St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-04-01
AT THE THEATERs.

Alabama" that simple, sweet Sc
rene, beautiful picture of love and pur-
| ity, warmed the hearts of those who
witnessed its performance at the Met
| ropolitan opera house last night. "Ala-
bama" is a sermon-in poetry-a lesson
| in love, an centre and perfect chrys-
olite" of all that is tender, gentle and
honest in human character. 1t sounds
| those harmonious chords of nature
| that make 1.-THE whole world kim It's
music, like that which charmed the ear
| of Orsino, is 1.-The food of love-, Its
| only discords, like those of the finest
chorales, but serve to enrich the har-'
monies that follow. 1t is tribute to
! the best impulses of the human heart.
| 1t should live, with other honest Plays
/ for the vindication of the stage against
| the attacks of it's narrow and intoler-
ant prosecutors, for it inculcates more
| real religion and virtue than emanate
from some pulpits. It's teachings may
| not be couched in the magnificent Ian
| guage of a Shakespeare, it's wisdom
and philosophy may be faint compared
with that of Hamlet" Macbeth"
Lear" and ''Faust"-all great dra-
matte sermons-but it's truth and sim
| plicity elevate it to a lofty plane, from
which it's soft and warming rays of
| pure light may shine upon the hearts
of it's beholders.
| There is no cheap theatricalism in
Alabama" 1t steers clear of the
| shoals of sensationalism, and moves
softly down the stream of sentiment
No rude noise, no violence of action dis
| turb the placidity. 1t is a peaceful
dream, an idyll, a delicious memory
and yet real and vital.
Perhaps its peaceful, placid character
might be said TO lay it open to the
charge of failing to present an actual
condition of human life in any part of
| the world, but because men sometimes
| fight duels and lynch negroes in the
| South, it does not follow that such cpl
| sodes should be introduced in this play
| to make it natural and realistic"
| Alabama" is a convincing Illustration
of what can be accomplished upon the
dramatic stage without resort to boist-
erous defamation and vehement ac-
ton. Yet it has it's climaxes, and at
tains them effectively. The close of the
second act, in which old Col Preston
dashes a glassful of water into the
/
a noble woman, is the only example of
violent action in the play, and that is
far from cheap sensationalism, for it
seems to follow as natural conse-
quence of the insult
| The "reminiscences of the civil war
constitute another charm of the play,
they are presented SO naturally and
under such poetic surroundings
| Nathinor RI he CIT
and pathos of the scenes that take
place at the ruined gateway, bathed
in the soft light of a Southern moon
can be found in any American play.
They appeal to every heart, because
| they are revealed in the language of
the heart.
In viewing the play we are not SO
apt as with other dramas to pause and
| measure the actors. Ii they are in
telligent and seem to partake of the
spirit of Alabama we are satisfied.
1.-The plays the thing after all. and
if it is satisfactorily presented in the
main, and it charms us as this play
does, why criticise the actors with a
carping pen or tongue?
The present company is satisfactory
beyond doubt. We could not ask
| lOL d tiIlSI pUI Il VI Olu OOt. 1I6S-
! ton, whose memories of the war that
robbed him of all are realities, than
that given by Frank C. Bangs. 1t
was picturesque, tender and chival-
rous. Mr.. Bangs is a most excellent
actor, an artist whose long experience
in the highest walks of the drama has
ripened exceptional histrionic talent.
Clement cambridge contributed a
digniffed. well considered impefso on
atom of Capt. Davenport, the chief
characteristic of which was it's good
taste. George B. Miller was very hap
Ply in the role of Col. Moberly, and
| Bingley Fales was eminently salts
factory as Mr.. Armstrong, playing the
! role with an unaffected manliness, and
spontane3ty quite refreshing.
Ethel Irving impaired the true spirit
to the role of Carrie Preston, the in
nocent, tender Alabama blossom.
Inez Knowlton made a most attract
i've Mrs. Page. Edward Mas per-
Torrance of the old negro servant
| was very good.