The Saint Paul globe., 1905-01-02
At st. Paul Theaters

farce genuinely funny, vet entire
ly sane. free from extrayagant improb-
abilities and Senseless horseplay. re-.
piete with witty. lines and acted in the
breezieSt fashion, is "Ti1e Dictator"
presented at the Metropolitan last night
by William Collier and company. In it's
capacity to amuse, to provoke laughter
that needs no apology, it surpasses any
Iarc1cal diet served upon the local stage
fora long, avery long while.
The Dictator is the work of Rich
ard Harding Davis, who has succeeded
IN welding together in three acts a sue
cess1on of predicaments and compIica-i
tlons for his chief characters provoca-
tive OF 1nceSSant merriment The ad-
ventures of the central figure, Brooke
Trayers, and his valet Simpson, who
escape from New York on board
steamer bound for a Central American
port, are set forth in highly amusing
fashion and punctuated with snappy,
smart dialogue. The arrival of Travers,
VINO has run away under the belief
that he is responsible for the death of
a cab driver, at Porto Banos, represent
ing himself as a United States consul,
and the predicament he finds himself
IN Dy reason of recent revolution
tnere, affords scope for irresistibly fun
ny incidents. The satire upon the fre-
quency of revolutions in the hot
headed republics of the tropics is
laugha bic, treated as it is in farcical
style, through the introduction of some
of the fierce and peppery natives of
the country.
Mr.. Collier has a most congenial role
in Brooke Travers. AT least he has
made it appear so. His quiet, easy
methods are far more potent than the
boisterous antics and eXtravagant grim
aces of many comedians whose efforts
to be funny are all too apparent and
therefore not funny. He rarely lifts
his voice above a conversational tone,
his facial expressions are singularly
appropriate and telling and his move
ments Just abrupt and eccentric enough
to accentuate the comical aspect of
every situation. All in ALL Mr.. Collier
IS a farceur of the first quality, whose
lmperSonation never bores, never sur
feits, but rather heightens the fun of
every scene in which he participates.
Mr. Collier is surrounded by COM
pany Of players well adapted to the
roles allotted to them. Charles Jack
son is exceedingly comical in the char
acter of Simpson, alias 'Jim," Travers'
valet, and John Barrymore contributes
quantity dry Characterization of
Charley Hyne, the wireless telegraph
operator. Another excellent, because
convincing, portrayal is that of Col.
John T. Bowie, the real United States
consul at Porto Banos, a genuine ex-
ample of the American genus graft
er," by George Nash. Brigham Royce
furnished a recognizable portrait of the
high-strung, violent tempered Gen.
Santos Compos and Francis Sedgwick
was amusing in the character of the
excitable health officer, DR.. Velasquez.
An admirable impersonation of Sc
nora Juanita Arguilla, the jealous wild
ow, whose dagger commands respect,
was afforded by Louise Allen Her
Spanish-American dialect is the real
thing. Miss Ida Hall impaired true
touch to the affectionate young bride
of Col. Bowie, and Rose Flynn was
adequate in the role of Lucy Sheridan,
the young missionary, who eventually
chooses Brooke Trayers, instead of the
minister, whom her religious associates
had selected for her.
The other roles are all in competent
hands. In consequence the entire per-
formance affords unalloyed delight.
Fl q IT