St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-03-14
ATTHE THEATERs.

Efle Ellsler appeared at the Grand
opera house yesterday afternoon in the
famous role which she created, Hazel
Kirke, in the play of that name. Upon
the occasion of the production of this
emotional drama in New York city, it
ran at the Madison Square theater for
$50 consecutive nights. Miss Ellesler
as the heroine, and the veteran actor
Charles W. Couldock in the role of
Dunstan Kirke, the miller, were the
central figures. Miss ElIsler won uni
versal appreciation for her sweet and
sympathetic impersonation of Hazel,
and Mr.. Couldock's powerful portrayal
of the memorable old miller commanded
enthusiastic admira ton. The acting
of these two artists, surrounded as
they were by other artists, and the
unqueStionable strength of the third
act of the play blinded the people to
the weaknesses and defects of the 9TH
er acts, and so achieved a reputation
for the play as work of art that it
did not and does not deserve. The
truth is that the third act, closing with
that heart-rending climax, in which
the blind father powerless to save his
drowning daughter, cries out in his
agony of remorSe, is the redeeming
act Of the play. The first act is easily
superior to the second and fourth,
which are stuffed with much silly dia-
logue intended to amuse, but in reality
tiresome.
The performance yesterday, while it
entertained and impressed a large au-
dience by reason of the intensity of the
strong scenes mentioned, served to re-
veal in clear light the defects of the
play, because of the utter lack of SYM
pathy on the part of the players. Their
acting was satisfactory in the main,
but there was no enthusiasm among
them and the artificialities and tricks
of the dramatist stood out in a con-
spicuous manner.
Miss Ellsler's performance was char
| acterized by that gentle, womanly re-
| finement that renders all her imperson-
atoms so attractive. 1t must be con-
! fessed though that the fervor and in
tensity of old were lacking, which after
all is only natural, as none but the
character creations of the great dra-
matte geniuses possess that eternal fire
of life that always inspires the actor
or actress to the highest effort. Hazel
Kirke' is not one of these, and it is
y
of it.
The vital character of the play is
Dunstan Kirke. This role was as
sumed yesterday by Mr. Evelyn Evans.
! There is more inspirat ton for an actor
in this role, it is so rugged and dis
| tinctive. Mr.. Evans deserves to be
commended for his effective acting in
the final scene of the third act. His
stimulation of distress and agony
evinced considerable histrionic power
and well directed dramatic instinct.
If any suggestion is needed, possibly
Mr.. Evans might improve the imper-
sonation by representing Dunstan as
somewhat less robust, particularly in
| voice.
The remainder of the cast was sat
isfactory.
ST. Paul, thanks to Manager SCOTS
| untiring energy and liberality in his
dealings with the best theatrical man
ayers, always gives his patrons the
| best companies that travel. A case
in point is the bringing of that large
and most complete organization,
! Rice's 1882" to the Northwest. His
confidence in the taste and apprecia-
ton of his patrons was not misplaced,
! for the company has done the best
| business of the season. 1t can be
seen only three more nights and a
| Saturday matinee.
The church steeple scene in ga Man
Without a Country is said to be
thrilling.
A duel takes place in the steeple be-
tween the confederate officer and the
hero, ''The Man Without Country
! The little blind sister of the perse-
cuted man is thrown from the steeple
window during the conflict. At that
instant the great scene revolves and
discloses the little child hanging by
her dress on cross on the tower.
Sale of seats for the limited engage
ment of the famous prestidigitateul
and necromancer Herman the Great
who appears at the Metropolitan
opera house four nights, and com,
mencing Sunday, and including
Wednesday matinee, will begin today
This engagement bids fair to be the
most successful one the famous
amuser of the people has ever played
in this city, as it is known that his
production is on a more elaborate and
extravagant scale than ever given
heretofore, and his programme is en-
tirely novel. Besides many new feats
of sleight-of-hand, great features II
his programme will be his latest sen,
sation, ''Noah's Ark" 1.-THE Artists
Dream 1.-The Asiatic Trunk Mystery
and 1.-THE Columbian Transforma,
ton"