The Saint Paul globe., 1904-08-26
At St. Paul Theaters

HiSnt OF ITS regular season and this ap-'
pearance was heightened by the light
summer frocks that most of the women
IN the audience wore. As a matter of
fact, the phrase formal opening when
applied to the beginning of this thea
ter's fall and winter season, is mis-
nomer, for it has been Chauncey Oh
cett's habit for several years to stand
sponsor to these openings, and Mr.. Oh
eott is the reverse of formal.
Only the most captious Individual
would find fault with a cheerful an
nual that makes no pretentions TO be-
ing anything more than decorative
ana no one who goes to see Mr.. Olcott
is captious. He bloomed on the stage
last night in precisely the same fash
ion that he has bloomed on so many
other opening nights
Terence" is a typical Olcott play,
accurately cut and perfectly fitted to
the measurements of the star. Time
was when the announcement of new
play Tor this actor aroused a mild GU
rioSlty, even some uneaSineSS. But ad-
mirerS of Mr.. Olcott realize now that
| there is no danger of his ever getting
play that will do him an injustice.
The lady who built, this is the correct
tailoring term, we believe. this play
for Mr.. Olcott has undoubtedly seen
all his other plays and certainly un-
derstands the player. Happy Mr.. Oh
| colt! So many players are misunder-
stood nowadays.
To make this latest Olcott play. the
playwright took a novel with all it's
| scenes laid in Ireland. The hero is "a
| fine figure of man and performs
! noble deeds and utterS noble Senti-
/ ments in a please pass me- the-salt
| manner.
There are children in the story, also
| opportunities for impromptu songs,
and a great deal of very good scenery
The play is exceedingly picturesque, as
all the Olcott plays are. The beginning
of the first act is just a little bit talky
and the action rather drags, but this
| is before Terence, the hero, makes his
appearance. During the remainder of
the Fay the action is rapid enough to
suit everybody.
Mr.. Olcott's charm-and the word is
/ used in all sincerity-is his unfailing
! cheerfulness, his apparent unwilling
ness to take himself too seriously. He
| is self-conscious always, but it must
| be remembered that for many years
1 now he has been playing the role of a
well set up young man whom all the
| other characters have done their best
| to spoil.
| 1t is natural that he should have
/ fallen into the habit of regarding HIM
| self from picturesque angles But
aside from this charm of cheerfulnesS
| that is irresistible, Mr.. Olcott sings
| catchy Irish songs after a fashion that
appeals to the average theatergoer and
/ wins his applause. There were three
/ or four of them in his play last night
and they were sung in the approved
| Olcott style and we're warmly encored.
Indeed, Mr.. Olcott's welcome was most
gratifying. Twice he was called be-
| fore the curtain and showed his gra-
ciousness by making a little speech
| each time. He also received bunch OF
! flowers.
| Mr.. Olcott's supporting company is
1 very good. Elizabeth Washburne, a
capable character" actress who has
! been member Of his company for sew
| eral seasons, has a role in the play
/ that fits her very well. The leading
1 lady, Miss Marguerite Hayden, is satis-
| factory. Mat B. Snyder was excellent
as Pat Ryan.
| For the remainder of the week Mr..
| Olcott win play Terrence" Sunday
night he will present IA Romance of
| Athlone," and will run the entire week.
The audience last night was moder-
| ately large.
| The new drop curtain is an artistic
creation, painted by Peter Claussen. 1t
| shows landscape scene from Camp
Lakeview, in which glimpses are given
/ of Lake City, Lake Pepin, the state
! rifle range and soldiers at target prac-
! tice.
/ The coloring is fresh and natural
and the scene pleasing from the view
| point of those in front.
So skillfully has the interior of the
| Metropolitan tneater been touched up
1 by decorator and artist during the
I he hos c1a
| that it presented a transformed ap-
| pearance" last evening at the formal
| opening by Mr.. Olcott and his COM
pany of players. The new drop curtain
was probably the first Improvement
| that attracted the attention of the ap-
preciative audience. 1t is the work of
Peter ClausSen, the venerable artist
who has painted so many of the cur
| tains at the Metropolitan. This latest
one of his is particularly creditable
! piece of work. 1t is a view of the
Lakeview camp, where the state mill
| tia encampS every summer. The per-
spective is excellent. In the fore
ground is shown the tents arranged in
| their straight rows. bounded on one
! side by the water, on the other, the
| sinuous curve of the railroad. In the
| background are the bluffs, below which
| is the shooting range of the soldiers.
! The new curtain is one of the most at
| tractive that has ever hung in the Met
ropolitan.
An Improvement in the theater that
] the women especially Will appreciate is
| the small mirrors that have been at
| tached to the back of each seat in
such position that the woman in the
seat directly behind can tell at glance
whether or not her hat is on straight
| and how her hair looks. These mir
rers are in place in all the seats ex-
cept the center row. 1t is expected
that the center chairs will also be pro-
yided with the looking glasses some
| time during the coming week.
A pleasing scheme of decoration has
] been carried out in the theater. and the
! eye is rested by a restful combination
! of delicate tints. In the foyer num-
Der of attractive pictures set ia panels
! add to the attractive appearance or
! this part of the playhouse. But ASIDE
/ from the adornmentS and the new con-
yeniences, the absolute cleanliness fhat
| prevails in every part Of the theatet
! gives it an added charm. Every afti-
/ Gle that is supposed TO shine, SHINES,
and the order and neatness everywhere
visible enhances greatly the theaters S
/ attractiveness. Always most lnvlting
PLAYHOUSE, the Metropolitan this sea-
son, because of the improvements thas
/ have been made, viii wear a partlcu-
! larly smart air.
At the Grand tonight during the per-
formance of '1n. Old Kentucky the
prize buck and wing dancing contest
win take place. There are sever
al entries and an interesting con-
i - IL