The evening world., 1893-11-07
OLAF

"oLAF."
A highly romantic and s~ensauonAlly
arranged love-dramA Is OLAF pro
duced for the hrs; time in this country
by Messrs. Carl and Theodor Rosen-
field at Niblo's Garden las; night. ]; Is
the work OF the late Roderlck Fels,
who was also a Resented. and II has
been lone into English by Messrs.
Frankenste.n and O::Jleasul. both o.
whom are doctors o. something o. other.
A. the opening Of this play a dreaitI.
!iea alarms You. You believe that YOU
are going TO FOUNDER around in a sea
Of o!d-fash!Cned teciama:ions servAi Up
hot with a sauce OF Good my l!egs,'
and all that sort OF thing. Not So.
olaf becomes an exceedingly cohe-
rent, terse and admirable human drama,
,he action q which is restricted 70 some
three or four. The story Is told in a
legitimate and dignihed manner with
none OF the trivialit!es SO popular WIKI
the school OF today. and there are
many palpitating moments when this
theatrical offering is crowned with the
theatres highest laurels-the laurels OF
subdued and engrossed attention.
olaf" woul be more comfortably
situated were II at a theatre such as
the Fifth Avenue. The little gallery
boys at Siblo's are most provoking
urchtns. They will laugh at the wrong
time. You are always on pins and
needles. expecting them to ruin a pa
thetic moment by calling out: Catch
on to his nibs.' They would Just as
gnnn r1akA Ulrh nm Arrla aftnn aa
not. And you can't help remembering
that when Ola Is eating his heart for
love OF Thora. these boys are eating
their peanuts for love OF something to
eat.
The story OF OLAF 10 charming.
II reminds you OF the tales that begin
with Ones pon a time there lived
a princess" and end with And they
lived happily ever afterwards" King
Marbod is the father OF a son whom
he does not know. He had mall
treated the mother, and the baby had
been taken away. He reigns defiantly.
and he has made the lovely Thora his
heiress. Thora, while passing through
the forest, was attacked by a wild boar,
and rescued from death by Olaf. Olaf
instantly falls in love with her. and
dares to kiss her. She Is naughty,
after the style OF oli-fashioned prin-
Cesses. and she rebukes him caustically.
He is taken into the service of Marbod,
and Rita Thora's maid. leads him TO
believe that her mistress Is in love
with linn. He penetrates to her apart
ments. and surprises her at the dead
of night, believing that she has sent
for him. Thora arouses the household
and demands that Olaf be beaten to
death.
Then comes the real drama Olaf Of
fers his life for the privilege OF being
Thora's husband for one day. The next
scene Is In the bridal chamber where
Olaf is insulted and spurned by the
newly made wife. This is the most
startling scene in the drama. She drives
him away from her, but discovers that
Rita loves him, and sends her to save
him. Olaf prefers death to the love OF
another. and when Thora hears this her
hatred is turned to love. and all ends
well. For Olaf. OF course, Is the Kings
long-lost son.
The translation OF the play is weak
in spots. When Rita, hearing that
Thora hates Olaf. exclaims, Then save
'H' VI AiSb aic VIC bIIllltS-lOI
Rita might be speaking of a mutton
chop. There are other instances OF
bathos, for which the duet OF doctors is
responsible.
Miss Minnie Seligman played the role
OF Thora- and rather overdid It Her In
tensity. while at times admirable, was
at other times unnecessary. No actress
can keep the fire perpetually burning,
and Miss Seligman's outbursts would
have been more effective had there been
contrasts. She threw herself all over the
stage. and almost tore her wig. She is
and perhaps the best interpreter OF such
par~ts-excepting Miss Julia Arthur-be.
, fore the pulic to-day. 1t Is always a
pleasure to watch her. The role OF Olaf
was intrusted to Mr. halberg, who was a
trife finnicky. He certainly did not look
the gallant Olaf. his makeup strongly
suggesting that OF Miss Beatrice Came.
ron. Charles Hanford was a noisy ole
King. n Miss Ellen Burg a very con.
scientious Rita. Miss Burg did excel.
lent work, and she was not suffering
from an excess OF timidity. Other pic
lures were tremendously sketched by
George Fawcett. Werner Charges, Gil
more Scott and Miss Sara Neville.
"Olaf" Ia splendidly staged. and its ca.
reer should be eminently prosperous.
ALAN DALE.