St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-06-03
THE LOCAL STAGE.

Metropolitan opera house i'll role new to
ST. Paul. twas the initial perfo rmance here
of her new play The Social SWIM" The
play is founded on the French of Victorien
Sardou, and is by Clyde Fitch, the author of
"A Modern Matcb.'' 1t opens in an old
fashioned house in Tompkins square, New
York, the home of Mr.. Burton, an old-time
retail dry goods dealer. whose ideas and ways
are those of half a century ago. Living with
him are his nephew and niece. William Bur-
ton Smith and his wife Helen. who have been
married about five years, and have both be-
come dissatisfied with their humdrum and
somewhat musty surroundings. Helen has
become flied with social ambitions. while
her husband, who has been fortunate
in Wall street, has determined to
leave the dry goods business, and
devote his entire time and energies to
manipulating the stock market On the day
OF the anniversary of their marriage he has,
as q surprise for her. bought and furnished a
swell house on Fifth avenue, but when they
try to tell old Burton of their determination
to leave his home he declines to listen
to them. AS last resort they write
him letter and CO. Burton's discovery of 4
their departure forms the close of the first
act The second act shows reception room 4
at u ill and Helen's new house. with Helen's /
first grand ball in progress. While she has
at last become recognized as a social leader
Will has been far less fortunate; specula-
ton after speculation has gone wrong, until
at last be is utterly ruined, but determines
to keep the news from his wife
until after the ball. During its progress a
rich and dissipated young rake named Stur-
tevaut made love to Helen, who repulses
him. Sturtevant expresses contriton. and
hor Io fha hnyH
of her forgiveness At the close of this act
Will learns of his own and Helen's absolute
ruin. Helen also learns the truth. but by
assuming brave front she conceals from
her guests her husbands agony, and tenn
porarily deceives them. The third act occurs
in her morning room an hour or two later.
Helen hears of Sturtevants presence IN the
house. and sends for him. thinking that
possibly he may furnish the money to
tide over their difficulties. Sturtevant enters
while slightly intoxicated. but Helen does
not at first perceive this. When she becomes
aware of his condition she indignantly Or
ders him TO leave her; but he locks the only
door and refuses to go. Fearing to summon
her husband, who already has expressed
jealousy of Sturtevant, Helen asks him If he
would not Ike d potion 10 brace his nerves.
On his asserting she gives HIM few drops
of powerful sedative that had been pre-
scribed for her. While her back is turned
Sturtevant sezes the bottle and drains it to
the last drop, and i'll few seconds falls, ap
parently dead. at this moment Will knocks
at the door and demands admttance, and
Helen after hastily drawing a couch
and chair before the body. admits him.
Believing Sturtevant TO be there. and not
seeing him. Will is about to pass into Helen's
l. III
would lead him past the body, but Helen
stops him by giving him her word that
Sturtevant is not in the next room. viii
leaves, and Helen, hastily snatch!ng cloak.
starts to find Mr.. Burton, the only person to
whom she can turn in her distress. The last
act shows Helen and Will back in their old
home. Burton has come to the aid of Will
in his financial ruin, helped him to meet his
obligations, and taken him back into the
partnership in the old dry goods firm. Sturte-
want has recovered from the overdose and
gone away. and Helen and Will are cured of
their follies. The moral of the play is an
excellent one for these days of restless dis
satisfaction and perpetual striving for an
elusive goal.
The play is exceedingly clever in many
respects. and, after rather uninteresting
opening, grows in strength and interest to
the end, and furnishes in the character of
Helen an opportunity for Miss Wainwright
to display at once the exceeding delicacy and
intensity of her powers.
Undoubtedly the strongest scene in the
play is that in the morning room, when
Sturtevant takes the draught from the NOR
phia flask. 1t is adapted almost in its en-
tirety from Sardou and is most intense and
powerful, and in it Miss Wainwright
achieved her success of the evening, portray
ing to perfection the shock and horror true
woman would feel under such circumstances,
her thoughts at once turning to her husband,
this being the one thing lacking to complete
his burden of troubles and sorrow.
The Richard Burton. Uncle Dick, Of
Percy Brooke was strong and finished
piece of acting, his discovery of the depart
ure of Will and Helen from the old home
making pathetic and affecting close to the
first act. The usual number of supporting
characters are borne along on the plot OF the
play, that of Mrs. Royce-Jones, a gay and
dashing society widow excellently taken by
Miss Carey being particularly bright piece
of work. The usual couple of youthful
lovers was not wanting. and their parts were
capably filed by Miss Blancke and Edward
Elsner William Ingersoll and Nathaniel
William Burton Smith and Guy Sturtevant.
The remaining members of the cast filed
their parts very acceptably. Tonight, las
You Like It." with Miss Wainwright as Rosa
lind.
49,
r. E. Graham closes his engagement with
Larry the Lord at the Grand with mat
inee today and tonight's performance This
will be the last combination to be seen at this
theater for ten weeks.
~
Tomorrow night will witness the formal
opening of the summer stock season at the
Grand which is to be inaugurated by Jacob
Lifts players with "Pique." The summer
seasons of the past two years have been pro-
life in good performances. and there is every
reason 10 believe that this years company
will even Guido those of past years. as Mr..
Lift certainly announces strong list OF peo-
pie. Carrie Turner, his leading lady, who
will be seen for the first time tomorrow night,
is certainlya charming actress, and will make
her strong personality felt in the various
plays presented. OF late years Miss Turner
has appeared almost continuously in New
York. and she has a record of having created
most successfully number of leading female |
roles in the latter day metropolitan successes.
Mr.. Lift will mount all of his plays with the
same finished detail that has always charac- |
terized his productions. and this will be an
especial feature in next weeks presentation
of ''Pique," which will be staged with en- |
n