St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-11-11
AMUsEMESTs
Barretts Artistic Performance of
Francesca da Rimini''-"Yorick's
Love- Tonight.


tragedian, and his company, at the Grand
last night, called out the largest, most fash
ioDable and intelligent audience thus far Of
the present successful season. The great
size OF the audience may have been
owing 10 the fame and in
nate ability Of the star. the
novelty Of the drama or the fact that II was
the first appearance Of Mr.. Barrett in St.
Paul for several years, but no doubt the
attendance and enthusiasm may be attrib-
uted justly to all Of these circumstances.
artist was hearty and enthusiastic, but withal
judicious and critical, the compliment being
therefore all the higher.
The opening attraction was francesca da
Rimini," & tragedy in six acts, by the Hon.
Geo. II. Boxer, Of Philadelphia. The latter
is one of the few latter day authors, who has
succeeded in creating a tragedy. In this
drama be has both succeeded in conquering
the difficulties of blank verse, having
lifted the text above the mere
point Of deelanatOry requirements. and
what is still more difficult, he has taken the
material at hand and invented or originated
strong, cohesive and interesting p.o., the
cimaxes and situations being eleverly con-
trived and very effective.
The plot hinges on the efforts Of the two
factions TO bring to an end the bloody and
bitter strife of Guelph and Ghikelin, and the
desired result is sought by a union in mar
rage Of Lanciotto, Of Rimini, 10 the besuti-
full Francesca, OF Ravenna With
the view Of ending the bloody war
the two latter are betrothed, and
Paolo, the gifted and handsome brother OF
the hunehbsek, Is deputed to act as envoy
10 the latter. The seductive out sinister
heart and airs OF Paolc impress Francesca
20 such an extent that she falls in
love with him, being deceived BY her
father into the belief that LauciOttO is the
counterpart OF his brother. As the action
progresses she is made aware Of the cruel
deceit practieed upon her, and when brought
face to face with Lanciotto
she Involuntary sbudders at the
thought of the impending Duptials.
Overcoming her horror, she decides upon
the desperate course Of keeping up the sem
blance OF love. but her deceit and reluctance
TO the union is discovered by the brave
hearted but deformed man who
also shudders at the base manner
Z
At the marriage altar Lanciotto is summoned
to the war and while absent on the field of
battle the treache.5us brother and Francesca
are overheard by Pepe, jester, while max
ing love. The latter has an old
grudge against Lanciotto and seeking 10
aVenge himself be exulungly rushes 10 his
camp, informs him Of the perfdy OF his wife
and brother, and is killed for his pains. The
tragedy ends by the hasty return OF the hus-
band, who takes horse for Rimini, and sur
prising Paolo and Francesca while telling Of
their guilty amours, kills them, aud then
ends his own life.
The role OF Lauciotto, the central character
of the tragedy as taken by Mr.. Barrett, sug
gests al times the character OF Othello and
Richard Ill. II has the soldier-like qualities
and bravery Of the one and the suspicion and
passion of the other, but distnctively
speaking II does not rise TO the
grandeur or intellectual subtlety Of either.
The impersonation of the valiant soldier and
tender but deformed lover, with a crushing
sense of his own infrmity, by Mr.. Barrett,
was consummate in its power and beauty.
The scene In the third act where he discoy-
ers her embarrassment and is let into the
paltry trick played, and where he afterwards
declares his passion with the lines ''there's
no such love-" etc, is remarkable for
Us subdued dramatic force and sweetness.
At the end Of this act he received 4 triple
call. The scene in the last act, which ends
with triple tragedy, was painfully intense
in its realistic force and interest. The char
acter was marked by numerous fine shad-
ings and artistic coloring for which Mr..
Barrett is noted.
The support was excellent, Miss Vain
wright made a tender, beautiful aud loveable
character as Francesca, imparting a girlish
grace and sweetness 10 the role which made
il captivating. Mr.. Mosley made a hand
some and forceable Paolo, the rival brother
Of the hunchback, and next in interest was
the character of the jester taken exceedingly
well by Mr.. James, who imported a grim
humor TO the role.