The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-03-07
AT THE THEATERs
MetropoIltan-"The Tenderfoot !,

TcnoerfOot"
That dashing and breezy operate COM
edy Of the southwest "The Tenderfoot. /"
returns to Minneapolis, after many and |
long Wanderings with itsNbrightness and
freshness quite unimpaired and it's nom
sense as absurdly funny as ever How
SUCH production can be kept up to the
mark night after night, so that it does
not appear jaded and weary, must ever
remain mystery to the general public.
But everybody from the ridiculous Rich
ara Garlic with his intellectual face and
ms original comedy methods, to the lit
TEST cowgirl in leather leggings and cor
duroy skirt, romped thru the play last
night with what appeared to be the keen
est relish. Such efferyescence of spirits
is contagious and the audience Joined
right IN, thus In turn furnishing motive
power for those behind the footlights.
Mr. earle, who wrote the book and
staged the productions, puts the finishing
touch on his work by his whimsical con-
ception Of the professor who finds him.
SELF among the troopers and cowboys and
Vaqueros and Indians of Texas. The COM
edy springs. from the fact that this man
OF small soul and large brain is so utterly
at variance with his surroundings, so mall
appropriate to the atmosphere of the
southwest. In the various situations that
grow out Of the well considered story, the
intellectual keenness Of the professor
puSllldnlnOuS
character. In spite Of the fact that Garlic
is constantly doing things-as every oper-
attic comedian must-that are not in char
acter, such as executing grotesque dances
that are not usually down in the college
curriculum, he contriyes to make the i'm
personation. a fairly consistent one And
the nonsense with which he embrofders
the role * as foolish as it is Irresistible.
But Mr.. earle is by no means the whole
thing. There are other good ones and
they all get chance. Charles A. Morgan
with his dental smile and his 1.-the and
graceful figure, plays the sergeant with
proper dash. The redoubtable Henry Nor
man, who has been playing pirates and
DOGGY men and cutthroats all his life,
shows that he can do a good bit of char
acter work in his impersonation Of the
square" gambler. William Rock has de-
veloped his unique characterization of
Hop Lee, the Chinese servant, until it is
one of the best things in the production.
American slang sounds very odd coming
from an impressive oriental. Mr. Rock
also executes some effective steps in his
duo dance with the rollicking and ire
pressible Minerva Courteney whose i'm
personation Of the waif with the wondrous
appetite Is most refreshing. Helena Fred
eric brings to the role of the heiress a
stunning figure, a pretty face framed in
real blonde hair, and voice that is rich
and effective in the lower register, but a
little harsh in the upper notes. Miss
Frederic, however, sings with taste and
with, good method. The tenor role, that
of the colonel, is in the hands Of Edmund
Stanley, who has good voice except fol
pianissimo effects but who is unfortu-
nately awkward in his stage manner
Nellie Lynch is saucily pleasing as the
maid and dances merrily. Her songs
would go better if she gave more atten.
: ton to pronouncing the words so thai
!: they could be understood. Beatrice Nc
Kenzie as the man-seeking authoress is
rather too pretty for the character. Judi.
cious use of the makeup box would heII
her case.
The chorus Of troopers is as dashing a:
ever, and in fact all of the choruses gt
with great zest. The costumes are pic
turesquely radiant and the effects are O
the most fetching kind
w. 3. Chamberlain