The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-05-30
DRAMATIC AND MUSICAL.
METROPOLITAN.

Richard Mansfield was given an ovation
last night by an audience that filled the
metropolitan from pit to dome, tribute
not only to his past but his present
triumph. Cyranosi de 'Bergerac." The
story of the diseonsolate nobIeman has
not been told in ST. Paul SO well. nor set
in such a beattififl setting. The Mans
held production is an event in the current
! dramatic season SECOND to none.
The story Of the warrior has been made
locally familiar; Mr.. eMansields Cyrano
differs from the Rostand work only In
the freedom of thsi translator, to which
has perhaps been added little CT the
license of the oactor. There has been
something subtracted In elision, which be-
comes, under the smetamorphosis of the
CELEBRITY of action tip which it contributes.
really an addition rather. to the beauty
of the play. There has been added to the |
wit of the hnessthat was, here and there
a touch of thabywhich the actor only can
know; which only the test Of popular APP
prevail can develop,pwhich the dramatist,
intrespectiye as his; study must be. can
not anticipate. --.,s
Mr. Mansfield's Cyrano lives each scene
He Is the braggart of the Hotel de -Bour-
gogne; he is3the hoping lover of the Cafe
Ragueneau. almost piqued at the shatter-
ing OF his monentary delusion he is the
still ardent wooer in lost cause when he
plays the part for Christian under Rox-
ane's balcony; he becomes here when
all his former ambitions and passions are
obliterated in the presence OF peril and
only the passion survives the consequent
sorrow. There is a life between the pre-
sentation of the cadets of Gascony to
their colonel in the bakeshop Of the Rue
st. Honore and the response given to the
triumphant forces of Spain. as they stand
or the ramparts of the besieged city. The
one savors of bravado, the other
breathes bravery; the one speaks osten-
fhQ thnr ha ariH Of
science we'll served; the one Is Gascon,
the other is world embracing.
The best revelation of Mr.. ManSfeld's
| art, If there be any best in a crea-
| ton so thoroughly enjoyable that any
| adverse comment at all seems hyper
critical. is in the third act. The transit
ton from the lover to the lunatic has
been said by cynics not to be far. but the
! variance of manner which marks the real
! Cyrano as the real lover and the mock
| Cyrano as the mock mailman commands
admiration for the artist for a change
| scarcely less vital, but much less hideous
than that of Jekyll and Hyde. And yet
! SO strong is the following act that
were the curtain then to fall forever
| the story of Cyrano were well told Lit
| tie Of the pathos of his sad tale has been
omitted; but a moments joy remains to
him. Staged as 1t Is in the Mansfield
production, it is such a climax might
! be sought for the. hero of a hundred
matches at arms, could he be left for
! dead upon the field of honor. Yet the
| fifth act offerseits Solace for the reveal
| ton of the herois, subsequent misfor-
| tunes The portrayal of love again
| denied is doner beautifully; and the
! struggle roundszeuE a dramatic creation
worthy to stand with Chevrial, Brummel
| and Dimmesdale.sw
Miss Katherine Grey is more than win
some as Roxane. II Dainty in figure.
graceful in movement. sprightly and
| yivacious she hooks and seems the quick
witted woman Gwhose heart follows
magnet rather 1thans man; the soul and
| not the body. sfrThat~ her senses are not
able to penetrate ethe disguise her lover
wears is misfortune fatal and re-
| suits in grief ass poignant as does Cy-.
| ramos possession of unloyed nose.
The story of two souls living in vain re-
| quires not little to lift 1t from the
| depressing into the interesting. and the
art of Mr.. Mansfield Is strongly supple
mented by the beauty and talent Of Miss
| Grey. eA ~. - 4
| William Courtepay $ Christian is accep-
| table.,.;sThe role is necessarily somewhat
i colorless. - In. - F:s,57 81 .,as ss
| Francis Kingdoms De Guiche Is worthy
| of favorable comment, and F. A. Thomp-
son appeared to advantage. both as Val
! vert and as Capt. Carbon and the rest OF
| it. % - -.
T. "A
| drew's Ragueneau are we'll placed. - /
| The productiop Is ssumptnously staged |
| and costumed. The company Is as strong
numerically as its presentation is preten-
| tious in other respects, and the scenic /
adornment is magnificent. The square be-
! fore Roxanes home is quaint and pie |
| turesque, the setting of the battle grand |
| and fit for such happenings as its mimic |
/ scene is made for and the background |
| Of the convent similarly, yet III contrast, |
is in keeping with the life Of peace that |
| is It's daily story,
| Mr. Mansfield and his associates were |
repeatedly called before the curtain last |
night, and at the end of the fourth act
| the audience was clamorous for speech. |
| The favor was not granted, however, |
| but at the end the audience waited and
| pressed the star until he appeared as |
Mansfield, sans Cyranos nose.
The engagement of Mr.. Mansfield and |
| company continues to Wednesday with |
| out matinee. tes.
| There are still plenty Of good seats to
| be had for the remaining performances
| of Mr.. Richard Mapsfield's engagement
| In "Cyrano de Bergerac" at the Metro
| politan. -
Sporting Life" the most thrilling
melodrama ever presented in this city,
| will play a return engagement of four
nights and matinee, at the Metropolitan,
commencing Thursday evening. This will
close the regular season at the Metro
politan. The success Of the previous en-
gagement of Sporting Life" and the
| tremendous hit scored by 1t. make the
return of Lifts big production matter
of congratulati0n, both to the manage
| ment and the patrons Of the Metropoli-
| tan. Thousands Of people, who were I'M
able to gain admission to the theater
during the n7of y"Sporting Life" last
week, will welcome another opportunity
| Of witnessing the greatest production of
| melodrama known to the theatrical his
tory of the Twin Cities. The sale of
| seats opened yesterday, and the demand
| for tickets was steady all day. Those
desiring choice locations will do we'll to
secure them early.
| James NELL and his company will open
| the summer season at the Metropolitan |
| opera house Monday evening, June 5; the |
bill for the opening week will be WILL |
lam H. Cranes political comedy, 1.-THE |
Senator"