The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-09-28
At St. Paul Theaters
nKina DodoD at the METROPOLITAN.

The venerable monarch, whose de-
sire for youth prompted Frank Pixley
and Gustave Luders to write a must
cal comedy around him instead of a
tragedy, such as DR.. Fausters in
spired in Goethe. made his third ap-
pearance before a st. Paul audience
at the Metropolitan last night. He was
again received with "the glad hand"
For Kind Dodo is popular monarch.
He appeared through new medium
upon this occasion, that medium being
real actor, Richard Golden. Without
instituting any invidious comparisons
between Mr.. Golden and his prede-
cessor in the role, Raymond Hitch
cock, it must be recorded that Mr..
Golden furnished more entertainment.
Standards of acting can hardly be ap-
piled to the freakish creations of mu-
steal comedies. The success of the
player who essays such roles depends
upon his ability to provoke laughter
and that in turn rests upon his per-
sonality, his versatility and his ca
pacity to deliver line with good ac-
cent to accompany it with appropri-
ate facial expression or gesture-in
short to reveal all the wit or humor
1t contains, without seeming to over
emphasize it.
Golden does this. King Dodo himself
in that second act if he played himself
all the while, for of course, no legiti-
mate comedy is written for him. Col
den fortunately posS eSSeS clever mi
metic talent. He is a master of dia-
lects. has mobile features, and a quick
perception of the ludicrous which gifts
and faculties he employs effectually
in scenes that would otherwise prove
tiresome. Mr.. Golden interpolated-a
nrxr IlDa IrNfra H..
timely local gags that won instant
recognition.
Last nights presentation also served
to introduce another stranger to local
players, who proved doubly welcome.
She Is Maud K. Williams, who, in the
male role of Piola, a soldier of for
tune, was the life of every scene in
which she participated. Miss Will
liams is the fortunate possessor of
three qualities, which, united in one
woman, make a most felicitious COM
bination In conjunction with the foot
lights. She has beauty, she sings we'll,
and she can act. This triple appeal to
the eye, the ear and the intelligence is
mighty effective. A nice discretion
marks Miss Williams acting. She
Stimulates genuine animation without
betraying Self-consciousness
Another new face in the cast is that
of Miss Albright, who sings the con-
tralto role of Queen Lii. Miss AL
bright sings the two numbers allotted
to the queen expressively. Her voice is
true, sympathetic and under control.
A Vfvacious embodiment of Annette
was contributed by Gertrude Barnes, a
graceful soubrette without much of
voice but lots of animation in her face
and feet. Charles w. Meyers furnished
an amusingly dry Characterization of
Nudge, the court historian.
Of course, the music of king Dodo"
was welcome. 1t is all tuneful, and the
ensembles abound in pleasing harmon
les. The finale of the first act is a
clever piece of writing. Mr.. Luders
might have been thinking of the time
when Wagner's Lohengrin was telling
his real name when he wrote the or
chestral accompaniment to Piola's reci-
tative in that first act finale
But. as usual, the tale of Bumble-
bee" carried off the honors The gall
lery boys whistled this catchy melody
with great glee. Indeed, the company
hardly needed the support of the or
chestra.
The chorus is good to look upon.
Moreover, it gives every indication of
thorough training. F. G. H.
Across the Pacific" at the Grand.
Harry Clay Blaney, the ubiquitous
reporter, who is inevitably Johnny on
the Spot in that thrilling melodrama
Across the Pacific" provoked a per-
feet avalanche of cheers and whistles
at the Grand opera house last night.
A thriller" of this sort may not COM
ply strictly with the canons that gov
ern the art of playwriting, but 1t never
theless affords immense satisfaction to
a theaterful of people, hungry for
something doing" And certainly no.
body can raise the cry of nothing do
ing while witnessing this creation.
No slavish regard for the Greek
unities of time, action and place cir
cumscribed the author of this play 1t
starts in Montana. flies over the Rock
les to 'Frisco's Chinatown, and sails
over the broad Pacific to the Philip
pines. In every scene, at most oppor-
tune moments, Harry Clay Blaney, in
the gulse of Willie Live. hobs up Sc
renely, with either a gun or a lead
pencil in hand, prepared to either
thwart the villain or inf1ict a Special"
on his newspaper. And how the gall
lery screeches and the people cheeri
1t may do violence to the possible, 1t
may not be an artistic portrayal of
human nature, this melodrama, but, on
the other hand, it appeals to the best
impulses of the people-to their pa
triotfsm, their love of fair play and
their sympathy with the cause of vir-
tue. No torturing doubts as to what
is right and what is wrong, created
by the insidious problem play, remain
to perplex the spectators. They go
away from the playhouse satisfied.
For these reasons We can forgive Mr..
Blaney for making the reporter an
person. For these reasons
we can forbear captious criticism of