The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-16
At St. Paul Theaters

comedy, recognizing the universal
axiom that two heads are better than
one, have hit upon the ingenious idea
or employing three and even four or
live heads, before turning loose the
composite result.
"A Country Girl" the latest mu-
steal comedy to penetrate the wilds of
the NorthweSt-after two years in
London-is the work of five men.
Lionel Moncklon is responsible, ac-
cordlng to the programme, for all the
music. He need not blush for it. 1t is
pretty, and original. His first act finale
is an excellent piece of scoring, and the
Ball of Yarn" duet between the lovers
is an extremely melodious number
Other ensembles, notably the mixed
Sextette IN the second act, the solo of
Marjorie in the first, and Sophie's
rhythmic, 1 am Naughty Girl" are
commendable compositions from the
musical comedy standpoint.
The dialogue is credited to James T.
Tanner 1t is as commercially free
from atrocious puns and vulgar Jokes
as 1T is destitute of vestige of wit. 1t
simply fills in without offense Mayhap
the lyrics by Adrian Ross and two
other. writers possess some poetic
Iancy, but as not one ofethe romantic
characters enunciated the words dis
tinctly 1T would be unfair to pronounce
any judgment upon the literary quality
of the verse
A song of the sea by common sail
or was altogether the most character
lstic comic ditty of the production, in
point of rhythm and melody.
1t is uncomfortable that the perform
ance witnessed at the Metropolitan
last night would have been permitted
to occupy London stage for 500 con-
secutive nights, as the advance notices
have loudly heralded. The play is the
thing no doubt, but the players can
ruin the play
"A Country Grip is conceded to be
musical comedy. Ergo, the company
should contain some vocal artists
Ihere are none in this company. The
chorus is good, but the solo voices lack
cultivation. Genevieve Finlay, who
1mpersonates the Princess MeheIanch,
possesses mezZo- contralto of pleas
ing quality, but does not use it as eff
fectively as she might. Alice Mailyn,
In the title role of Marjorie, the coun-
try girl, was pretty to look upon, but
ner singing made the sensitive ear I'M
easy Her voice was so uncertain.
The character of Nan, who is in real
1ty the rustic maiden, was entrusted to
Miss Helen Marvin. AS a character
SKETCH Miss Marvin's effort was con-
V1ncing. Vocally it was distressing
This was too bad, for Nan has quaint
and pretty ballad in the second act
But, nevertheless, two people-John
Slavin and Miss Deyo-save this show.
Indeed, they are the life of it, Their
chicken duet in the first act, their
quarreling song and dance in the last
act and Miss Deyo's song and dance,
with the chorus, Il Am a Naughty
Girl" are the prime hits of the per-
Torrance. Truth to tell, time hangs
heavy while either of these two is alb
sent from the stage.
Slavin is one of those privileged fun
ny men. No canons of histrionic or
lyric art restrain him. He speaks his
lines and you laugh at them, silly
though they be; he walks across the
stage and kisses a chorus girl and you
laugh.
AS for Miss Deyo, one might well say
of her:
b<s when you do dance, 1 wish
You wave o the sea, that you
Might ever do nothing but that"
The male. characters are acceptably
impersOnated. but are most uninter-
esting. Melville Stewart is ponder
| GUS in the role of Geoffry Challoner,
and his enunciation in song indistinct.
Hallen MoStyn contributes a good i'm
PRESERVATION of the phlegmatic Eng
lish Rajah of Bhong.
But, all in all, one wonders how ga
SOUHLTy ClTl COulQ nave lasted TWO
years in London, as the advance no.
tees heralded, if the performance re-
sembled that of last night
F. G. H.
"Under Southern Skies" will begin a
half weeks engagement at the Metro
politan opera house next Sunday even
ing.
Commencing next Thursday night,
for three nights and a matinee, Jeffer-
son De Angels, in 1.-THE Toreador," will
be the bill at the Metropolitan.
There will be but three more per-
formances of Queen of the Highway
at the Grand, including a matinee to-
morrow at 2:30.
Ward and Vokes, in their latest mu-
steal farce, "a Pair of Pinks," will be
next weeks attraction at the Grand.
This afternoon a special ladies' mat
inee will be given at the Star The
Bowery Burlesquers will give the
vaudeville h11rlocnua hill