The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-03-08
AT THE THEATERs.
METROPOLITAN

The vogue OF the book and the art
or Viola Allen and Robert Drouet gave
quite unwarranted prestige last sea-
son TO Hall Gaines dramatized version
or The Christian" In the hands of a
mediocre company such as presented it
last night at the Metropolitan, its faults.
or rather its general lack of merit, Is
painfully apparent and one cannot help
wondering why 1t should live another
season. Hall Game in his story drew two
characters ccnvincingly, Glory QuayIe
and Drake. Those who saw Viola Allen.
as Glory, last season realized the pos
sloilitles OF the character. and the
glamor of Miss Aliens portrayal of It
hid many defects Of plot and construc
ton. Davenport, as Drake, was able by
MS skill, to present inimitably the por-
trait or thorough gentleman just as
came drew 1t. That Miss Julia Staurt
fails to present convincingly the char
acter of Glory does not argue that snet
Is poor actress On the contrary her
work Is intelligent and sometimes 1t iS
clever. But she fails to portray the JOY
BUSINESS in life, the Observation-Disclosures
and the womanly inconsistencies of the
Manx heroine, and her work lacks tho
refinement that is necessary to convince
an audience that Glory was always Wnat
she claimed to be. Frederic Conger was
very pleasant and not undressing as
Drake, but Game surely meant his hero
for Drake is the only man in the book
worthy the title-to be as imposing in
appearance as he was irrepreachabIe in
manners. 1t must be difficult for an actor
to decide what to do with such a part
as John Storm. Devotee, fanatic, poseur
or whatever he was-and even his creator
never seemed to be quite certain to what
class he belonged-he is at best an un-
satisfactory sort Of person to present in
pleasing manner. Those people Eno
fooliShly persist in priclzing the bubble.
pleasure, that humanity loves to- chase
are bores and that's what John storm
was. Lionel Adams, who played the part
or Storm last evening, gave the part a
touch more OF spirituality than did
Drouet, and, while In finish and in gen
eraI erect Drouet'S presentation is SUI
perlor,- Mr.. Adams obtains more svrn-
pathy from his audience. He was ap-
parently suffering last night from some
throat trouble for his voice at times
sounded hOarse. Carrie Lee Stoyle was
very good. as the Scotch woman, Mrs.
Calender. Adelaide Warren, as Polly
Love, and Charles Dowan, as Lord Rob
ert IRE, are deserving Of special mention.
The play was exce1lently staged 1t will
be repeated the remainder of this week.
with Saturday matinee.
The interest manifested by the musical
public Of st. Paul in the opening of the
sale yesterday for Collamarini and the
Boston Lyric Opera company during the
week, beginning Monday, March II. was
indeed encoura ging. It showed unuues-
tionably strong interest in the coming
engagement Of the great contralto, and
assures her a warm welcome by one of.
st. Paul's most representative audiences
s That Sousa is equally well appreciated
IN h C t.
denced when he brings his great band
here for two concerts at the Metropoli-
tan on Sunday, March 10. The soloists
this season are Blanche Duff1eld, soprano;
Bertha Bucklin, violiniste; Arthur Pry-
or, trombone: Herbert L. Clarke and
Waller Rogers, cornet; Frank Hell, flue-
gelhorn and Simone Mantia, euphonium.
GRAND.
But three more performances remain
of the engagement at the Grand this
week Of the king of the Opium Ring"
and those who are at all partial to melo-
drama, will do well to witness one of
these final performances.
William H. West and his big minstrel
jubilee will be seen here at the Grand
the coming week, commencing Sunday
night, and theater-goers will be given an
opportunity to witness a minstrel per-
Torrance, the equal of which. from an
artistic, comedy and vocal standpoint
has never been seen in this country.
STAR
The Butterfly Burlesquers will termi-
rate their engagement at the Star thea
ter Saturday matinee owing to the large
railroad jump to their next stand. The
house will, therefore, be dark that even
Ing.
The French Burlesquers. one of the
best aggregations In the business, will
begin weeks engagement Sunday after
noon.