The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-11-18
AT The 1heaters.


of "Shore Acres" is Mrs Parkers play,
Way Down East, Its second appear
ance in ST. Paul was greeted by large
audience last night at the Metropolitan
theater. Way Down East is one of
those plays that must always command
large audiences because they tell stories
that make strong appeal to the major
ity of human hearts. One goes to see
Way Down East not because the play
introduces a greater variety of live stock
than any other pastoral comedy; not
because real butter is churned in real
churn; not because one of the most real
istic snowstorms ever produced on a
stage sits it's whiteness down over the
third act. He goes to see it because in
it's four acts a plucky woman makes
fight against big odds and wins-not
woman of the zaza type, surrounded by
false atmosphere, but an average woln-
more sinned against than SHINING
However, although in 6 Way Down East
the story is the thing, not the setting,
that setting adds to tie success of the
play. The playwright has picked up a
bit of New England village life and put it
behind the foot1ights to give atmosphere
to her story. The village gossip, the
country pumpkin, the squire, the bells,
the hero and alas, the villain, realistically
people the play
A competent company presented WAY
Down East last night. Many of the
principals are new, but none of the
changes made in the cast nave weaken
ed the play. Charles Reigel fits neatly
into the role of Squire Bartlett honest,
warm-hearted, but a trif1e narrow. Grace
Hopkins plays the part of Anna Moore,
succeeding Phoebe Davis, who created
the role. The character is rather a diff
fcult one to portray, it is SO easy for the
actress to become melodramatic and thus
destroy the naturalness of the part Miss
Hopkins portrayal was simple and sin
cere. In the trying climax of the third
act her imprisoned outburst before she
faces the storm outside had all the effect
of Spontaneity.
Loyola O'Connor, as Martha Perkins,
the gossip; John E. Brennan as Hi Holler,
the chore boy, and John c. Hickey as
Seth Holcomb, all did excellent character
work. Charles A. Burke as Rube Whip
pie, sang .AH Boun Round With Wool
en- String" a song that made the gallery
happy. Miss Oracle Hull, a very youthful
and decidedly pretty ingenue, played sat
isfactorily the part of Kate Brewster.
The audience was demonstratiye in its
approval and curtain calls were numer-
Gus.
w dy OOWn EldSt Will De DIT the Met
ropolitan the remainder of the week. The
usual natinees will be given.
clyde Fitch's Barbara Frietchie,'' the
play that brought Julia Marlowe fame
and considerable wealth last season, was
seen for the first time in St. Paul at the
Grand last night. The audience was a
fairly large one, and Fitch in his con-
struction of the play borrows from Whit
tier one of his prettiest creations, Bar
bara Frietchie,'' around which he has
woven a story That breathes patriotism
and love. Unless it is in the closing act,
where Stonewall Jackson, pointing to
Barbara as she defiantly waves the Stars
and Stripes. utters the famous words:
HE who touches a hair of yon gray
head, etc., the lines are original.
Barbara Frietchie, the central figure in
this admirable blend of the blue and
gray, finds meritorious portrayal at the
hands of Miss Frances Gaunt Miss
Gaunt is stately, veritable daughter of
bhe Confederacy, though love later sup
plants country, and while perhaps trihe
dramatic in scenes that do not demand it,
her work throughout is admirable.
Unless it is J. H. Hazelton, Barbara's
father, the only other characterization
worth mentioning is that of Capt Trum-
bull, by Richard G. Williams. He is an
ideal soldier and satisfying lover. Both
he and Mrs. Gaunt suffer a severe handi-
cap in the shape of poor support
The Dainty Paree Burlesquers'' at the
Star this week could cut out the open
ing and closing burlettas and still give
good performance. The olio is long and
strong. The initial piece, Royal
TROUBLE doesn't amount to much, but
the remaining portion of the performance
is a winner The Lynotte Sisters begin
the olio. Mile La Tosla, a most mar
Vicious contortionist, folds herself into
startling poses. Honan and Kearney
put up ludicrous burlesque on a boxing
match. The next number introduces
Louise Carver and Genie Pollard. Louise
Carver needs no introduction, as her face
is familiar to patrons of vaudeville.
There is no funnier woman in the bust
ness than she. Miss Carver is something
of centortionist also, and her numor is
apparently spontaneous. Shattuck and
Bernard in THE Tramp and the Lady
are more than entertaining. Shattuck
does a serious bit. Fagin, the Jew, just
before his execution, from solver
Twist which is a commendable piece of
acting. s'Just Plain. Fred Wyckon also
does bit of character work in the role
of a country cousin. A most decided hit
were the Grahams in Illustrated songs.
An innovation in this sort of a perform
ance is the handling of the lantern by
Oracle Graham. The performance ter.
inmates with the burletta, Paris Upside
Down.