St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-04-11
AT THE THEATERS.

Sowing the Wind" Sidney Grundys play.
which was presented for the first time in st.
raul at the Metropolitan opera house last
night is remarkable drama
1t is such for several reasons. It deals with
vital theme in vigorous manner; it pre-
sents the war Of sex against sex in vivid lines
and scenes; it lodges no issues: it possesses
literary virtue.
Furthermore, considered from the technical
standpoint, 1t is a well-constructed drama
IL is well digested in the scenes" The play-
wright leads up to each denouement with rare
skill. You eventually foresee the final Dicture
but you never anticipate the strokes that form
1t. The dialogue teens with truths rather
tnan stale truisms. There is no "uttering of
platitudes in stained glass attitudes" The
! eplgfams-and there are many of them-com-
mand attention always and acuuiescence for
the most part, for Mr.. Grundy is an occasional
sophlst The action is far from swift but such
are the interest and power of the dialogue that
one does not miss the action There are M
superfuous incidents intended, and no useless
speecnes introduced which serve to Iengthen
and therefore to weaken the drama. The emf
sodes necessary to the understanding and IN
folding of the story are revealed in the most
natural order, unfolded as they are in life NOT
all compressed into one speech five minutes
after the curtain has risen.
Ihese are the reasons why "Sowine the
Wind is remarkable drama 1t is study
IN sociology. virtuous girl of ilIegitimate
parentage What rights has she? Her father
deserted her mother, whom he loved because
ne was convinced that she was dislovaI RI
MIN; was that the girls fault? The wropged
mother in her despair and desoIation fell
MUST her daughter be ostracized for this9 A
noble young man, who is the beneficiary and
ADOPTED son of childless old man, loves the
girl, and his love is returned The NAV
Tbo 0l5
so well that he will not consent to a union
between the two until he has learned some
tnlng OF the girl, who is a professional singer.
lie discovers that her mother was a noto
rIous woman, her father, no one knows who
lie refuses his consent to the marriage Poor
girl 1t IS not her fault that there is a stain
upon her birth, that she is not a lady The old
man is obdurate, though he loves his adonted
son. He demonstrates with him in vain.
Inc young man knows not and cares not for
the world. His heart is his monitor He
loves, and, therefore, reyeres the object of his
love. $500
The old man had an affair in his youth.
ne loVed sweet girl but his father forbade
the union, deeming the girl unworthy But
the love of youth is impetuous, and the two
consecrated themselves to one another
though they could not marry. Wicked SIAN
DER poisoned the man and he left his love
believing her false to him. daughter was
porn OF their union, but the father knew
not OF 1t. He believed that the woman who
Iau broken his heart died soon after his de-
sertlon Later in life he married but the
union proved childless and he was left a
widower.
This old man and the young woman of
doubtful origin, whom his adoped son loves.
meet at last. OF course they do not recog-
nlze each other. The scene is strong The
dialogue that ensues between them sounds
ha boz, -
the keynote OF the drama. 1t Is sex against
sex. The woman loves the mother that cher
ished her to the last. She prefers that moth
er's shame to the DESERVING fathers honor il
ne has any, In a moment of supreme agony
the daughter utters the maiden name of
her mother, and the father realizes that his
own daughter Is before him. The curtain
descends here upon a stirring moving climax
In the final act the father discloses himself
to his daughter and the lovers are reunited
1t is, indeed, a strong play.
The company presenting Saving the
Wind" is exceptionally competent J. II
Gllmour, who impersonates Mr.. Brabazon
the old widower contributed an excellent
Characterization, marked by intelligence. dis
cernment and appreciation. Mr.. Gilmour
should speak trife louder in the first act
especially, as many of his words were in
audible.
Thomas Whiffen is to be warmly commend
GU AoA ouiiiii awe pTOJIdydl Oh the eCcen-
trio old bachelor Mr.. Watkin Howard
Hansel's impersonation of Ned AnnesIey. the
young lover, was as wholesome, manly and
natural portrayal as has been witnessed
here in a long while, Miss Mary Hampton was
entirely adequate in the role of Rosamond,
the unfortunate girl Miss Hampton is
magnetic to a degree.
James O'Neills new play, 1.-The Courier of
Lyons has met with great success in San
Francisco and will have a permanent place
in his repertoire. The piece is better known
in this country through Henry Irving, under
title of THE Lyons Mail" Mr.. O'Neill will
present the piece for the first time in St.
Paul during his May engagement, which
has just been changed from the original
dates.
With two performances today Charles A.
Gardner will finish highly successful en-
gagement in his interesting play, Father
land" The matinee will commence as usual
at 2:3o. Dan Sully in "the Corner Grocery"
is the attraction next week.
He Felt for Them