The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-15
AT THE THEATERS.

presented at the Grand last night is an in
terestlng drama. It's conspicuous merit con-
slsts IN It's originality of incident and treat
mehG Mr.. Mobiles can certainly escape the
charge OF convent:onality in the construction
OF this play The story is not of the stereo-
typed variety. and the situations are not
nacKneyed, whatever may be said of them.
me play Is divided into five acts. The first
act is the weakest and the second act the
strongest. 1t would improve the first act if
the mutual relations of some of the drama
It's personae were set forth or at least sug-
gested more clearly. The appearance on the
scene OF a woman who does not seem TO
belong, as it We're, who knows everybody,
yet whom nobody really knows, is calculated
10 nlystlfy the audience to that extent that
when the curtain fails a sense of incoher-
ency and a lack of interest as to the next
development prevail. While dramatist can
not reasonably be asked to disclose his mys-
terry IN the first act, it is essential that he
introduce his characters with sufficient def1n-
-teness to afford some reason for the pres
ence OF the character. and thereby furnish
basis for arousing either the sympathy or
the hatred of the audience. Where no motive
Tor ones actions can be discerned, the spec
tator is in neutral condition, and there
fore uninterested in the character
But with the beginning Of the second act,
lively interest is awakened. The bride Of a
| noble young Southerner, who has been re-
| nounced by him because he wrongfully be-
lleves her faithless, is living with her rene
gade father gambler and murderer, in his
gambling house at Washington, D. c.. While
mere, she Is subjected to insult by colonel
| in the Union army. The strongest scene Of
the play takes place in this act. Union troops
march by the house, having in their Gus
/ IF of
war; Among them is the husband of the I'M
fortunate young woman. He is wounded, and
as he passes by, guarded by a soldier upon
either side he swerves out of the line and
TAILS to the ground in a swoon. The wife is
distracted with anguish but does not betray
the cause. The act closes with a novel eli
max, in which the intense dramatic interest
| is superseded by a most effective stroke OF
comedy. No mere recital of the details could
do justice to the final tableau.
The third, fourth and fifth acts possess the
merit Of brevity as we'll as dramatic inter-
est. An occasional tendency to preach is
observable on the part of the dramatist but
most Of the speeches are terse and to the
point. Mr.. Mobiles has displayed considerable
skill in the drawing Of character bits, such
as the Irish and Swede privates, who belong
to the Wisconsin regiment. The dialogue is
(
favored with genial, good-natured wit.
The presentation reflected much credit upon
the company. Mr.. Mobiles was notably happy
and successful in the delineation Of Uncle
Abe, the old negro servant. Uncle Abe is a
character creation, colored in more senses
than one. Mr.. Mobiles can be congratulated
upon 1t both as author and actor.
Dolly Mobiles impaired a sweet petitionary
grace" to the role of Eloise Lambert, the
wronged wife. If not vigorous, her acting was
highly cOmmendable in point of refinement,
good taste, and absence of all theatre artifce.
That excellent actor, ]. NJ. Coville imper-
sonated the dishonorable Col. Ashley the
Union officer most effectively, and William
Beach was earnest and satisfactory in the
role Of Arnold Lambert the wronged hus-
band, though the character is not exactly in
this actors line. Otis Turner's refreshing
and irresistibly natural portrayal of Private
O'Mahony deserves special praise. Celia
Alsberg was satisfactory as Blanche
Tonight Stuart Robson will introduce to St.
| Paul theater- goers, at the Metropolitan opera
! house character which is said to be new to
stage lore. A decided novelty in the charac-
ter line is Lemuel JuckIin the simple, old
fashioned North Carolina farmer in Opie
Reads delightful story, THE Jucklins .
which is the most successful of his many
romances. .s4l -a 80 .., IKE ,,-,,f....
In fact. the book is full of novel charac-
tiers, who wind gracefully through a tender
story Of life near the Kentucky line; a story
Of simple life among the plain folk who
live up among the hills, a picturesque sorry
OF a picturesque place, where life is easy and
the worlds never-ending struggle for exist
ence is unknown. AS an actor, Stuart Rob
son has always been a novelty. His quaint
peculiarities are possessed by no other actor
and the wedding Of these peculiarities to a
character equally novel nsures a rare de-
light in the mystic world Of the footlights
In Lemuel Jucklin Mr.. Robson has found
his character, and in the play a great play
1t is decided departure from his other work,
for he steps from the dress coat of society
into the cowhide boots of the farmer. The
play is of the ''Shore Acre" -"Pudd'nhead
Wilson" type, t!nged in spots more melo-
dramatically, but containing the same whole
some heart throbs and pure, tender hu-
manity.
The company has been especially engaged
for this play. and fits the peculiar require
ments of Opie Reads novel character Great
ures.
mere SnOuIO De considerable interest felt
in the announcement of the appearance at
the Metropolitan during the latter half of the
week of Mr.. and Mrs Russ Whytal in the
formers admirable romantic drama For
Fair Virginia" which made so great an i'm
preston here when played here more than a
year ago. Mr.. and Mrs. Whytal are both
talented and attractive players. and their
record Of over 400 performances in this piece
is Of which they may well be proud.