St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-04-12
A TEMPLE OF THESPIS.
Steele Mackaye's Magnificent New
Observation-Disclosures Decorations
and Perfect Stage Mechanism.
Some of the Ups and Downs of the
Founder-His Madison Square
Trouble.
Che Distinguished Guests Present at the
Dinner Given TO the Great English
Actor.
! New Picture of President Cleveland-Walt
Whitman's Verses on Grant-Gotham
Gossip.

New YORK, April g. At the close of the
first performance in the Lyceum theater last
Monday evening Mr.. Steele Mackaye, the
founder and director of this new and beauti-
full house, came upon the stage and made a
characteristic speech. He let out his feel
ings, so to speak, for the benefit of the audi
ence He declared that he had been "swin-
dled'' out of his rights long enough and adj
ded that the Lyceum would not tolerate
'goody-goodyism or vulgarity." These can
did and unexpected remarks were directed
against the Messrs. Mallory, who, in associa-
ton with Mr.. Mackaye. established the Madi-
son Square theater. Mr.. Mackaye's partner
ship with the Mallorys, it is well known, did
not last long, and the feeling between them
has since been extremely bitter. Mr. Mack
aye has never hestated to affirm that ne was
''swindled" by the Mallorys, whereas these
gentlemen regard Mr. Mackaye as ''crank'
who is bound to quarrel sooner or later with
his best friends Whether Mr.. Mackaye is
right, or whether the Mallorys are right, l
don't pretend to know. The Mallorys are
estimable and agreeable men, and they have
conducted the Madison Square theater with
INTELLIGENCE AND HIGH SPIRIT;
and Mr. Mackaye is a very able aud a very
Mr. Mackaye was not wise in his speech on
Monday night. Self-repression would have
been better than self-eXpression. Besides,
general audience cares little for the quar-
rels of managers. Only few persons
actors, old theater-goers and critics-under-
stood the point of Mr.. Mackaye's remarks.
OF Mackaye personally can speak cordially.
His quick temper springs from good heart
He is a warm friend and a vigorous hater.
He is unquestionably man of robust brains
and immense energy. His mind is essen
tally inventive, suggestive, scheming. Dur
ing the last few years he has gone through
all sorts of ups and downs. After he left
the Madison Square theatcr he was for months
in the worst plights of poverty; this, too, in
face of the fact that he had written the most
successful drama Of the day, Hazel Kirke, y
and invented
TIE ADMIRABLE DOUBLE STAGE.
He could not stay poor or quiet long. He
invented a new theater chair, which is used
quite generally now. Then he took hold of
an ambitious scheme for the building of a
theater with the school OF acting attached to
it. He was laughed at of course. But the
Iyceum school is to-day an actual thing
while the Lyceum theater has an important
future before it. It will be admitted, there
fore, that Mr.. Mackaye has accom- shed his
objects. If he can find good plays for his
theater the Lyceum will soon be famous
The architectural arrangements, the deco
rations and the mechanism Of the Lyceum
theater are as perfect as they could be- Much
has been said about the 'elaborateness' of
the decorations; but they are elaborate only
in the sense of being artistically complex
The whole effect is rich and simple and illus
trates
CLEAR AND ELEGANT DESIGN.
The house is small, having a seating ca
pacity for less than one thousand persons.
That part of the house behind the procenium
is a marvel Of ingenius structure. The stage,
for example, is composed entirely of small
wood blocks aud can be tipped in any direc-
ton. The musicians occupy a position
which is covered upon the front of the stage
between acts When an act begins, there
fore, the musicians disappear suddenly. This
transformation, which is very striking, is
effected behind two curtains that glide later
ally across the stage. The beauty and nov
city of Mr.. Mackaye's theater were observed
with intense interest at the opening by
THE MOST BRILLIANT AUDIENCE
that have seen in New York this winter.
Everybody that could be presentw was present.
The spacious and comfortable balcony was
filled with a handsomely dressed throng of
well-known men and women, and one might
have believed himself at popular reception.
There was
A BURST OF ADMIRATION
when the first scene-a charming Breton
laudscape-was displayed. The effect of this
scene, which was lovely in tselfas piece of
stage painting was greatly heightened by the
sun-lille glow of electric lamps and huge,
square, gold frame which outlined the picture
sharply. The play, as you know, was Mr.
Steele Mackaye's "Dakolar," another'version
OF the story told in Lady Clare yet it is
less simple and correct, and considerably
more extravagant 1t is hard to understand
how the events that happen in "Dakolar"
could happen; the characters show no intel
ligence in their dealings with one another,
and it is felt that the author makes them do
arbitrarily what they DO. But the situations
are clever and the action picturesque. To the
last scene fifty or sixty pupils from the
Lyceum school form a wcl-trained and stir
ring mob. Mr. Robert Mantel and Miss
Sadie Martinez act with much skin in
'Dakolar" MIR Mante has unusual force
and passion, though he likes to below now
and then. Miss Martinez is very graceful
and sprightly. Some OF the acting in "Da-
kolar' is
NOT As GOOD As IT OUGHT BE.
Miss Rose Coghan, the leading actress at
Wallack's theater, has been ambitious for a
long time to give up her large salary and try
her fortune as ''star" Miss Cochlan does
not seem to appreciate the fact that the STAR
system is gradually going out of fashion,
whereas stock companies are coming into
fashion again. II is the conviction of
many shrcwd observers that each large city
in the United States will soon have its own
special company, competent enough to pre-
sent any play, and to assist any distinguished
actor. This is Il contamination devoutedly
to bc wished. The system now in vogue
creates stars" who'arc 10y no means remark
ably good actors. Miss Coghlan was not
born "star," though she may by persistent
effort turn herself into one. Yet that is
doubtful. She has, however, a
COOP DEAL OF SURROUNDINGS.
She bought not long ago play entitled
"Our Joan, r." written by Herman c. Meri-
vale the author Of "Forget-me-uot" aud
his wife, who Is known rs Cecil Dale. This
play was produced Tuesday night at Wal
lacks, with Miss Coghlau In the only part
that has any weight in it. ''Our Joar" is
not bad play, and that is about the best
thing we can say of il. Ii begins vigorously,
runs into a weak second act aud ends in 4
still weaker last act. The character of Joan
IS an old fricnd-the virtuous rustic maiden
who is determined to find vast amount OF
yILLNNY N EVERY MAN SHE MEETS.
This play is built on sbSurdities, and, in
spite Of its many bright merits, adds nothing
to the stage. BUTT is done very well at
Walhcks aud the final scene, showing s.
boat tossing on the sea under the glare Of an
electric light is meloiramatic and striking.
Miss Coghlan acts with heartinesS sud intel
hgence, aud {, is possible that she will please