just trif1e more tragic and fearful
than the weak-ninded Mrs Bonham need
be.
For an entr aete D. Muhlenbruchs lat
est composition ''Reverie,'' will be pay
ed this week at the Metropolitan "Ari-
IONA will be continued the rest Of the
week with the usual Wednesday and
Saturday matinees.
GRAND.
Owen Davis scenic melodrama, Lost
in the Desert" is a production interest
ing in part and containing one or two
attractive features. The fact that the
drama deals with the exciting adventures
OF Americans in a strange land, and that
the plot revolves around beautiful girl,
for whom the hero-lover, the traditional
villain and an Arab chieftain intrigue
and fight, always appeals to a certain
class of theater-goers. There is nothing,
however, of virility in the drama per
Sc, and at times the action drags
Helen Aubuery, as Helen Bradford, is
attractive in personality and does credi-
table work Edwin Walter has a strong
voice and somewhat forceful presence.
TWO requirements that are essential to
the making Of hero lover Albert c.
Davis, as Hank Pretty, and LA Brewer
element of the drama, as lovers of tender
age, and both have merit in their line.
Inc Arabs introduced in the play help
10 make 1t picturesque, and their aero
patle work is interesting throughout.
STAR.
The Jolly Grass Widows opened a
weeks engagement to crowded house
at the Star yesterday afternoon, and
mace good the promise of being one of
the best shows Of the season. From the
opening burletta, entitled ''The Widows
wedding Night" during which some
clever music and songs were introduced.
TO the close of the performance, there
was no lack of interest.
number OF clever specfaftfes were
introduced during the olfo, among them
Alien and Allen, who performed several
d1fncult acrobatic feats Miss Gussie
Vivian made a decided hit with her sweet
voice and popular songs. Howard and
More, Hebrew impersonators are the
best of their kind seen at the Star this
season, their paradies on popular airs
being exceptionally good PauIo and
Dlnka, French duetists, were one of the
commendable features of the olio. Mile.
Dinka being enthusiastically appiauded
and was recalled several times to repeat
her graceful dances
The living pictures displayed were good
the electrical effects and scenery being q
decided novelty in this city. Ward, Brad
burn and Murphy concluded the olio with
clever singing and dancing The "Jolly
Grass Widows' will be the attraction for
the balance of the week, with matinee
every day