The Saint Paul globe., 1898-01-10
AT THE THEATERS.

of hundreds OF audiences in New York,
London and Paris. and which the press and
public have joined in pronouncing the best
war drama Of modern times, received its
first local production at the Metropolitan
Opera house last night A drama which has
met with the enthusiastic approval Of so many
thousand people OF two continents must Ne
cessarily possess conspicuous merit. 1t would
be useless to dispute this and equally futile
to point out the slightest defect or minutest
flaw in dramatic creation which whole
is so we'll constructed, SO closely knit togeth
er so consistent and so absorbing
The fame Of the play is such that It's story
is no longer new, even to those who have
never witnessed it. 1t is a war play in which
the scene Of action is confined to the city Of
Richmond, Va, and the time of action limited
to three hours, from until IL p. m. DR..
Samuel Johnson himself could not insist on
more rigid compliance with the unities Of
time, place and action. Not blue uniform
appears. Nothing but the gray Is seen, but
the personal motives and actions Of those who
wear the Confederate uniform absorb all the
interest and furnish all the exciting episodes.
Two brothers, Lewis and Henry Dumont
belong to the United States secret service.
Lewis Dumont is known in the Confederate
army as Capt. Thorne. Capt Thorne loves
and is loved by Edith Varney, daughter Of
the Confederate secret service, is also in
love with Miss Varney but his suit has been
rejected and he thereafter renders himself
| most disagreeable and obnoxious. Arrelsford
suspects Capt. Thorne's identity, and confdes
his suspicion to Miss Varney and her mother
10 test Thorne, matters are so arranged that
ne Is placed face to face with his brother,
Henry Dumont who has been captured as
spy, but is thrown into q room where Thorne
IS ON guard. The brothers do not betray their
recognition of each other. Henry Dumont,
knowing that he cannot escape, begs Lewis to
shoot him, so as to escape suspicion. Lewis
refuses, whereupon Henry snatches a revolver
from his brothers hand and shoots himself.
The gun drops to the floor and Lewis has it
in his hand again when the stage lights go
up and all the others rush in. This is the
strongest climax in the play.
The next act, which takes place In the
war department telegraph Office is extreme
ly interesting, not to say exciting at times
1t necessarily borders on the melodramatic
out there is none of the cheap clap-trap dia-
logue that characterizes the average melo-
drama. The entire play, in fact is agreeably
free from speeches to the gallery" and
neither is it vehicle for didactic homi-
letics. The only Speech" SO to style it, in
the play occurs in the last act, when Capt.
Thorne, who expects to be executed, bids
farewell to the woman he loves. The de-
scription OF the bitter lot of a man engaged
in the secret service in time of war is the
strongest and most eloquently expressed SEN
timent in the drama
1t cannot be denied that the company is
competent. There are moments, not many,
but nevertheless some when the action
seemed to drag, when little more spirit
and celebrity of speech and movement on the
part OF the DlaverS would bava Unmarried
needed acceleration. This was noticeable at
times in the first act and occasionally In the
second act. But the performance as whole,
was highly satisfactory.
Miss Hannah May Ingham invested the role
Of Edith Varney with sincere and simple
earnestness that proved effective though a
more pronounced show Of spirit in the third
act would not be amiss. Byron Douglas,
in the opposite role that of Capt. Thorne
looked the character and played it well,
though his performance has a tendency to
monotony. The most striking character in
the play as interpreted last night was that
of Benton ArrelSford. Hardee kirkland is
to be commended for his impersonatlon. He
imparts a distinct personality to the role of
the vindctive Southerner.
Two most pleasing characterizations were
contributed by Arnold DAILY and Miss Mar
garet Mayo, who played two youthful lovers.
Daily, whose excellent work In the past has
made him a favorite here, acted with COM
mendable zeal and spontaneity. Charles H.
Crosby deserves mention for a natural bit
of acting in the role Of Lieut.. Foray, the
head telegraph operator.
Robert Ftzsimmons, the combined middle
weight and heavyweight champion of the
world, with his vaudeville company, appeared
at the Grand opera house last night. This is
the first appearance of the champion since
his temporary residence here few years ago,
when he engaged preparing himself for
a contest with Hall. which didn't come off.
The fact that he made many acquaintances
at that time who were anxious to see him.
coupled with the fact that he has since
climbed to the top of the ladder Of pugilistic
fame. made him probably the greatest draw
ing card the Grand has had this year. and
that house has had an unusual number of
strong attractions. Last night the people
were turned away by hudreds after the house
had been packed. 1t was not, however, an
enthusiastic audience for a large one, al
though the champion was warmly received
when he came on to show what he can DO
punching the bag. In this work he is Ger
tainly wonderfully clever. He can play a
merry tattoo with the elusive leather sphere
and created enthusiasm when he employed
his elbows we'll his hands in doing So
Later he appeared in a three-round bout with
George Lawler, the heavyweight champion of
Michigan, using the largest of gloves. Conley
the Ithaca giant, who is on the bill and has
been the receiving end of the battery has
gone home to rest up. Fitzsimmons put it
on to his attenuated mate rather freely. His
speed could be guessed from his action in
an exhibition bout. At the conclusion there
were calls from the audience for a speech
but Mr.. FitZsimmons isn't much of q public
speaker and didn't respond. The other fea-
ture of the athletic part of the programme
is wrestling contest between Ernest Roeber
and Carl Beck, Graeco- Roman style. These
wrestlers are claimed to be the champions
respectively, Of America and Germany in this
style Of wrestling. They give a clean exhi-
bftion, and put enough effort into the contest
to satisfy the spectators. Martin Julian, Mr..
Fitzsimmons' manager, directs this part of
the performance. The vaudeville support is
acceptable. There are a number of good
sketch teams, and Beautiful Theo did some
clever work on several musical instruments.
The engagement runs a week.
The Del Conte Italian Opera company. an
organization containing over seventy voices
will be heard at the Metropolitan on the night
Of Feb. "a. The company will leave Portland
Or, in few weeks for the East stopping
only at the Twin Cities S. B. Ricoby the
business manager Of the company who is
now in the city, says that it was organized
in Milan. Italy. early last year Last fall