The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-12

IT is not to be doubted that THE
Heart of Maryland" which will be pre-
scented this week at the Metropolitan
opera house, is considered the most at
tractive and, in the popular sense, the
strongest play David Belasco has yet
produced. He has written many plays,
and all of them have met with success.
1.-THE Heart of Maryland" from the
night Of it's first production in New
York city up to the present time, seems
to have had a triumphant career. 1t
has borne a large and always increas-
ing share of popular favor and COM
manded the unstinted critical COM
mendation of the press throughout the
country. Its production here next Mon
day night at the Metropolitan opera
house ought to prove one of the dra-
matte events of the season.
1.-The Heart of Maryland' is what
may be termed drama of Love and
War" in which, however, the story
and stormy struggle Of a woman's love
and heroism are the dominant factors
In holding the interest of the audi
ence. The theme of the drama is that
of the heroism of a young Southern
woman who has devoted herself and
all that she holds dear in life to the
preservation of the man she loves from
capture and the ignominious death of
q spy. This heroine, Maryland Cal
vert, is impersonated by Mrs. Leslie
Garter, and if the critical comment of
the press in other cities is to be ac-
cepted as a verify, she has, by methods
original with herself, placed her reali-
cation Of the authors ideal on high
plane. In her acting, it is asserted,
there is no straining for effect, nothing
of conventional sound and fury, mean
ing nothing, and no suggestion of arti-
ficiality The personality of the artist
vanishes, and the audience sees, hears
and thinks only of the living reality Of
Maryland Calvert, so it is said.
The company includes many players
of prominence and recognized artistic
ability, whose names are already
familiar to playgOers, among whom are
Frank Mordant. James Wilson, Walter
Belasco, Henry Weaver Jr., Teho Rob-
erts, Malcolm Williams, Grant Stewart,
Herbert Millward, Misses Virginia
Tracy, Angela McGaull and Helen
Tracy. The scenic illustrations from
original sketches drawn and painted by
Messrs Ernest Albert and Richard
Marston, are said to be unusually eff
fective and picturesquely realistic.
The settings include a view of 1.-THE
Lilacs," an old colonial mansion,
"green walled by the hills Of Mary,
land" Confederate headquarters at the
Lilacs, interior of the church, Col.
Thorps headquarters in the vestibule,
and the interior of the old belfry.
1t is announced that the present en-
gagement will be the final performance
in this city of Mrs Leslie Carter in
1.-THE Heart of Maryland" as arrange
ments have Just been concluded be-
tween Charles Frohman and David
Belasco for the production of the play
with Mrs Garter and the present sup
porting cast at the Adelphi theater,
London, next April.
The attraction at the Metropolitan
Opera house for the week commencing
Sunday. Dec 10, will be the popular
comedian. Willie Collier in a new
comedy by II. A. Souchet author of
my Friend from Iidia," entitled "The
Man From Mexico" Mr.. Collier and his
merry associates presented this highly
successful comedy for over two months
at Hoyt's theater, New York city, last
spring, and it was the unanimous opin-
ion of the critics of the metropolis
that 1.-The Man from Mexico" was the
cleverest comedy Of the season. AS
Benjamin Fitzhugh," the central fig
ure in the comedy, Willie Collier, is
said to present an original, unique and
distinctive character creation. He is
surrounded by what would seem to be