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

Sympathetic. If 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 a 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 years
ago without intrudng any of the horrors Of
| that period when men fought brothers and
fathers disowned their sons for daring to
sympathize with the enemy. Quiet, repose
ful, yet stirring In its truthfulness, ALA
bama" Is the highest type OF the drama that
appeals by force of situation and action. as
well 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 1t 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.
If 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
| tippe who resented her spouse's self-control
when she scolded and who exclaimed, "Oh,
! if he would only talk backp' So in Ala
| bama' would wish, If for any change at
all, that there might be more Of vigor. not SO
| much apparent self-represson the part
| of the participants in the drama. The occa-
| sional outbursts of Squire Tucker are very
welcome after the seH-possessed manner Of
Raymond Page the emotion of the old darkey,
Decatur, is 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 ebulhent wrath Of Squire Tuck
err at the insinuations Of Raymond Page in
| clines the hearer to wish there were more
| lines given to the Squire. From the meek
mannerisms of Carey to the meadow lark's
| nest in the mouth of the old cannon there is
/ an atmosphere Of peace lowering throughout
| other, it is favorite with old soldiers. They,
| at least, know what war means, and ALA
| bama" typiaes the highest type of the South
| ern soldier who has laid down his arms and is
| trying to conquer his prejudices.
OF the players much can be said in praise
| little in criticism that is worthy the name.
! Mr.. Bainbridge as Capt. Davenport is all that
| the part demands-quiet, digniied, 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 a 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 charming in manner
and appearance, even if her accent was moi
i all that one would expect In an Alabama girl
The other parts were evening" sustained. and
| the performance as a whole smoothly and
| carefully presented. The scenery Is ade-
| quate to the demands of the occasion and the
| music Of quartette added much to the i'm
| pressiveness of several scenes.
Alabama" will be presented the remainder
! of the week.