St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-09-18
ONE MORE SUCCESS.
"Geoffrey Middleton. Gentle
man." a Play That Is
Original and Strong.
Some More Information About
the Big Harvest Festival
Preparations.
Again Capt. Ness Head Seems
About to Be Cut
Off.
Divorces in the Courts--Notes
From the EXPOSE
ton.

Augustus Pitou's stock company
scored another triumph last night. 1t
was the occasion of the first production
of Miss Martha Morton's new play,
"Geoffrey Middleton, Gentleman" This
is. indeed, new play. 1t is original in
conception and original in construc-
ton. One new feature of it is the ab-
sence Of any character that could, by
any possibility, be called villain. 1t
is a genuine comedy. The humor is
bright and spontaneous. 1t also con-
tanS mixture of emotion. And it is
emotion of the natural sort.
This latest play of Miss Morton's is a
composite character sketch. Every per-
son represented in it is character,
separate and unique. The author is
said to have made the statement that
she had not constructed any dramatic
situations. She has done it unwittingly
then. For some of the situations in this
piece are as dramatic as anything seen
on the stage at the Grand in long
time. But to reuru 10 the play itself
and its claim to originality: The
idea upon which it is founded is
original. There have been plays
in which the leading female
character was made to marry for money.
In Miss Morton's play it is the man who
weds to save his father from financial
ruin. He is high spirited young man,
and his soul revolts. Then, like most men,
he persists in Misunderstanding the
girl he has married. He thinks that
she knows all about why he married her.
Every time she mentions money, no
matter how innocently, he thinks she is
trying to Insult hun. Nothing but q
separation could result. That comes,
but all is made right in the end. That,
i'll brief, is the action of the piece. But
1T does not convey any idea of the
strength of the piece. That can be APP
preciated only by seeing it.
The comedy element is strong and
plentiful. There is the old Californian
who seeks to buy some ancestors after
having bought way into society, or at
least to the doors. Another fresh and
delightfully."- amusing character is that
of the young girl who, emulOus of what
the brother has done to save the father,
resolves to do as much for her mother.
She wants to form matrimonial con-
necti0n with a young man with
the distinct understanding that it
be for commercial reasons only. She is
staggered by the announcement that he
is poor, and expects her to support him
after she has made the proposal. Miss
Morton has been blowing new field,
and has turned up some new treasures.
The play is absorbingly interesting. 1t
was appreciated by the audience. 1t is
of such character that no audience
could get away from its strength. That
was evidenced by the reception it re-
ceived. The applause was never forced.
Nothing could have been more spon-
taneous. The author was called out
after the second act. The worst feature
of the play, and that1s not bad one, is
that the second act is too long. But its
strength makes up for that.
Of the actors, words can scarcely do
them justice. AS usual, Miss Seligman
and Mr.. Wheatcraft have the strong
parts. Miss Seigman was revelation.
She has highly emotional part, and
carries it superUly. Individual praise
is unsatisfactory. The production must
be seen to be understood and appre-
ciated. Every p art is character as
written as character, distinct char
acter, as played.