St. Paul daily globe., 1893-05-23
THE LOCAL STAGE.

JANAUsCHEK IN THE EARL OF ESSEX"
In her own translation of the Earl of
E ssex'' for the English stage, Nine. Janau
schek gave brilliant representation at the
Metropolitan last evening. The play is
tragic pen picture by the greatest of German
poets and writers, Schiller. and its historical
incidents, scenes and features are as close to
the line of truth as any dramatic writer has
ever dared to venture, and still make the
play of sufficient interest to mold the atten-
ton of the audience. The story is remark
able and grand in its delineations of the
naughty spirit and pride that swayed impe-
rious Queen Elizabeth and the unfortunate
Earl of Essex, and at the same time show ing
the force of the uncomfortable passion of
love. even when awakened Ill the breast of
royalty. Another prominent phase of the
human race which will assert itself when
touched be it ever SO lightly, that is brought
prominently to the fore in all the actions of
the play is the jealousy displayed by the
ministry of the queen at the ascendancy ac-
ouired by the Earl of Essex. AS the details
of the story deal with history, whish isnone
too clearly defined, the version presented
must and is accepted as correct and skele
tonized tells this tale:
Elizabeths minister's, Jealous of the as
cendancy acquired by Essex, prefer a charge
of treason against him. The proud earl dis
dams to coin his cheeks to smiles" and as
ever between proud lovers, quarrels and en-
strangement follows The Vaccinations of
Lord Burleigh and the other ministers are
discovered by the queen, who orders Essex
brought before her. The secret marriage of
Essex and Lady Rutland is not at first known
to the queen, yet she dimfy suspects an un
derstanding between them. Essex again
i,,fo tIo In f11rn
accusers and defies tham to the death. In
time the jealous and hottie AIDED queen
pours out the dark storm cloud within her.
Essex, with sublime audacity and excite
ment, declares war against her
In the battle which ensues he is captured
with the Earl of Southampton, and for the
third time brought into the royal presence,
prisoner but not supplicant for mercy.
He is condemned to die upon the scaffold,
and before his eyes his royal love signs his
death warrant. knowledge of these thick
succeeding events drives Lady Rutland mad.
Lady Nottingham, whose hatred of Essex has
assisted his prosecutors, repents, and nobly
endeavors to secure his pardon. She is sue
cessful in her interview with the queen. but
in the tower the ring worn by the earl. which
Lady Nottingham was to return as token of
reconciliation from the earl, is I'M
availing because of the treachery of
his ministerial jailers. The ring is
given to Lady Nottingham, not as a
ransom, but that the queen may know Essex
thought of her during his last moments In
this the dramitazation is historically inaccnr-
ate, as Lady Nottingham retains the ring
and confesses her disloyalty on her death
bed. The play is replete with lofty touches
of heroism and self-abnegatton. The frey
temper of the arrogant Elizabeth is conspicu-
ously portrayed. Her various qualities of
head and heart are all naturally blended in
Schillers pen portrait. Her frmness, her
jealousy. her susplciousness her unbending
pride, her weaknesses are all paraded. 1t
differs from all other dramitizations in that
| it does uot attempt to comprehend too much
and thereby impede the action and blur the
| characters. Each Is living, interested and
| interesting figure in that stirring period of
| English history in the Seventeenth century.
| c 1t is gratifying TO render all praise to Nine.
| Janausehek. 1t would be difficult to say in
| what scenes of her arduous role Nine.
Janauschek displayed the greatest art. He T
| denunciation OF Essex was very grand; her
| whimsical and complacent mood when Sir
| James ''scolded" her was indescribably
clever and womanly, ,and her passionate Q
doubts and imperious commanding were
| grandly effective.
Edmund Collier as the Earl of Essex
stirred the audience when he turned upon
the assailants Of his character. He at
tanned his climax with great power, and the
audience burst forth in instantaneous ap-
plause.
49,
Jacob Lift has from the evidences shown
redeemed his promise in every way to give
us an excellent company this summer, tor
although the demands Of "Uncle Toms
Cabin" do not afford those in the cast an op-
portunity to display their real strength, il
can be seen that a series of enjoyable per-
| formances is in store for amusement seekers
this summer. 1t seems almost invidious to
single out any one Of a cast so uniformly