St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-02-17
AT THE THEATERS.

That interesting play, 1.-THE Wife"
which is the joint production Of De
Mile and Belasco. was presented at
the metropolitan opera house last
night by an organization known as
The John Stapleton Company To
say that 1.-THE Wife" is an interesting
play is perhaps an inadequate express
sion scarcely definite and emphatic
enough to do justice to the work. It
is more than interesting" 1t is NOV
ing. 1t does not produce a vivid i'm
preston. 1t does not arouse uncon-
troiiable enthusiasm. 1t does enlist
the keen sympathy of human kind.
touches the tender chords, appeals to
the pure impulses of our nature Love
Is its theme, but not love that de-
grades, not a love that violates the
sanctity of the marriage tie, though
that love existed for a time between
wife and the man whom fate sep
arated from her forever This it is
that renders the play tribute to the
innate virtue of woman and the no
bll1ty Of a man. 1.-THE Wife" is AIDE
tense of the institution of marriage. if
II needs defense, against the icono-
clasts who would destroy it.
The play is so familiar to the public
that an outline of it would be super
fiuous here, but the company present
ing 1t IS new. 1t affords us pleasure
to record that the Stapleton company
gave it an excellent Interpretation
smooth, Intelligent, and effective at
times.
Just few Of the scenes could have
been enacted in a sprightller, breezier
style, but the best and strongest stu
atoms were presented adequately. The
company is we'll balanced, though there
are necessarily some inequalities ap-
parent. Without wishing to be invid-
1ous, 1t must be said that Helen Strick-
land In the role Of Mrs. Ives. the widow
in charities" and Mabel Strickland
as Kitty Ives, her budding daughter,
contributed the most spontaneous
characterizations. Nothing to excel
the repose, the eXQuisitely modulated
voice, the natural unaffected speech of
Helen Strickland could be desired. Her
representation was altogether refresh
Ing and charming in it's fidelity to
nature. The same unqualified praise
is due to Mabel Strickland for her
quaint, sweet embodiment of the in
genue role. She was kittenish without
being foolish; arch, but not bold; merry,
but not loud
Bernice Wheeler, who impersonated
Helen Truman, the wife" improved
as the character developed. In the
lighter scenes, Miss Wheeler lacked
repose somewhat, and conducted her
part Of the conversation in tones sug-
gestive Of the theatric. Suppressed feel
ing was unnecessarily apparent, there
being no occasion for any Miss
Wheeler should assume a more col
loquial style until the occasion pre-
sents itself for more vital import in
her utterances. But in the crucial
scene where the wife confesses all to
her husband, Miss Wheeler was en-
ttirely satisfying, imparting much feel
ing and pathos to the scene, and acting
with good discretion.
Paul Gilmore, in the role of John
Rutherford, the husband, sustained the
character with becoming dignity and
good taste, and Francis Kingdom was
satisfactory in the role OF Robert Gray,
the lover" Herbert Sears contribut-
ed a praiseworthy characterization of
Matthew Culver, the political trickster,
and all around scoundre1, imparting an
individuality to the role most COM
mendable. Morgan Gibney gave an
amusing impersonation of Maj. Put
nam, the old army officer, who could
seek the bubble reputation in the
lannon's mouth" but who quaked
under the eye Of a woman. William F.
Courtenay was excellent in the role Of
John Dexter, the college boy
Ann Hutchinson, in her impersona-
ton Of Lucille Ferrant, the Jealous
Southern woman, reads her lines well,
but would be more effective if the
would modify her fierce demeanor and
not manifest in bearing and action
such ravenous appetite for revenge
The large audience assembled at the Grand
opera house last night beheld a rafting
unique title THE White Rat This melo-
drama is as novel in some respects as it's
title. For instance, its final climax demon
strates beyond the shadow of a doubt that
under certain circumstances, craftsman is
justified in surreptitiously opening another
mans vault. These circumstances the
hero immured within the vault and the hero
inc without, in the grasp of the heavy vii
lain The play also illustrates that the Sal
walton Army soldiers aid justice rather
than the police when the police are pursu-
ing the wrong man. they sometimes do.
In fact, '"The White Rat" Is full of novel in
cidents, thrilling situations and hairbreadth
escapes.
The actual white rat from which the play
derives its title is a stuffed rodent within
whose interior are secreted a handful of
motive for all the dramatis personae. which
is not at all singular or peculiar to stage
folk, as people in real life have been known
to make trouble for less than mere handful
of diamonds.
The company, which is large contains sew
eral clever character sketch artists and spe-
eialty performers. Among them Thomas
Evans, who plays "a Bum name unknown -
William A. Evans, John c. Leach and Fred
Russell, who impersonate a Chinese laun-
dryman and opium joint keeper; Tony Pearl,
the harpst and Nellie Seymour, who ap-
peared in the role of Jen, a daughter of the
streets The specialties by Thomas Evans
and Nellie Seymour. Russell and Pearl and
John c. Leach were very good.
The scenery is realistic and picturesque