The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-03-03
At St. Paul Theaters

q
player can be judged in one role. Is
James K. Hackett, who made his first
appearance on a st. Paul stage at the
metropolitan last night. Lest any doubt
might remain as to this fact Mr.. Hack
EFT announced in a curtain speech, So
iicfted by the audience. that it was his
hrst appearance in St. Paul sin any
capacity"
AS stranger he is welcome; as an
artist doubly so. He possesses sufficient
distinction OF personality to claim the
attention OF the eye upon his first ap-
pearance, and histrionic art adequate
to hold 1t until his final exit. Without
player has failed to hold a place in the
constellation reserved for those favored
by nature.
Mr.. Hackett's play is romantic mel
odrama based upon the historical &C
counts OF the thrilling experiences Of
Charles Stuart before he assembled the
throne Of England. to relieve the de-
pressing gloom occasioned by the stern
protectorate of Oliver Cromwell The
future Charles ii, whose wide open
reign shocked even the dispassionate
historians, Is simply a fugitive in this
play, whose royal lineage must appear
to the minds eye, for its outward ha-
oiiiments are necessarily absent. Hence
the necessity for the actors distinc-
ton Of mien, BETTING royalty, IL he
would play a king, and suggest the
monarch.
Mrs. Charles A Doremus and Leon
fdas Westervelt are the dramatists
They have constructed three interest
Ing acts, that possess an atmosphere
IN harmony with the seventeenth CEN
fury in England, but in their fourth and
last act this atmosphere dwindles into
space. 1t represents the seacoast from
nrl4
10 france, IL a ship can be obtained. A
craft Is secured, but no attempt to pro-
duce IL Is made, for which many thanks,
and the flight of England's monarch is
lett TO the imagination. So might the
entire last act; for aught it advantages
a play that can scarcely be finished.
Inc dialogue is sort of admixture
or formal English and modern col
loquialism, to be commended for its
brevity If not for it's wit or philosophy.
The character drawing bears evidence
OF effort, and by that measure lacks
spontaneity. There is the faintest
suggestion of Sir Toby Belch in Col.
william Carlos, q bluff warrior with
a rubicund countenance, Indicative of
fondness for sack. and an assump-
ton OF bravado and a touch of the
sneaking suspicious propensities char
acteristic of the Roundheads, whose
profound religious devotion made the
assassination of royalist a justifiable
sacrifice to Old Ironsides. But other
wise the drama is meager.
It's pest act from literary and SEN
tlmental viewpoint Is the second rem
resentfng a glade on the BoscobeI es-
tate, where Charles is a paroled prison.
er In charge Of Jane Lane, after the
oattle OF Worcester. His identity is
not even remotely suspected by the
young woman. and under the assumed
name OF Henry Jones he conducts COL
ioqules with Jane that amid their pas
toraI surroundings suggest Orlando
and Rosalind's badinage in the forest
of Arden.
Mr.. Hackett's interesting, manly por-
trayal in these scenes is enhanced by
the admirably ingenious impersonation
OF Jane Lane by Miss Charlotte Walker.
literally endowed with personal charm.
musical voice and undeniable apti-
tude for comedy.
This pastoral act Is succeeded after
the next curtain rises by a melodra-
matte clash Of cleaning swords. a
swashbuckling affair, in which the
king makes picturesque escape from
MOP or roundheads through a wall
painting that swings back and closes
again with a hermetical snap that seals
1t forever
The company supporting Mr. Hackett
Is efficient. Peter Lang's portrayal OF
the rotund Col. William Carlos is con-
vincing, James l.. Seeley is satisfac-
tory in the role of Clement Lane. the
cavalier brother of Jane. and the
minor characteriZations show color.
The scenery is picturesque to a de-
gree. Fl. G. III.
On next Thursday night the stage of
the Metropolitan will revel In the antics
of The Tenderfoot," impersonated by
the comedian Richard Garlic 1t was
one of the successful musical produc-
tons of the last season in New York
and Chicago, where 1T held forth 100
and go consecutive nights, respective
ly. The Tenderfoot' has a humorous
and interesting book and a musical
score replete with tuneful melodies.
The company embraces numerous well
known artists, being nearly identical
with the original New York and Chi
cago cast.
Winston Churchilrs play "The Cri-
Sis" with Nannette Comstock. comes to
the Metropolitan Sunday night for
nalf weeks engagement. The play has
been before the public for three years
and is now beginning it's fourth. The
engagement in this city will mark the
first appearance here as a star of Miss
The Fatal Wedding" still continues
TO play to large sized audiences at the
Grand. Pictures of localities well known
in New York and characters are intro
duced that go to make up everyday
life in the great metropolis. The play
Is replete with comedy and abounds
with scenes Of pathos that cannot fail
to bring tears to the eyes of any class
Of audience Gertrude Haynes and her
choir celestial continue to be a feature
or the performance. Baby Keife, Cora
Quinten, Julia Ralph and Nestor Len
non are all favorites with the Grand
patrons. But three more opportunities
remain to witness this performance,
tonight, tomorrow afternoon and night.
"The Factory Girl" Charles f. Bla-
ney's great labor play, will be the at
traction at the Grand next week, COM
mencing Sunday matinee. 1t tells q
story Of a factory girls love and
devotion, teaches a moral lesson in
a popular way. Among the many
scenes are the factory scene with a
vast amount OF ponderous machinery:
the electric dynamo and switchboard:
the great steel plunger and hundreds of
tiny wheels and a maze OF belts; the
mob scene in the first act; the pay day
scene at the factory: the interior of a
county jail; street in the slums: a
courtroom scene and a pretty little