The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-01-24
---AT ST. PAUL----
THEATRES
~Muoh Ado About NotbinaD at the
NJ Metropolitan.

metropolitan.
Shakespeare never christened a
enid more appropriately thar when he
wrote the words Much Ado About
Noth1ng over that comedy, which he
located in ItalysgMessina.
+ So faithful to nature is Shakespeare
that the geography of his plays is
really lmmaterial. If traced too close
ly 1t is found to be faulty, but his peo-
pie are too human to be denied.
In presenting Much Ado About
thu at the Metropolitan last
night, Charles Hanford merits COM
mendat1on for an sunselfsh contribu-
ton to the theater-going public.
In so far as Mr.. Hartford is amply
quallhed to shine in the role Of Bene-
dlck, 1t is a selfish proposition on his
part. But lnasmuch as his own indi-
Vldual portrayal Of Benedick is a vital
embodiment OF a flesh and blood man,
VINO mas something to say and knows
how to say it, the people are indebted
to the actor.
MI. Hanford's impersonation of Ben
edlck is admirable because it is so
human Yet, why shouldn't it be ?
Really, an actor has no excuse for a
false reading of Shakespeare's lines.
But all players areenot actors, as one
may observe any night, in any theater.
The appropriateness of the title Of
$500 1884, 10 I11d1lIGSI Ch q oil J1IIICOs
The audience is always cognizant of
the fact that there is nothing doing"
Hero, an honest girl, is accused at the
altar of a crime worse a murder.
Every character on the stage suspects
she is unchaste. Everybody in the au-
dlence knows the charge is UNANIMOUSLY
false. Shakespeare arranged that. 1t
is much d about nothing.
But what a scene that is at the mar
rage altar! 1t dwells in the realm of
tragedy. A groom brands his bride a
Wanton. Her father believes him and
cries for his daughters death. The
friar intercedes in her behalf, with a
speech whose poetic fervor melts the
fathers heart.
Some of u modern playwrights
can learn something about construc-
ton from Will Shakespeare. AS for
dialogue-well, as Dogberry says
comparisons are odorous."
Mr.. HanfOrd's Benedick is a char
acter you thoroughly relish. He speaks
the lines as though they had just Oc-
Cured to him.. The wealth of wit with
which this comedy abounds he reveals
in so far as Benedick's lines permit.
The playful fancy Of the poet, his in
| genious SMILES. his ineXpressibly sug-
gestive touches Of wit, humor and
satire are all expressed in unmistak-
able fashion by Mr.. Hanford.
One other actor in this company
merits emphatic praise. He is Robert
Lee Allen, who played Verges, Dog
berry's clerk. Mr.. Allen seems to
have grasped Shakespeare. He real
ICES that the ~dranatist had human be-
ings in mind even When he conceived
Verges. The consequence is an ad-
mirable characterization of the super
animated clerk.
Ferd Hight, who played that monu-
mental ass, Dogberry, should be COM
mended. The Characterization was not
as strongly colored as it might have
been, but Mr.. Nights enunciation was
distinct, and not a single word of
Dogberry's. malapropisms was lost.
Frederick Forester merits praise
for his excellent portrayal of Don Pc
dro. Mr.. Forester imparts a distinc-
ton to the character that makes it in
teresting.
Miss Drofnah is hardly an ideal
Beatrice. She at all times displays a
keen understanding Of the lines, but
her delivery of them is marked by a
studied effort. She is prone to rant in
the great scene with Benedick, follow
ing the denouncing of Hero at the
altar. Fred G. Hunt.
"San Toy,% the Chinese musical
comedy, which enjoyed a prosperous
career in New York city, will be the
dItfdCIlOn DIT the during
the first half of next week, beginning
tomorrow night.
The Bostonians, who have not APP
peared in st. Paul for the past five
years, will be seen at the Metropoli-
tan during the latter half of the week
in Robin Hood" and Maid Marian"
A matinee today at $50 and a final
performance tonight will end a sue
cessful weeks engagement of 1.-THE
Heart of Maryland at the Grand.
GA Little Outcast" is the title of a
new melodrama hat will begin a
weeks engagement at the Grand opera
house tomorrow night. The cast in
cludes Miss Anne Blancke, who is a
we'll known favOrite in the Twin Cities.
Something new is promised in the way
of scenery and mechanical effects.
There was an unusually large audi
ence at the Star yesterday afternoon
when the ladies' matinee was given.
The really clever vaudeville bill was
given with q Zest that showed the per-
formers to be in touch with the sym
pathetic audience. The Imperial COM
pany will close a profitable gag
ment- with two performances today.
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