The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-08-31
AT THE THEATERS.

Sympathetic. IL not large. was the audi
ence that followed Clement cambridge and
MS company Of players through the story
of Alabama" at the Metropolitan opera
house last evening The event was the open
ing OF the season and the selection OF the
play most happy one in view OF the gath
ering OF Grand Army veterans In annual en-
campment In ST. Paul Perhaps more than
any OF the war dramas Alabama appeals
to the friends of North and South alike II
deals with the best and truest of human emo
lions. and presents the great good accom-
plished by the tragedy ended thirty wears
ago without intruding any of the horrors Of
that period when men fought brothers and
fathers disowned their sons for daring to
sympathfze with the enemy. Quiet. repose-
rul, yet stirring in its truthfulness. ALA
bana" Is the highest type Of the drama that
appeals by force of situation and action AZ
we'll as by spoken sentiment There are
scenes and situations that require no words
to interpret and this is one of the secrets
OF the great success achieved by the play
1t is noble work. and one requiring the
highest intelligence to rightly interpret. SO
much depends upon the ability of the play
ers to act as well as to speak that II goes
almost without saying that the success Of the
presentation last evening proves the excel
lence OF the actors Mr.. cambridge has called
to his support.
IL one wished to criticise the play the
easiest point of attack would be its quiet
and subdued action. The situations are so
strong, yet so quiet, that they are intense.
The feeling that they call into life is almost
depressing In its intensity. One could al
most cite the anecdotes of the modern Kan
tlppe who resented her spouse's self-control
U SHn Id
II he would only talk back" so in ala
bama" we would WISH If for any change at
all, that there might be more of vigor. not so
much apparent self-repression on the part
OF the participants In the drama The occa-
slenal outbursts of Squire Tucker are very
welcome after the seIf-possessed manner of
Raymond Page; the emotion of the old darkey.
Decatur, Is a relief after the self-contained
manner of Mrs. Page, and we are certain
that Col. Preston feels better. and the audi
ence as WELL after his outburst Of grief when
he supposes that Carey has gone away The
contrast between Mrs. Pages depressed emo
ton and the ebullient wrath Of Squire Tuck
er at the insinuations Of Raymond Page in
clfnes the hearer to wish there We're more
lines given to the Squire. From the meek
mannerisms of Carey to the meadow lark's
rest in the mouth of the old cannon there is
an atmosphere of peace lowering throughout
the entire play. For that reason, If for no
other, it Is favorite with old soldiers. They,
at least, know what war means, and s'Ala-
bama" typifes the highest type Of the South
ern soldier who has laid down his arms and is
trying to conquer his prejudiees.
OF the players much can be said in praise,
little in criticism that is worthy the name.
Mr.. cambridge as Capt. Davenport is all that
the part demands-quiet dignifed, and in the
emotional passages strong without SEEM
ing effort. Fred Mower in the difficult
role of Col. Preston, was in his element,
playing the part with dignity and force. Har-
ry Aliens Col Moberly was perhaps trife
stiff and exaggerated but his lines were well
spoken and there was no doubt of his SYM
pathy with the character. Mr.. Hicks was ex-
cellent as Squire Tucker, and as before said,
one could wish there were more for the
squire in the play. Miss Weatherby in the
difficult part Of Mrs. Page, was equal to the
demands of the part in every way, and Miss
Irving, as Carey, was charming In manner
and appearance, even if her accent was not
all that one would expect in an Alabama girl.
The other parts were evening" sustained and
the performance whole smoothly and
carefully presented. The scenery is ade-
quate to the demands of the occasion and the
music of a quartette added much to the i'm
pressiveness of several scenes.
Alabama will be presented the remainder
of the week.