St. Paul daily globe., 1891-01-11
FOYER AND FOOTLIGHT.

Next week, at the Metropolitan opera
house, Bronson Howard's greatest triumph,
shenandoah will be given its initial per-
formance. 1t comes here fresh from its sec
ond great New York run, where it has been
received enthusiastically. and been seen and
patted and applauded by Gen. W. T. Sher-
man, and will be presented here with the
exact original New York cast. scenery. effects
and hundred auxiliaries. Bronson Howard,
who is also the author of Henrietta, " 1.-THE
Bankers Daughter" Young Mrs. Win
throp,n has, in Shenandoah, - achieved the
triumph OF his career The play does not treat
with the horrors of war aud such TRACE
dies as are inseparable from its story, Is not
gruesome and unpleasant. The first act
closes with the sound of the first gun fired
in the bombardment of Fort Sumter. In the
second and third acts the incidents are
placed to occur in the Shenandoah valley in
1864, while-the last aet is laid in Washing
ton after the surrender Of the Southern
armies.
In the play Mr.. Howard has contrived to
dramatize story of the late civil war with
out Introducing any incident that might
justly wound the sensiDilities of either
Northerner or Southerner. 1t is de-
scribed as a comedy, with threads
OF romance running through 1t. The
care with which Mr.. Howard has done all
his work, the delicate treatment which he
has given the subjects readily inviting the
force of exaggeratioli, aud the fine dramatic
instinct which enabled him to invest his
plays with realism. with a series of stage sue
cfsses, seem to entitle him to consideration
among our American dramatists.
THE story of the play is one of the brighter
threads running through the somber woof of
tie civil war; There is a dash and spirit to it
that holds the interest from beginning to
efd The audience laughs, often immoder-
ately, and then again the more susceptible to
pathetic scenes are moved to tears. There
are climaxes that burst forth in spirit of
PATRIOTISM and true devotion, awakening
the deepest admiration in the auditor
Whose heart responds to the inspir-
ing call of noble sentiments. Pathos
Z and comedy run hand in hand. The heart
is thrilled with noble sympathy. and ones
whole being is wrought up 10 nigh pitch,
.When, like the cooling breeze in the summer
sIin, comes shower of comedy that carries
the audience away in the most happy and
pleasant thoughts, while they laugh with re-
doubled energy, and the tear-stained eyes
sparkle anew with merriment.
1t is this wonderful interlacing of the
pathetic the patriotic and the humorous that
makes the production literary gem. worthy
of the highest honor. No one is starred in
the cast now presenting the play, but every
member OF the company has been selected
with an especial view to his or her fitness for
their respective roles, and it is the original
home company that played the first produc-
ton at the Star theater, New York, ana now
comes direct from New York from its second
great run thee.
II
Vaudeville Of high order will engage the
attention and win the plaudits of the many
patrons of the Harris lhea,er this week, as
Nelson's Great World combination opens
there tomorrow night. This organization is
one CT the few whseh aim to lift variety work
above the plane nf the mere concert hall, and
exhibit its delightful quality to those who
Paronize only first-class houses. In con-
t9rn,ity with that design. the olio is contr