The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-05-07

"A Dolls House," the remarkable
drama from the pen of the great Scandi-
o. navian author, Henrik Ibsen, in which
Miss Clara Thorpp and a carefully Sc
lected company will appear in this city
Cl at the Metropolitan opera house for an
engagement of two nights only, begin
ming this evening, was given its peculiar
name from the fact that Nora Hemar
in the play is the petted and spo:.el wife
of Torvald Helner. The latter is
strict and honorable man of business,
who regards a debt as a disgrace, and
debtor almost in the light OF d GRIM
r inal The wife leads apparently an ideal
n welded existence. She is in love with her
h husband, adores her children, and Is
b raptured with the world. She knows
n nothing of the business world, and in fact
is a doll wife, and her home is a dolls
house. At a time when her husband is
very i'll, and she has been advised that
unless he is taken to warmer and SUMMER
chimes he will die. the proposed trip re-
Quires money for expenses, and the Tor
valds being poor. the wife takes prom
] issory note to a money loaner named
& IlrSSsstadt, who inform her that he
would be pleased to loan her the e4OO if
returns. and. finding her father on his
deathbed, and believeing that should she
impart to him the serious condition of her
husbands health, it would strongly tend
to weaken his already weakened condi-
ton. commits forgery by signing her
fathers name to the note with her own
hand. She receives the money. The hus-
band is taken south, regains his health,
nd 10 thaIr
where he becomes we'll to do and infuen-
tial She is visited by Krogstadt, who In
a fit of temper informs her that unless
he can hold his position in her husband s
bank through Nora's influence, that he
will prosecute her for forgery. She pleads
with her husband to retain Krogstadt in
the bank for this reason, but TOrvald
misunderstanding her high and noble mo-
tives, becomes jealous and will have
Krogstadt under no circumstances. The
latter then leaves a note for Torvald re-
vealing the fact of his wife's forgery.
Nora, thinking that when her husband
becomes fully acquainted with her in
nocently committed crime, would Imme-
diately desire to shield her from punish
ment by standing before the world aud
saying that he did 1t, is about to rush
husband, having secured the note from
Krogstadt, detains her and begins a terri
bic TRADE against her for despoiIing his
honor Nora tells her husband that they
must part, while he is reading another
note received from Krogstadt, in which the
forged promissOry note is enclosed, and
all has been forgiven by the latter, and
upon realizing this it is then that the
mediately shifts, and he is willing and
eager to forgive his wife, who committed
the crime to save his life Nora will not
listen to it.
Torvald says IN this powerful scene,
mo man would sacrifice his honor, even
for one he loves"
To which his wife replies ''HdilIions of
IL women have done so''
Miss Thropp, VINO will be seen here In
the role of Nora, played that part In "a
Il Dolls House" at the Duke of York's the
alter in London over 800 nights, and has
renewed and multiplied her triumphs
in the part throughout this country She
is now on return trip from the Pacific
coast, and wherever presented the play
has created the greatest discussion among
the literary reviewers, theologians and lit
erary students and the public generally.
1t is entirely unlike any play ever writ
composition of his dramas, and aims to
present scenes upon the stage absolutely
as they might exist in life AS is known
he created a new form of the drama as
may be imagined, in the final situation In
: "a Dolls House." which is quite the con-
trary to the customary ending scene In
the play; for the lovers, instead of being
reunited in the midst of the happy circle
of congratulating friends, the husband
and wife part.
Ibsen has been universally conceded
throughout the world as the greatest
modern dramatist, and Miss Thropp is pc
culiarly fitted for the role of Nora She
\ possesses a strong individuality, which
must exist in all of IbSen'S stage charac-
ters She has a spirited, Swapping man.
ner of speech, a somewhat impetuous
temper ament and has been described by
English and American critics as being the
ideal Nora, as the great author intended.
Miss Thropp Is supported by Frederick
Montague, a most capable and convinc-
ing young actor, and the remainder Of the
cast has been given unstinted praise by
nearly every dramatic critic III this coun-
try.
In order to show Miss Troops excep-
tional versatility, "A Dolls House will
be followed each performance by the one
act farcical gem entitled Tho Truant
Spouse in which Miss Thropp will give
her world famous rendition of Kipling'
barrack song, "On the Road to Manda-
lay" Each lady attending will be pre-
scented with souvenir lea1et Of Kipling' q
poems.