The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-03-04
AT THE THEATERS.
METROPOLITAN

- 10 easy 10 understand why it was
that The FOUNDERS" was able to please
the blase theatergoers of New York to
such an extent that, for 200 successive
nights, they bestowed upon it a patron
age liberal enough to make it's long stav
profitable to those most vitality interested
IN It's financial success. The book is full
o. dialogue that fairly scintflIates with
bright lines and witty mots, the lyrics
are unctuously humorous and the music
10 which Mr.. Highlander has set them is
characterized by dainty, ripping mel
od1es, and rich and sonorous harmonies
ordinarily these would be enough to
make success certain, and in CITY
where the appetites of the habitues of
the playhouse are less jaded than those
to be found in Americas great metropolis
no further pabulum would be needed.
1t is evident, however, that Harry B.
Smith, the author of the book was pre-
scent enough to see that something
more than bright dialogue and tunefuI
music was needed. He has supplied the
necessary condiments with a lavish. and.
oftent1mes, what seems to be almost, a
reckless hand. Viewed from the stand
point of the purist the piece verges at
times dangerously near the risque. In
less experienced or less talented hands it
could scarcely have escaped vuIgarity
But the mind of a master dominated it's
creation, and the scene for which the
way seemed to have been made easy
and which, had it come, must have been
censured, was turned gracefully aside
and all was well again. 1t is safe to say
however, that more than one in the audi
eince last night was apprehensive of
danger and that all were glad when it
was found that their forebodings were
not to be realized
Ac tn
ably and artistically constructed, ami
while as has been already said, it is de-
iciouSly funny, there is in reality moth
ing about 1t that will appeal to the thea
tergoer as either strikingly new or start
lingly original. There is the same old
tenuous plot, the same business the
same situations, the same characteristic
word, and that taken from the piece
itself, ''The same old story; nothing
new" Pleasant to look upon thoroughly
enjoyable, and well calculated to clear
the tired brain by bringing relief from
the cares and perplexities of the hum
drum life most of US lead, it certainly is.
Nothing further can or need be
claimed for it; and If it be
and the play have in the economy of
nature is but to amuse and bring respite
to thrObbing brains and weary minds
then it must be voted a success.
OF the presenting company, mention
need be made of but a few. Mr. Sea-
brooke is, of course, the central figure,
and the welcome he received as he strobe
in on the stage last night clad in gar
ments that set forth the marvellous pos
sibilities of the sartorial art, must have
demonstrated to his entire satisfaction
that his long absence from the provinces
has not caused him to be forgotten He
is as genuinely funny as ever, possibly
more so, for he has not been inactive,
and he has assuredly not refrigerated dur
ing the years that have passed He
can't sing much now-in fact, no one ever
accused him of being a VocaiiSt-but he
can come as near it as most comic opera
comedians, and that is all that ought to
be expected. Secondly to Mr.. Seabrooke
is Will G. Vaudeville, whose impersona-
ton of the Duke Patty de Clam was one
of the few genuinely artistic creations
that have been seen here this season
His song, Same Old Story; Nothing
New was the hit of the entertainment,
as it deserved to be. Bertha Waitzinger,
as Thea, the ballet dancer, was wholly
admirable. Unlike most singers who es-
say leading roles in comic opera, Miss
Waltzinger can sing as well as act, and
her fine soprano voice ELECTED the en-
thusiastic approval of her audience Miss
Lowrie, as Priscilla, the young Quaker
matron was both demure and dainty.
Jake Barnard did we'll enough as the
leader of the German band.
The piece is well staged and costumes
were both handsome and extremely alb
breviated. The engagement is for three
more nights, with a matinee on Wednes-
day afternoon.
GRAND.
Charles E. Blaney is probably response
BILE for more lurid melodramas than any
other living man, and among those that
have fallen from his too prolific zen,
1.-The King of the Opium Ring" which
began a weeks enga cement at the Grand
last night, is not by any means the best.
AS the title suggests, 1t deals. with what
are alleged to be some phases of life in
the Chinese quarter of San Francisco.
AS matter of fact it is an attempt to
describe something that, in some moment
of approximate Authorization, ran riot
through Mr.. Blaney's disordered imagin-
ation.~ The scenes he depicts are such
as could exist nowhere, and the sensa-
tional deliverance of the heroine, who
was so near her finish that she could see
it without the aid Of a telescope, is one
of the most absurdly ridiculous eli
makes ever seen on any stage. How
ever, the large audience that was present
last night, seemed to enjoy 1t, and SO
long as those who laid down their money
at the box Office were satisfied, there is
10 need Tor crltlclSn, even were the piece
worthy of it.
The company is fair. Howard Trues-
dell, as George Macy, has good stage
appearance and, ia talking, has a fas-
cinating voice. Helen Weber, as Belle
Macy, is one of the best on the cast.
Beatrice Lieb, as Georgette, shows to her
best in the opium scene. Here her acting
is OF some merit, lacking, as it does,
studied affectation. Katie Rooney, as
Duty Peck, the terror of Chinatown. en-
tertained with her dancing. James T.
Flanagan, as Hop Toy, furnished the