St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-27
AT THE THEATERS.

OF human nature, which presents in
the foreground the sweetest and
noblest traits of character. The evil
traits form the shadows that magnify
the virtues. But these shadows are
not blackened with a graver passion
than the greed of gain. No impure
motive actuates a single breast. The
creation is all honesty, simplicity,
truth. 1t breathes sweet and whole
some air. 1t is a powerful stimulant
to the germ Of good in every heart.
1t sets in motion our dearest impulses,
reneWS our fOndeSt recOllectiOnS stirs
our noblest emotions.
What shall be said of such a pIay?
What can be said of it? Nothing that
can adequately express the feelings it
aWakens
Any one mingling with the audience
as 1t emerged from the Metropolitan
opera house last night could have
judged in general way of the inn
preston produced by "Shore Acres"
If he had not witnessed it, The people
did not talk of the weather and other
trivial topics, as is generally the case
after the play" Instead they spoke of
the play" In a hundred varied ex-
pressions they paid tribute to it's merit.
They were glad they had seen it. It
was a beautiful play. 1t was honest,
natural and strong. There was no
clap-trap about it, no theatrical trick
cry, no staginess. Such universal
compliment testifies indisputably to
the virtue of any human creation.
Indeed James A. Herne, the author.
may we'll be proud of this child. He
has contributed to the stage drama
Of simple, rustic life, that will endure
for many years, not only as a medium
Of +oJ.fo in, hit
cation of the power for good that the
stage can and does exert when pro-
vided with the proper means of ex-
preston.
All really great plays idealize and glo-
rlfy truth and virtue. The theme need
not be complex, the scene need not be
remote, romantic or spectacular, the
personages need not be handsome or
royal. Handsome is that handsome
does. Who shall say that Hogarth's
grotesque scenes and homely faces are
not as natural as human and therefore
as artistic as Reynolds portraits of
anointed royalty? Truly, this simple
story of simple life in a New England
coast town is as absorbing to the SYM
pathetic nature, as beautiful to the
minds eye, as inspiring>to the soul, as
tale of the fortunes of kings and no
bles. What can enlist the heart more
legally than the contemplation of such
a lovable, unselfish, noble man as IN
Gle Nat? Who can witness without ex-
periencing the tenderest and deepest
emotion the scene in which Uncle Nat
demonstrates with his sordid brother
who proposes to sell for speculative
purposes land beneath which they had
buried their mother? What touching,
moving scene is that Of the parting be-
tween Helen and Uncle Natl How life
like, rapid, vigorous is the brief dia-
logue leading up to the encounter be-
tween the two brothers in the light
house! What ineXpressible tenderness
and pathos surround the return home
of the lost daughter, accompanied by
her husband and her little one! And
how rarely eloquent is the last scene of
all, when dear, old Uncle Nat, who has
put the children to bed and said good
night to all the grown folks, locks the
doors, fixes the fire, and candle in hand
pauses on the threshold of the door at
the top of the stairs, leading from the
Kitchen! It is Christmas eve, and as
the old man surveys the homely scene,
the soft strains of that sweet song,
what Are They Thinking Of Me?" tell
the beautiful story in language that
surpaSseS words. AS Uncle Nat steps
from view, the room darkens, and
nothing is visible save the faint glow
of the dying fire in the stove. On this
scene, the CuTldil ldIiS, anu The peO-
pie leave the theater with moist eyes.
The company presenting this master
piece of American drama is worthy of
commentator. To say this is bestow-
ing upon it no small amount Of credit,
for the slightest symptom Of false
acting would mar the picture as surely
as SCOT begrimes snow. Two or three
Of the minor characters might be de-
veIoped more artistically than they
are, but the principal roles are en-
trusted to capable players Archie
Boyd, who assumes the role of Ma
thaniel Berry, imbues it with the true
spirit and exhibits delicate sympathy
with the finer traits of the character.
One wishes at times, though, that Mr.
Boyd's personality were a little more
dignified and stronger and his voice
more impressive in tone. These de-
ficiencies, such as they are. however,
are physical rather than mental.
James Lackaye must be emphatically
commended for his intelligent and
forceful Interpretation of Martin Ber-
ry, the erring brother. 1t was an ex-
cellent piece of acting, characterized as
it was by that admirable quality-re-
pose.
w. H. Burton contributed a salts
factory characterization Of Mr.. Blake
the land boomer. and w. J. Dean was
eIlIlIeIy " Tile requirements
of the role of Sam Warren the young
physician.
Miss Caroline Franklin enacted the
role of Helen Berry, the daughter of
Martin, with much earnestness and
sympathy. Her performance commends
her to the appreciation of her audience,
but it would be more effective if Miss
Franklin would not speak quite so
slowly as she does at all times. BY ac-
celebrating her speech in the casual di-
alogue, and even in the more dramatic
moments, a certain degree of monotony
would disappear.
The remainder of the cast is accept
able. The children are very cute and