St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-09-18
DOwNING'S ROLES.
Success Won in - eroic Parts by
Faithful Effort.

The favorite American tragedian,
Robert Downing, will play an engage
ment of three nights and a matinee at
the Metropolitan, supported by strong
company. and with. handsome scenic
effects and magnificent costuming. Mr..
Downing's years of training in the best
plays of the American stage, especially
those of the classical and heroic kind.
are now bearing fruit in fine artistic
interpretations of the great characters
Of that drama. and in the patronage &C
corded to him by the people. Mr..
DOwning's success has been cumulat-
i've, each year bringing him greater
honor and recognition than that which
preceded it. The development of his
art on the lines of his natural genius
has kept steadily in advance of this
popular recognition, and given it justl-
fication. The characteristics of Mr..
Downing's interpretations of the heroic
characters are their broadness of insight
into character, and the romantic inter-
est and human sympathy which per-
Vades and suffuses them, relieving the
bursts of passion, and the exhibition of
imperious strength, with delicate bits
of tenderness and touching scenes OF
pathos.
In other words, Mr.. Downing is not
Rn imitator. While not departing rad
ically from the traditions of the stage,
he does not bllndly follow them, but
makes of his characters new creations.
lie is modern in thought and method.
Monday night Mr.. Downing will play
"Virginius," in which some of his most
substantial honors have been won.
Tuesday night he will appear as
Marc Antony in Shakespeare's Julius
Cesar" a part in which he is considered
unrivalled. For the remaining perform
Rnce. the Wednesday matinee, Lingo
mar" has been selected as the bill, be-
eause it gives both Mr.. Downing and
Eugene Blair opportunity for the best
work. and because also it is a most
popular play with women, on account
Of Its poetical and sympathetic char
acter and the beauty of its language.
Miss Blair is one of the most charming
figures on the stage in the parts which
require the picturing of maidenly inno-
cence and youthful grace. For such
parts she is fitted by voice, face and fig
hre. as well as by her peculiar artistic
genius and her training in playing the
heroineS of the classical drama with all
the great modern actors.
Mr.. DOwning'S company includes
Frederick MOsley, Mark Price, George
Macomber, Florence Erwin, Hattie Col
inns, ~. y. Bangs ana other carefully
trained actors, and numbers twenty-one
people. MIR. Downing explained in
recent interview on stage art that he
does not believe that it is possible for
star. no matter how strong, to give a
satisfactory performance without good
company to support him. Acting Oh
this belief, he has secured this large
and powerful company. For the pro-
duction of the plays he has had pre-
pared scenes representing ancient Rome
which are accurate reproductions of
views of the Eternal City. Some of
these special scenes are very elaborate
and all are handsome and historically
correct. The costumes and accessories
are in keeping with the high character
of the productions in other respects.
That the people appreciate such efforts
to give them good productions of wor-
thy plays no one can doubt who has
heard the record of Mr.. Downing's sue
cessful tour so far this season. There
is every indication that the st. Paul en-
gagement will be in line with those that
have preceded it. Seats and boxes are
now selling at the box office.