The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-10-21
FOXY CUTLER A HIT
NEW OPERA AT THE METROPOL-
TITAN, PLEASES IA LARGE
AUDIENCE
JEROME SYKES TALKS SHOP
The Big Comedian Discusses HIS Au-
diences and Says That ST.
Paul People Are All
Right.

II. QuIIler S. lace separated in an an
gelic SMILE parenthetically explained Je
rome Sykes last evening in his role of
Foxy CUTLER, the great detective But
50 often did the face of the hig audience
assembled last evening at the Metropoi-
tan separate in a smile that specification
would be impossible.
For Foxy CUTLER" is the best musical
comedy that has been seen in ST Paul
since The Burgomaster' In humor oil
very superior order it is decidedly bet
ter than the latter comedy. In pictur-
eSque stage setting, in harmonious cos
tuning, in general ensemble effects, it is
1ully equal to The Burgomaster 1t is
doubtful, however, if the music of Foxy
Quiler" will ever become as popular--as
distressingly popular-as the Burgomastel
music, for the reason that De Koven has
done some ambitious work in this latest
effort of his, with the result that it will
not appeal at once to the popular taste
not quickly enough, certainly, to cause
the gallery to whistle.
When The Highwayman" was played
in st. Paul last winter everyone who saw
1t must have appreciated the possibilities
IN the character of Foxy CUTLER Tn
fortunately Jerome Sykes, who created
the role, was not able to play it in ST.
Paul., but even in the hands of an inferior
PtNNS u Inc proved a funny one.
In THE Highwayman" this character
had an exceedingly poor setting In the
new comedy it fits. neatly into it's sur
roundings. Except that the central figure
is the same 1.-THE fIighwayman" and
Foxy CUTLER are entirely different OBJ
eraS
"A clever travesty on all detectives, the
character of Foxy Quirer seems to spe-
cially burleSque the invineible Sherlock
Holmes and his remarkable system of de-
duetlon. The little asides uttered by
Foxy to explain his attitude are ludic-
rous in the extreme, and each is a neat
little Jibe at Conan Doyle's creation.
The music that De Koven has written
Tor the comedy is lively and tunefuI. The
Quiller motif which runs through the
score is brisk and catchy, the catehiest
music perhaps in the play The choruses
are melodfous and the solos, duets, trios
and quartettes very much above the aver
age. The lyrics fit the music admirably
and are as clever as the lines
Little fault can be found with the COM
pany that presented Foxy CUTLER last
night. Jerome Sykes, who heads it. is in
-nltable as the detective both from a.
vocal and dramatic standpoint. This is
the first visit Mr.. Sykes has paid St
Paul in six years. His last appearance
alternated with Barnaby the role of the
Sheriff of Nottingham in ''Robin Hood. ,"
since that time he has played in New
york, and year ago originated there
the character of Foxy CUTLER In 1.-The
HlghWayman." Mr.. Sykes humor is. like
MS voice, of the robust sort. His LAUGH
Is wonderfully infectious. His whole
characterization of the part is decidedly
individual. His song At Couldn't Stand
Tor That" in the third act, and his duet
with link in the second act were heart
lily encored last evening. A speech was
called for at the end of the second act.
and In responding to the demand Mr..
Sykes managed to retain the character he
was presenting.
Deprived of the assistance of Adolph
link Foxy CUTLER" would certainly lose
much Of its humor. link was formerly a
member of LilipHtian company which
played. a year ago in ST. Paul. and he
then won much praise for his. clever
work. AS Kimono, the Japanese dwarf,
ne is exceedingly funny. A grotesque
makeup and absurd facial expressions
AIDED him in making distinct hit last
nlght His miniature Napoleon was a
pretty little picture
julius Steger. who plays the part of
Paganfno, the Corsican, and Eleanor
Kent, who is La Colombia, his sister, sing
some of the best music in the COMPANY.
Miss Kent's solo, Today" and her duet
with Steger at the beginning of the sec
ond act were nnely rendered. Steger also
sang with fine effect rollicking ballad
The Song of the Blade His serenade
in the second act was one of the best
things in the play
Arthur 4. Earnest, who plays the part
OF Ned Royster, has a. rather ordinary
a
speaking voice. Almira Forrest is a very
dainty looking barmaid. The rest of the
cast is satisfactory. The chorus is large
in numbers and melodious in voice, and
decidedly presentab1e in appearance.
The scenes in, which the play is laid
the dock yards of Portsmouth. England,
and later the island of Corsica, afford
opportunity for some very effective stage
pictures. Especially in the first act is
the scenery picturesque.
Foxy CUTLER" will be repeated the re-
mainder of the week, with the usual
matinees.
Foxy CUTLER" TALKS SHOP.
ST wonder" said burly, gocd-natured
Jerome, Sykes at. the Metropolitan last
night, ''if the audience cut there knows
that it is being sized up by three score
and ten high-class critics" The big
comedian had drifted out to the stage
door for a breath of fresh air and was
promptly captured by one of the
Clio e S young men who proceeded
to make him talk. ''Ycu know" said
Foxy CUTLER" proppire. himself iuxu-
riously against the fence, AN actor Is
just as severe a critic of his audience as
the audience is Of him. Some houses
you can play to and get more out OF
yourself than you ever knew was in
you, while with others you can work
and sing and do your prettiest and still
you don't seem to touch the right spot
When an actor feels just right and is
playing to an appreciative audience he
enjoys it just as much as the man tina:
bought the ticket He can cut loose and
put on frills, and he goes ahead and
does things with the happy feeling tina;
the people in front of the footlights are
going to be pleased with everything he
does.
The. feeling of confidence is two
thirds of the battle, especially to a
comedian. When you have taken the
audience into your confidence, when you
feel sure of them and you know that
they are ready. to be pleased with what
ever you do, then you know that the
crowd is going, to- do half of your work
and that the more they help you along
the better they are going to like you and
the show.
"Then there is the cold, clammy audi
ence that makes an actor feel like q
lost soul They will sit there wrapped
up in cakes OF ice; and no matter how
we'll the show is going you can't rouse
them. That kind of a house will kill
the best show in the. world. Then there
| is the severely critical audience; that
the kind that makes man work. and
if you can please them you get the best
kind Of results They laugh in the right