St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-05-05
ACHIEVEMENTS.
The Opening Performance of ssFe-
dOra'' Witnessed by u Large
ianH Nlc.al M. n NnfnS

dOra'' Witnessed by u Large
Audience-.Dramat Notes.
Sardou's play of Fedora" was presented
at the Grand last night to a large and fash
ionable audience, with Fanny Davenport in
the title role. The drama of Fedora" is
remarkable for it's subdued dramatic force
and intensity. The methods adopted by
this greatest of modern playwrights are
essentially dramatic and sensational, and
yet the sequence is reached by chain of
incidents so entirely plausible and natural
that the grim tragedy which caps the climax
is received by the auditor with scarcely
shock or extra tension of the nerves.
The plot opens in the apartments of
Count Vladimir in st. Petersburg He is
captain in the cZar's guards, son of the head
of the Russian police, and he is engaged to
marry Fedora. The latter, disturbed at his
absence one morning, calls at his apart
ments, and while waiting her lover is
brought home fatally wounded, having been
found i'll an adjacent villa shot through the
body. An officer arrives and an examine
ton takes place. Suspicion pointing to
Louis Ipanotf. neighbour as the assassin,
a futile effort is'made to place him under
arrest, and the officer returns just in time
to hear the announcement of Valdimir's de-
mise.
The second act introduces the auditor to
the home of the Countess Olga, in Paris
The latter is Russian and is supposed
to be in sympathy with the
nihilists. Fedora is her guest.
Meantime Princess Fedora has met Ipan-
off and he has sworn to avenge the death
of her lover. He processes love to her and
oh ntre, a
dentally speaks OF crime that exiles him
from Russia, at the same time dropping
word that duplicates his brother and
friend. The love of Fedora is now turned
to hate, but assembling her suspicion she
invites him to call at her apartment at mid
night. She then writes to Valdimif's father,
the Russian chief of police, informing him
that Ipanhoff has made declarations impli-
eating dear friend in the murder She
arranges to have Ipanhoff either killed OF
Upon the arrival of Ipanoff
he declares the real story of the murder.
Vladimir, the spendthrift and roue,
had led a life of excess and dis
sipation and having been caught in
company with Ipanoff'S wife, the former
shot him. Letters found on his person dis
closed the fact that he sought Fedora only
for her wealth, his heart being in the pos
session of Ipanoff's wife. Fedora is con-
WINGED, and her sympathy is given to Ipa-
nOff. AS he is about to leave she remembers
the trap set for him, and she persuades him
to remain, even at the risk of her own
honor. In the last act Fedora and Ipanoff
are found happy A short interval elapses
when he receives a letter informing him
that he has been denounced by woman as
the murderer of Vladimir for political mo-
lives, and that his brother and mother had
been cast into prison, the latter dying of
broken heart. Not suspecting the author of
the letter IpanOff threatens her with death
should she be found. Fedora is overcome
with grief, and she seeks to defend the
pleading so earnestly that he
suspects her, and catching her by the throat
she falls on her knees and begs for pity.
Unable to endure his hate, she snatches
from her neck a medallion containing poison
md taking the fatal draught she falls at his
feet dead.
The impersonation of Fedora by Miss
Davenport is characterized by dramatic
power of high order. The role affords
are opportunity for emotional acting,
power in which she excels, and the admira-
Die manner in which she portrays the trying
ole entities her to rank as the complete
mistress of her art. The scenes with Ipan-
IF were given with powerful emotional
strength and fervor, the last act
,eing intensely realistic and forceful.
Her stage presence, voice and gesture are
superb, and the interest in her impersona-
ion is enhanced by intelligent reading and
,leaI enunciation, her toilets also being
appropriate and handsome. Mr.. Lee per-
ormed the role of Ipanotf admirably. He
s a finished actor. and while lacking in
power his character was well rounded and
harmonious. The cast on the whole was
rery capable. The same play tonight and
It the Wednesday matinee.
OTHER ADJUSTMENTS.
The sale of seats for the engagement of !
he Bunch of Keys" company opens at the
,ox Office of the Grand this morning.
Mile. Rhea opens an engagement at the |
Grand next Monday night in arcadia"
She will also present the Power of Love-"
Camille and ''The American Countess"
Fanny Davenport has accepted an invita-
ion to attend the opening performance of |
lie May Festival.
The May musical festival opens to-mor- |
'ow night at the exposition building on
Fourth street. The sale of seats has been
rery large and as half-fare rates have been
made with the railroads centering in st. |
Paul the attendance will be very large.
CAPITOL NOTES.