St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-10-05
AT THE METROPOLITAN.
Miss COghlnn in Oscar Wiide's
New Play.

Miss Rose COghlan and her company
gave an admirable production at the
Metropolitan opera house last nigh; of
"A Woman of No Importance" The
performance itself in every way equaled
that of diplomacy" The stage set.
tings of the play last night were beauti-
full, the first act presenting an exterior
with all the warmth and color of sum-
iDer day, while the second and third
acts were in one scene most gorgeous
interior, representing drawing room
in a fashionable London house. The
tapestries, furniture and all of the APP
pOintmeItS, even to the lamp shades.
were in harmony. The last act showed
plain and refined interior. thoroughly
in keeping with thu nodesty of the
position of the unfortunate Mrs. Ar
buthnot.
Oscar Wilde has endeavored to write
play dealing with the beau monde, and
has been faithful to life in the drawing
of his characters. the plot is not intri-
cate. but mere incident i'll human life.
serious enough to those most concerned,
and common enough as the world goes,
woman who has placed her faith and
honor i'll the keeping of blase man of
the world. who utterly dlsregards the
obligations that should be borne by him.
TO jugele with the weaknesses of con-
tidlng woman and dishonor his sou,
and then at The eleventh hour come
forward to make the amsnde honorable.
this is the treatment Mrs. Arbutlinot
received at the hands of Lord Hing
worth.
The first act is but an Introduction to
the play proper. 1t is replete with
quiet but clever dialogue, just as one is
accustomed to hearing among bright
people. The interest IN the play only
begins about the middle of the second
act. with the entrance of Mrs. Arbuth-
not, and it Is sustained in a subdued
but absorbing manner until the fall of
the final curtain. The scene between
Mrs. Arbuthn0t and her son in the third
act, where She rrciteS the story of her
! life to her son under the guise OF laying
| before him the character of the man
who wishes to make him his private
secretary, was beautifully played by
Miss Coghlan. 1t was full of
womanly feeling and devotion.
and there was not woman
|
culver in her heart at the indirect
| pleading of the mother with her son to
remain with her. Then again the scene
in the last act between Lord Hing
worth and Mrs. ArbuthnUt was power
| full, Miss COghlan rising to the height
of dramatic force. "a Woman of No
Importance is play for Intelligent
and thinking people. 1t is well acted,
there not being a DlemiSh of any kind.
Miss Coghlan, in plain black, presented
a handsome picture. She impressed
everybody that before them stood a suf-
fering woman. She was soft and WON
anly where the requirements of the
scene demanded it, and ON the other
hand displayed remarkable power of
subdued force and emotion, at no time
explosive. but always impressive.
MIR. Sullivan displayed unusual finesse
in his rendering of the part of Lord
lllingworth. He was the cynic, the
ready wit, always prepared with a
remark that was apropos, and at
all times was master of the situation.
loo high praise cannot be bestowed
upon the company. The women were
a feature, Miss Elliott was bright, and
| in looks and movement thoroughly the
fashionable woman Miss Russell made
| typical society woman, and was inter-
esting. Miss Erie was fund of gossip,
and acted cleverly. Miss Burton Was
an American girl who shone among her
surroundings, aud Miss Elsmere looked
pretty and spoke her lines intelligently.
1t would not be possible to bring to-
gether more handsome or better.
| gOwned number Of ladies anywhere.
There was an atmosphere of the draw
ing room about the entire production.
Mr.. Roberts, as hen-pecked old
gentleman, was humorous. 1t was a
character bit of excellence. Mr.. Shan
non, as the deacon. was delightful and
true TO nature. Mr.. Thorpe made a
manly son, and looked well, and Mr..
York was handsome. and played the
part Of typical London swell adinira-
bly,.
"A Woman of No Importance" will
be repeated at the Saturday matinee.
and the theater should be crowded.
'Forget-Me-Not' will be played to-
night, and diplomacy" on Saturday
| ,i,rI,%