The Saint Paul globe., 1903-12-21

Broncho Jim-Oh. shucks, John, I didn't
DO much / only voted twice.
Broncho Jim-Out over the broad. silent
prairie with only the quiet stars watch
ing, fellow can say what he feels and
thinks.
Broncho Jim-Only a ten-spot. But
these are the shots that carry in Wash
lngton and hit the bull's-eye every time
Broncho Jim-Here, I feel the brick
walls crowding in on me.
From THE Man From Missouri
Tim Murphy's vehicle this year is a
play entitled "The Man From Mis-
souri," which the programme erro-
neously designates as "a comedy of
social life in Washington" It is. in
stead, farce comedy when it Is not a
melodrama, as in the case of the third
act, and is in no sense a representation
or social life in Washington" That
the performance entertained last
nights audience at the Metropolitan
was due principally to the efforts of
Mr Murphy rather than to any intrin-
sic merit in the play itself
1t IS to be regretted that an actor Of
such pronounced ability and artistic
instincts has thus far failed to secure
dramatic vehicle capable Of COM
mandfng the respect and admiration
that his acting arouses. Mr.. Murphy
possesses marke individuality which
might render 1t difficult for him to
mask his identity, but it is always in
evidence that he is gifted with exeep-
tlonal mlTnetIc powers. Added to this,
his personality Is undeniably magnetic,
his voice sympathetic, his delivery
unctuous, and his features mobile and
expressive.
Equipped as Mr.. Murphy is with
qualities so essential and so valuable
to player one cannot but regret his
lack of a proper setting in which to
exploit his histrionfc talent
StfcklerS for the natural on the
stage, and that Is what nine-tenths of
the patrons of the theater want, can
not but admire the easy, unaffected
colloqufaI style with which Mr.. Muir
phy conducts his share of the dialogue.
In the seeming concentration of every
faculty upon the subject OF the con-
versation, in the utter absence of a
sign of self-consciousness due to the
presence of an audience the other side
or the footlights, Mr.. Murphy calls to
mind the dean of American comedians.
and most exquisite artist, Joseph JEFF
ferson.
Last nights audience was not dis
posed to be critical of the play. The
cursed critical habit If it had been
disposed to assert itself, was fairly
subjugated by Mr.. Murphy's genial hu-
NOR. So popular did he become as the
play proceeded, that he was twice
obliged to speak before the curtain.
He had the good taste to relate two
funny stories, that hit the spot, instead
OF 1ndulging in profuse and egotistical
expressions of profund gratitude on
behalf of ETC., etc., ad nauseam.
An analysis of THE Man From Mis-
souri, Is hardly called for. Suffice it to
say that 1T contains two or three dra-
matte situations between Broncho Jim
and schemtng serpentine "greaser"
whom Jim finally knocks down, that
tend to sus tain interest. The second
act closes with IudicrousIy funny
climax in which Broncho Jim pretends
to be seized with fit in order to fur
nish an excuse for his abrupt departure
from an evening reception.
Broncho Jim is allotted some char
aeteristtc epigrams redolent of the
wilds of Nevada, which, Of course, Mr..
Murphy delivers with irresistible relish.
Miss Dorothy Sherrod contributed a
winson1e in1personatfon Of a somewhat
insipld young woman, Helen Lent
worth, who falls in love with Broncho
Jim.
Elliott Dexter furnished a fairly
convincing portrayal OF Senior Castro,
the william in pursuit Of "the papers" {"
and the postmaster generals wife.
The support Is not brilliant.
: F. G. H.