The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-04
AT THE THEATERs.
METROPOLITAN.

Mr.. Daniel Sully, in a curtain speech
last evening at the Metropolitan, re-
marked that at least one thing could be
said for his play, it was clean. 1.-The
Parish Priest is deserving of other
words of commentator. 1t tells a pretty
story in a pretty way. While it does not
hold an audience spellbound. it COM
mands interested attention. Perhaps it's
chief charm, however, is the quaint hu-
NOR that pervades it. and the atmosphere
of simple domestic life that encompasses
it. For the central figure in the play
there is the parish priest, who is a YER
table shepherd of his little flock, rejoicing
in it's happiness. sympath zing with its
SORROWS and pointing it always to better
things.
In assuming the character of Father
John Whaien, Daniel Sully presents less
the ascetic than the wholesome human
type of a clergyman. Father Whalen
loves his little joke, and has it, too, al
though he is digniffed figure of man,
withal That Mr.. Sully was entirely sat
isfactofy in the role, the cordial applause
and frequent curtain calls of the good
sized audience testified. John D. Griffin,
as Michael Sullivan, the garrulous and
witty old servant, was admirable. More
original touches have been given by the
author to the character of Katherine
Corrigan, the girl from Ireland, than to
any other character in the play MISS
Mildred Lawrence was excellent in the
role. Al Phillips, as DR.. Edward welsh,
and Miss Kate Beneteau, as Helen Dur
kin, made a sufficiently interesting paH
OF lovers to give point to the story The
other players-Miss Lucille Spinney, as
Agnes Cassidy; Joseph Tracey, as James
Welsh, and c. W. Brockmeyer, as Frank
BOUCHER were satisfactory
seThe Parish Priest will be played the
first half of the week with Wednesday
matinee.
GRAND.
Frederick Warde deserves and will
have the thanks of al who sincerely love
the drama and are hoping, even though
at times it be almost against hope
that the day will come When higher
ideals will dominate the stage and only
plays that are clean and wholesome
find a welcome in any theater. During
the time that he has been before the
public the pendulum of popular APP
prevail has swung back and forth across
the whole arc of dramatic literature, but
he has been true to his ideals and the
success that has come to him has been
wholly deserved and honestly Won.
In 1.-THE Dukes Jester" Mr.. Warde has
essayed role that gives him an oppor-
tunity to prove that, although he has
devoted the most of his years to the
classic drama, he is justly entitled TO
rank as one of the best romantic actors
on the stage today. There IS something
very fascinating in the atmosphere with
which, the piece is surrounded, and the
swashbuckling roisterers who fill the
stage are reminiscent of the MontaSues
and Capulets of Romeo and Juliet"
their loves, their hates and their QUAR-
rels The play is not great in any sense
of the word, but it is thoroughly enjoy
able, and as presented by Mr.. Warde
and his adequate company, Is easily to
he ranked as one Of the best attractions
that has visited the Grand this season.
1t was Mr. Warde who was the first
to try the experiment of presenting
Shakespearean dramas at popular prizes.
The wiseacres in the business all agreed
that it was losing stroke, but FORUM
ately they turned out to be bad prophets.
Last season was one of the most sue
cessful the actor has ever had, and If
his patronage this year is equal to the
merits of the repertoire, he viii present
in the Twin Cities he should surely
equal, If he does not exceed, the finan-
cial returns of his last visit. Tonight
"RichelIeu'' will be the bill.
STAR
Two big and appreclatiye audiences
greeted the Victoria Burlesquers at the
Star theater yesterday afternoon and
evening, and testified their appreciation
of the entertainment that was offered by
recalling almost every one who partic-
ipated in the rather long programme. The
favor with which the bill was received
was not unmerited, for it is a very good
one of its kind, and one that is well
adapted to please the patrons of the the
alter.
For the opening the satirical skit en-
titled, '"The Vietoria's Reception which
is given with the full strength of the
company, is amusing and is made up OF
the usual amount of nonsense, inter-
spersed with some fairly good specialties.
The vaudeville olio, while not overly
strong, is at least up to the average and
was well received. The cl0ing act is a
one-act creation entitled "A Queen of
the Boulevard" which is well presented.