The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-13

by Harry B. Smith and Ludwig Eng
lander. Presented for the first time
in St. Paul at the Metropolitan last
night by. Mr.. Samuel E. Rork's COM
pany.
CAST OF CHARACTERS.
| Pilsner Pasha $3.50. Mr.. Frank Bernard
Ben .Muley $50. Mr.. Beng. F. Grinnell
Potage, his lieutenant Mr. Rude Warren
Percy Howard Ethelbert Van stuy-
oenbaeh aggr g hakaf Harry Tsrs shOra
| First OFFICER ...... Mr.. James Thompson
Second Officer Mr.. John Breslin
Laura Lee, the Casino 9, Girl c,o 49,.
Miss Roxana Rocks
Miss Nellie McNaughton
Dolly Twinkle ......Miss Carrie Reynolds
Miss Hattie Arnold
1t is not easy to classify 1.-THE Casino
Girl" 1t is neither a comic opera, an
operate comedy, burlesque, nor a
musical extravaganza, as it's authors
have seen ft-prebably for want of a
better term-to- designate it. 1t is
anonymous, aSymmetrical, sometimes
asinine, but, for the most part, amusing.
The license, which makers of this form OF
entertainment are at liberty to use, has
been stretched to the point of breaking,
and the result is melange of melody,
iiiSi ii1tiOiiI d1ld 1iOUSGHSS WLlCl IL @ouiu
require too much space to describe
infinitely. Incidents that have no earthly.
connection with the very tenuous plot are
dragged in bodily, and unbluShinglY, and
no excuses are offered for their intro
duetion. Apparently their only raison
d'etre is the fact that they are produc-
tive of cachinnat ton, and SO long as there
isn't any more reason why they should
not be there than there is reason why
CHI 1,n
their credit be it said that they sub
serve the purpose for which they are
intended. AS a matter of fact, without
them, the piece would be but a dreary
thing, and would not last a single week
in an intelligent community.
The book will add nothing to Harry B.
Smiths laurels. Whether he is writing
too much, or whether his old time facil-
ity of expression and wealth OF invention
are failing him can only be guessed at.
There is none of the sparkling lyrics that
have come to be associated with his
name the dialogue lacks the brilliancy
of some of his former work, and the
whole is moulded into form that lacks
finish.
The fancy of the dramatist has run
riot. 1t fits from one object to another,
like the bee in pursuit of melliferous
blossoms, save~that it lacks the purpose
of the honey gatherer. No sooner has one
Interpolation been disposed of. than an
other is brought forward, and when, at
| last, the hour has come to ring down
the final curtain, the threads of the
story are gathered up-reluctantly, It
| seems-and the denouement is brought
| cut from it cache, paraded for one brief
| moment. and then all is over. The piece
| could easily have been made an hour
longer, or it could have been shortened
| by an equal space of time. 1t was OPP
tional with the dramatist.
Highlander has rot been fortunate with
! the music. Perhaps the weakness Of
the book had a depressing effect on his
work. Perhaps he found the task of set
| ting woodeny verse to fitting melody
! that should ring in the mind after the
| theater had been quilted an impossible
| task. At any rate, the music lacks vi
vacity, sparkle and melodic quality.
| There are no lyrics worth remembering,
| and the choruseS seem lacking in color
! and harmony. Two or three toward the
/ beginning of the 2first act, are very adj
| mirable; several others are good, the re-
mainder are mediocre.
| 1t is not to be understood, from what
has been written above, that there is no
entertainment in the piece, and that the
time spent in seeing it is waste. On the
contrary. it is to, be doubted whether any,
| thing that has appeared at the Metrepol-
| itan this season has been more provoca-
| tive of laughter or has been more warm
| ly received The interpretations save 1t
from being tiresome long at a time. And
they are funnyAgenuinely funny. Some
of them are burlesques on well-known
vaudeville acts, but they are all tempered
to a degree that makes them hilariously
humorous and enlnently enjoyable.
Nothing better than some of them has
been seen this season. And then, too,
there is the wealth of color that Smith
always manages to make play SO import
ant a part in all his creations, the sug-
gestions of the Orient in the weird music,
the swish of silk and satin gowns, colored
lights handsome scenery, and the thou
sand and one little accessories that go to
add zest to the performance.
The producing company is capable one
Miss Clara Palmer, who appears as the
Casino girl, has a musical voice which
she uses well, graceful, winsome, vivaci-
ons personality, an enunciation that
makes it easy for everyone in the audi
ence to catch the words of her songs, and
a manner that is free from self-conscious-
| ness and affectation. The charming folk
song. 'I'll Love You My Honey, Till [
Die, was the musical gem of the per-
formance and was admirably done
Frank Bernard was acceptable in the
role of Pnsener Pasha, and Ben Grim
mel was responsible for no little merri-
ment, as Ben Muley. Rud z. Warren and
Harry Short were ADEQUATE to the parts
of Petage and T. Offenbach Cages, the
latter's song, sFhe Tired Man" being
warmly encored. Others who contributed
materially to the success of the per-
Torrance were Miss Nellie McNaughton,
Miss Grace Cannon, Miss Hattie Arnold
and Mr.. Frank Turner.
'sThe Casino Grip will remain at the
Metropolitan for the rest of the week. ~.
|. A very appreciatiye audience witnessed
last nights performance Of 1.-The Little
Minister at the Grand opera house. Mr..
Barrie in his dramatization of his novel
Of the same name, has created one of the
prettiest and most delightful comedies
seen here in some time. 1t is compact.
simple love story in which the reguish,
laughing-eyed .tBabbie,' in the delight
fnl central figure, and the quaint Scotch
characters introduced are all drawn true
to life.
"Man's Enemy will be seen here at
the Grand the coming week. Though
the main action of the play is thrilling,
there is fun generously mixed In to pre-
vent The performance from being too
heavy.
1t is announced by the management of
the Metropolitan opera house that Ship
man Brothers elaborate production of
..Pudd' nhead Wilson will be the attrac-
ton at this popular theater fer four
days, commencing on Sunday, Dec. %.
Mr.. William S! Gill is presented in the
| title role. The play was last seen here
about three years ago, when Mr. Edwin
F. Mayo interpreted the titular character
Mr.. Gill has succeeded to the part and
has earned the glory which has been an
accessory ever since the play first was