The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-10-24
- AT ST. PAUL
lleatre .c

Admiration for De Wolf Hopper,
rather than admiration for Charles
Dickens, will attract people to Mr..
Pickwick,'' Mr.. Hopper's newest We
hicle for the display Of his peculiar
talents. For there is far more of Mr..
Hopper in the leading role than there
is of Dickens creation, PickWick. Yet
this newest musical comedy-newest
IN ST. Paul, at least-is not without
merit, though it be Of a Hoppersonian
character.
A large audience at the Metropolitan
theater last night gave generous
welcome to it and to the big comedian,
who made his bow to st. Paul theater-
goers after an absence of four years.
So hearty was the welcome accorded
him that Mr.. Hopper was forced 10
make Acknowledgement of it in a cur
tain speech, which was quite as funny
as any lines which he has in the play.
"Trif1es light as air" have formed
the basis of musical comedies for so
long that it is nothing of a shock to
find that it is the ARREST trif1e Of all
which forms the backbone of the Mr..
Pickwicl' plot, or rather sketch. The
most important characters of the book
are introduced in the play, but in
many instances they have been drag
ged in by the hair. Once in, however,
they are funny enough to make amends
for their seemingly forced entrances.
The music Of the opera, while not re-
markable, is tuneful. The chorus is
smnI and not particularly pretty, but
to offset this the leading woman and
the soubrette are very pretty and act
sind sing unusually WELL
Mr.. Pickwiek's difficulties with Mrs.
Dardell and with other women whom
his unsuspecting gallantry leads him
to assist is the theme of the comedy.
Mr.. Hopper is a burlesque of the
honest hearted, if somewhat bombas-
tic, gentleman drawn by the novelist.
Rut it is a clever burlesque and as
such was thoroughly appreciated by
the audience.
The two Wellers and Jingle are the
only characters in the play strictly
Ttickensonian, but they are cleverly
slSetched.
Mr.. Hopper is especially assisted in
his fun making by Digby Bell, who
| most convincingly plays the part of
Sam Weller; by Harry Norman, who
| is an excellent Tony Weller, and by
Grant Stewart, who is entirely salts
factory as Alfred Jingle. Louise Gun
ming as Arabelle was most attractive.
Little Miss Clark was an engaging
Polly. Laura Joyce Bell who plays
the part of Mrs. Bardell, must have
| been something of a disappointment
work, in other roles. She seems merely
a whirl of petticoats on the stage,
though the role gives her excellent OPP
portunity for good character work.
The comedy is in two acts, both of
which are handsomely staged. Mr..
Pickwick' will be at the Metropolitan
for the remainder of the week.
"Ihe Burgomaster," the popular mu
steal comedy which has won favor in
this city for several seasons, comes to
the Metropolitan Sunday night for one
performance only.
Ward & yokes, with their large
company4o of funmakers, still continue
to make good at the Grand the current
week. The success of this comedy is
cue to the fact that there is some
thing good going on all the time to
keep the audience interested. There
will be but three more performances
OF this play tonight, matinee to-
morrow and "a final performance to-
morrow night.
Magician Kellar, who will appear at
the Grand next week, has an enter
tainments in magic which, it is said,
fairly outdoes anything he has hither-
to presented in the East The mere
titles of his great illusions give a sug-
gestlon of what may be expected. In
saThe Mystery of HASA" he appar-
entity suspends the law Of gravitation.
"Princess Karnak" shows how living
human bodies may be sent through
snace with the rapidity of thought.
s.The Gambling Ghost" savors Of a
spook that plays cards. 1.-The Growing
roaoo trick. and GENERALIZATION Of
Men Out of Air" illustrates a weird
Mahatma idea.
The Vednars, comedy acrobats, are
feature of Watson's American Bur-
lasuuers at the Star theater. The Top
sy Turvy company comes next week.