The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-08-17
At St. Paul Theaters
4way Out West" at the Metropolitan.

Let the dramatist who Is prolific OF
dialogue but barren of the power to
bring forth climaxes go to the author
Of way Out West" which startling
drama was the farewell offering OF
the Ferris Stock company at the Met
ropolitan last night.
The author Of this remarkable con-
tribution is nameless on the pro-
gramme, but it Is only fair to say that
Dick Ferris himself is suspected. 1t
is certain Mr.. Ferris played the leading
role-two of them in fact-and spoke
the lines of two or three other char
acters, when they were at loss for
words.
But don't imagine there were any
stage waits. Mr.. Ferris wouldn't per-
nit them. When the army chaplain
forgot his lines, Mr.. Ferris spoke them.
without seeming to do so. and large
part Of the audience never knew the
difference.
A clever fellow, this Ferris. Unique
too. in combining genuine histrionic
ability with large installment of hard,
practical common sense.
Assuming that Ferris wrote Way
Out West" he must be credited with
having devised two triumphant dram
attic surprises-and dramatic sur
prises throw the people into ecstasies.
1t is so thrilling to behold the uneX-
pected. particularly when 1t consists
of a knock out blow on the villains
jaw, delivered by the twin brother of
the hero, who looks just like him.
Such a scene is the climax Of the
first act. and the gallery shrieks-sure
proof that it is artistic.
The gallery also vociferated it's ap-
prevail of the stabbing which necessi-
tates the curtain on the second act
and this applause was deserved. for
the bloody assault takes place in the
presence of blind girl. who may
afterwards tell what she saw.
An important climax at the end of
the third act failed to stir "the heaven
above" which is the surest test in all
the world of the achievement Of play
wright or player. Those boys know
when the bells ring true.
After giving Mr.. Ferris credit for
concocting some clever dramatic sur
prises, and plunging the audience into
zimmerman darkness, from the opening
of the first act to the last five minutes of
the final act as to the possible outcome,
"a great achievement by the way-let
US not be thought captiOus if we enter
a mild protest against the dialogue,
deprecate the violent juxtaposition of
comedy and tragedy, smile amusedly at
the impossibilities of the play, regret
the frequent intrusion of the soubrette
curing OedIn DGu SC6n6-ln SnOTL feel
as though the play was kind O. out of
joint.
But at that there are one or two
strenuous strokes of humanity that
save it.
Why individualize the company?
Every man and woman made consci-
entious effort. There is only one hui
man being in the play-and he is twins
alias Mr.. Ferris. The others tried
hard.
1t might be added that way Out
West" suggests ARIZONA" with it's jeal-
Gus colonel, the jealous colonel's weak
wife, her innocent sister, and the viii
famous officer, who would elope with
Mrs. Colonel-but the moment the cap
tain's twin brother appears, all resem-
blance to the Thomas play ceases in
point of plot.
None exists at any time in dialogue.
IF. G.. H.
Anybody capable Of enjoying Shakes
peare's delicious comedy LAS You Like
1t" eithe rim the library or the theater,
will find it worth while to witness the
performance of this matchless comedy
at Como park. The company engaged
in presenting it boasts no star, but the
Rosalind of Kate Dalglish is neverthe-
less delight It's distinguishing char
prehension of the meaning of the lines,
her arch delivery of them and her suit
able action and expression in those in
comparable scenes with Orlando. Such
delivery, such action could not be with
out study far deeper than the mere
memoriZing of the text. The spontane-
GUS utterance of ShakespeaNes colo
,tQuial passages, which distinguishes
Miss Dalglish in the character of Ros-
aind, ought to be second nature to
every woman with a spark of dramatic
comprehension, but unfortunately it
isn't.
Louis Morrison reads jacques i'm
mortal Seven Ages" impressively and
with good accent" 1t is pity to see
SO intelligent player 'act'' those lines.
But those lines. like Phoebe, are mot
for all markets." and sometimes must
be acted "to make the unskillful laugh"
The performance as a whole is COM
mendabie, saving poor old Adam, who
Is as much burden to the ears and
eyes of the spectators as to the arms OF
Orlando.