St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-10-17
AT THE THEATERS.

tragedy, 'Ruy Bias" was enacted by
Alexander Savini and his company at
the Metropolitan opera house last even-
ing. This drama is entirely worthy Of
the superb genius of Hugo. 1t is sur
passing revelation of power and poetry
united. 1t IS boldly eXtrayasant, but
that extravaganza does not mar the
achievement, for it is the product of an
Imagination so rich aud lofty, Il geuius
so profound and brilliant. that the Gre
alton inspires mind and heart with adj
miraliun and enthusiasm. No lesser
light than Hugo could have illumnat-
ed such material. A Iackey made a
lord by his designing master, and aft
erwardS a prime minister, and thus
given an opportunity to touch the hand
OF his queen whom. as hap!eSs, hope
less, obscure lad he had loved with pitt
iful despair-what subject for serious
representation! The ordinary dramatist
might attempt it. but the result would
be a burlesque-pe perhaps a good one
but nothing higher. In the hands of
Hugo it becomes drama. breathing the
spirit of exalted love. or, to quote the
language of the play. 1.-THE love that
poets sing of" drama pregnant with
beautiful. noble sentiments, powerful
emotions, picturesque situations, thrill
ing climaXes.
"Ruy Bias" is seldom played in this
country nowadays. During the last
quarter Of century two great actors
| did much TO spread its fame this side of
the water. They were Charles Fechter
| and Edwin Booth. whose approximations
| of Ruy Bias left lasting impressions
upon all who witnessed them. 1t can
| hot be said that the play ever attained
popularity here. Its denouement is too
| tragic, its intrigue too devilSh,its treat.
ment too poetic to catch the popular
| fancy. 1t is ''cayiare 10 the general"
us today who can heighten his
own fame by his performance of
Ruy Bias. it is undaniably Alexander
| Saiyini. Mr.. Salyini played this role
last evening with the power of an en-:
thusiast i'll complete sympathy with the
] unfortunate character, and completely
| comprehending it. it was evident that
| the actor loved the character, and
| sought to throw his whole soul into 1t.
| Such performances are always interest
! ing, and, if controlled by intelligent
| luOuStll anu liittb hCCH pOfSCptpD anu
| taste which prompt him to "O'erStep
not the mOdesty of NATURE" they
are deeply impressive. Mr. Salyini pos
SesSeS these mental qualities necessary
to hold the artist within proper bounds.
| His work is therefore symmetrical, con-
sistent and effective. Judging Mr..
Salvni by the side of all Anglo-Saxon
player, one might find him too demon
strative at times, too violently impul-
sive, too much given to those little
starts and gasps, futterings of the eye
lids. rolling of the eyes and other seem.
ing atfectatIOnS. 1t is doubtful, how
ever, ii such a Judgment would be just.
What many people wonld rightly call
"atfectations" in all American or En-
glish actor would not be such in a
French, Spanish or Italian artist. Their
natures are more impulsive, and their
manner of revealing emotions is Ger
tainly far more demOnstrative. Salvinl.
like his great father. is essentially a
pantomimic, picturesque actor, though
not sucha master of pantomme
as his illuStriOuS sire. Much, there
fore, of Saivini'S SpaSmodic action
and elaborate gesture and facial
eXpresSiOn-is not affectation in hint
is simply his natural mode of express
ing varied emotions. 1t might be said,
however, that the most powerful emo
tons are sometimes most wildly eX-
pressed by depressing them, or rather
by the effort 10 suppress them. Mr.. Sal
| VIM will cultivate this canon of his al
as he natures in his profession. Last
night he especially distinguished him
self in two sceneS-that with the queen
in the council chamber, when he learns
that his love Is reciprocated. and in the
final scene, in which, in frenzy of hate
and despair, he kills his master, the
prosecutor of himself and the queen
Here MIR. Salvlni received an ovation
: that interrupted the progress of the
play for at least sixty seconds.
The supporting company was more
satisfactory than it was in 1.-The Three
. Guardsmen." William Redmund played
the rowing vagabond. Don Caesar. de
Bazan, capitally, and received mucl
merited applause. The Don Saliuste oi
Elmer Delameter was most credtabi.
, performance. MIR. Delameter spoke tbt
: lines with effective emphasis aho
| force. Ben johnson contributed
an excellent character sketch ia The
| role of the Count of Alba. Eleanor
Moretti'S queen IN this play was mucl
more satisfactory characterization than
her queen in 1.-The Three Guardsmen..'
, There was less evolutionary embellisii
ment, and more earnest, sympathetic
| L
miraUle duenna to the queen.
Tonight Mr.. Salvini will appear a.
Don Caesar tie BaZan in ID Ennery's 70
mantle drama of that name.
Ward and VokeS, at present playing
the two leading roles in "A Run On TIT
2 Bank" at the Grand, will Thursda,
5 night introduce novel specially Inti-
: tied 1.-The Amateur Circus" All of tn,
ladies and gentlemen of the compan,
will take part in this novelty Mis-.
Caldwell has written a descriptive song
and each verse OF it aIludes TO one o
3 the performers in the Circus" Th,
. management of the Grand announc,
t the coming production of Walter San
ford's famous melodrama. zine PoMe
of Gold" opening weeks engagement
next Sun day. The cast presenting tn,
: play is Il Superior one. and the scenic
: embellishments far above the avera se
t -
e The sale of seats for" laddin Jr"wil
begin at the DoX Office Of TIE Metro
politan opera house at o'clock toner
row morning. The orders already re
ceived by mail have been placed on fill
to be filled in regular order after the sal
J opens. The prices will be the same a
| for "Sinbad" last season. IL takes nins
, cars to transport ALADDIN Jr." rrui,
Chicago To ST. Paul. This biggest
brightest. most gorgeous and jolIies
spectacle ever presented by the Amer
lean Extravaganza company will b.
presented on the Metropolitan stag
= exactly as 1t is presented at the Chicax,
Z opera house.