The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-07-18
At St. Paul Theaters

"A Night Off, one of those ingenious
German farces transplanted to Aneri-
can soil and otherwise Thoroughly
Americanized by the late Augustin
Daily, received most enjoyable pre-
sentation at the Grand last night by
the George Fawcett company.
A satisfying performance of gen
uine farce is a severe test for any ag-
gregation of players. Celebrity of ac-
ton, prompt picking up of the cues
ana tripping delivery of the lines are
absolutely essential to maintain its
spirit and life. The slightest hitch or
stumble In dialogue or action makes it
malt, and like the human being who
hesitates, it is lost. 1t is to the credit
OF the Fawcett company that "A Night
Off" was not lost last evening.
indeed the performance went with
surprising velocity last evening. A re-
assuring familiarity with the play
characterized the players and the re-
suit was highly gratifying, though this
IS not to say that the performance was
not susceptible of Improvement
1t is quality of these farces Daily
adapted from the German stage that
tney appeal to the riSibiiities through
the medium of human eccentricities
rather than horse play. The university
professor, whose wife abhors the thea
ter, Furnishes up tragedy he wrote
AAf AifS Sd1lOW -udyS, q CORRESPONDING
actor-manager Seizes the opportunity
to produce it at the village .sepery'
mousse, the wife is kept in darkest ig-
norance of the scheme, and the profess
Sor, his unmarried daughter, his SON.
ln-law and his domestic stage
struck hired girl-execute a most
laughabfe scheme to get "a night Off"
Ihis plot serves to introduce some ex-
tremely amusing characters and situa-
tons which prove vastly diverting. for
discovery of their plans is imminent
at any moment. An inSanely Jealous
married daughter, whose suspicious are
shared by her mother, adds zest to the
story. The complications that ensue
are rich with legitimate fun, without
the slightest faint Of the French school
me picturesque parsonage is Mar
Gus Brutus Snap, the travelling Thes-
pian and manager, ..in pursuit of fame,
and fortune under various legitimate
alases. Mr. Snaps repeated tributes
to my wife," her histrionic genius
ranging from Juliet to Olivette, her re-
soureeful qualities, from altering plays
TO SUIT emergencies to fashioning the
Wafdrobes, make US forgive him.
This role was conyincingly assumed
by Dewitt c. Jennings. whose bearing,
makeup, voice and demeanor were
realistic to an admirable degree. True.
the part is fat" as the actor would
say, out II unSkiilfully handled it would
be intoiera Bile.
Miss Percy Haswen in the role of
Nlsbe, the professors younger daugh-
ter-the imp of the household" was
delightfully."- naive. The spirit of the
farce seemed to animate her from her
first appearance when she discovers
the photo of Olivette in tights on her
fathers desk
Charles Wyngate in the opposite
character Of Jack Mulberry, who is
transforming for fun, played with
creditable spontaneity and was very
satisfactory in the fortune telling scene
with Nisbe.
Alfred Hudson and Miss Alice Butler
In the roles of Prof. Babbitt and his
suspicious wife. contributed meritori-
Gus representations. and Regain Hughs-
ton and Miss Evelyn Vaughan played
creditably that clever scene in which
the husband reveals his supposed
youthful indiscretions to the wife, who
insists he committed them and wants
to know all about them.
An amusing characterization of SUI
san, the housemaid who alone shared
the professors secret, and calls his
play our tragedy" was afforded by
Miss Agnes Everett. IF. G. H.