Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-04-02
M,CULLoUaH,s MAsEEBP1ECE.
Tho Performance Of "vlrginius" at the
Opera House--A Magnificent Dramatic
Treat.

XH0 performance OF "VlrYln1uS" at the
Opera House--A Magnificent Dramatic
Treat.
1t il to be regretted that the Opera House
was not crowded from pit to dome, last even
ing, on the occasion of the first presentation
here of the heroic tragedy of ''Virginius'' by
Mr.. John Mccullough and his excellent compa-
ny. The play is the masterpiece of Sheridan
Knowles; the central character one through
which his name will descend to ages yet un-
born. To say that Mr.. cCullough interpreted
the character with fidelity to the authors text
would be but faint praise. He presented
creation in the broadcast sense of the word.
While he spoke the words written in the play,
he framed character of history far more sub-
lime than that conceived by the writer of the
lines he uttered-a character so noble and ex-
allied that it commanded reverence.
With the plot of the play every reader is
familiar. 1t is intended to depict the noblest
emotion of the human heart-a fathers love
for an only daughter, and his deep solicitude
for hor welfare, coupled with q jealousy for
her honor which drives him to her murder in a
dire emergency consummate dramatic
skill of Mr.. Mccullough was well delineated
in every stage of the performance. The reve-
lation of her love for his true and trusty friend
Icilius was his first realization that she had
been transformed from childhood to woman
reserve, the natural feeling of parent-a
scarcely perceptible consciousness that great
loss had been sustained-was most effectualiy
depicted in the play of the actors features.
When he received the news that she had been
dragged through the streets of Rome as the
slave of Claudius his fury amounted almost to
the terrible, not for its vociferousness, for in
nothing does Mr.. Mccullough tear passion to
tatters, but for the calm resolution, the fear
full earnestness, conveyed in his words and
actions restrained passion, burning deep
into the soul. Before the tribune he was elo-
quent, passionate, yet controlled, and the play
Of his features was the acme of excellence.
afterwards plunges into his daughters breast
to save her honor, he displays piece of act
ing that has seldom been seen upon the stage.
In his look he conveys every emotion that could
be suggested to an audience-frst the horrible
suggestion that that might afford relief; then
such decd, and finally tho desperation
that results in father plunging knife
into his beloved daughters breast when
al expedients for delay have failed. Nothing
grander has ever been depicted upon the stage
to our mind nothing more intensely humln
and heroic could be presented. In the Last act,
when reason has been dethroned, and the great
Roman soldier is maniac, there is no abate
ment of the mastery manner in which the
theme is handled. In every sentence in every
information Of the voice, in every expression Of
the face he displays the artist-the actor of
power and genius. It was finished perform
ance throughout-a massive, noble personatlon
of one of the grandest characters that graces
the pages of the modern drama. 1t was in
spring in its nobility, touching in it's tender
ness, terrible in its earnestness and affecting
in its pathos. So mastery performance 1t
has never been the fortune Of st. Paul audi.
ence to witness.
Miss stockman as Virginia played her Tart
we'll. She displayed many of the instincts OF
superior actress: While her performance was
not above criticism, it was symmetrical and
faithful. As Appius Mr.. Langdon was good
He spoke his lines with rae discrimination
and attention; was accurate and punctilious t.
fault. Mr.. Lane made an excellent Icilius
The rest of the characters were far above tn,
average, and as whole the play passed of
without a hitch. 1t is only to be regretted tina
! so faw Of our citizens awaited themselves Of tn
privilege of witnessing so grand perform
| ance.
Tonight the company will play at Minneap
oils, and return on Friday. when King Lear
one of Mr.. McCullough's greatest parts, will b.
presented.