The Saint Paul globe., 1900-03-18

with her high attachments is most crafty
Ing In her extraordinarily wide circle Of
admirers, Her years of faithful training
1t seems, has well fitted her for the great
opportunity which has come to her in this
production 1t can be questioned If any
other star In recent years entered at
once into the full measure of success as
did Miss Allen. One year ago saw the
first performance of the play, and from
that time on Miss Allen at every perfo nj
ance has been greeted with houses that
tested all capacity. Her success in New
York and Boston was SO great that she
was to only appear in both cities for the
entire season. In New York the unusual
honor was shown her of a special per-
formance OF LOCO clergymen attending the
performance. 1t is a matter of peculiar
note, to show the wide popularity of both
play and star, that Miss Aliens audi noes
not only contained the regular theater
patrons, but that a class that ne'dom, If
ever, enters theater. 1t has been said
Of THE Chris ian" that 1t contains more
heart interest than any other product on
staged in the last twenty years. The sen
timent of the piece is evidently of that
deep and sincere character which appeals
with effect to every one who witne S15
1t. Founded on a popular novel, which,
readers before it's dramatiza;ion was even
considered, it undoubtedly had the advan-
tage of most substantial pre-intares But,
Notwithstanding this fact, It cannot be
gainsaid that the success of the play is
largely due to the talent of the star her
self. The play of The Christian" Is not
in an ordinary sense a dramatic version
Of the book story. The author, as he has
explained, has taken the two principal
characters of the novel, as weli as the
motive of their relation to each other,
and made an independent drama of new
incidents and fresh surroundings, just as
he might have taken two characters fcCm
history and constructed a play III reon
which could otherwise have no claim to
historical truth. From the tine the story
was first written the dramatic value of it
was at once seen.
The contrasted scenes OF the girl from
the MapX island, who goes to the great
+ city of London and enters the life of a
music hall artistic, and loves and IS loved
by a high-minded, religious enthusiast,
lsoffered unique and picturesque sur
roundlngs for a love story. That is
what Mr.. Caine has attempted in his
play. He has avoided the religious con-
tention of the book, and centered his in
terest upon the love story of Glory
Quayle and John Storm. He has depicted
all the strong scenes of his book on
the stage, with all the well known char
acters, but his manner Of treatment has
altered. The play Is presented in a pro-
logUe and four acts. The scene Of the
prologue is laid in the fitting ground
of the ruins of Peel castle, Isle of Man.
1t is here that the different characters
are shown in their home on Manx isl
and, just before entering the moving
scenes of the drama about to follow.
The first act is at the Colosseum music
hall in London. where Glory, arriving at
popularity as an actress, is seen sur
rounded by her music hall companions
and male admirers. The second act is
In John Storms Church of Soho, Lon>
don, where he is seen In his relation to
his parishioners. 1t is here that Glory's
intensely emotional scene occurs, in
which she is led to attempt to give up
her love for John Storm, and also in this
scene occurs the powerful dramatic sit
uation in which Storm shields Lord
Robert and his friends from the fury
of the mob. The third act occurs In
Glory's rooms, and 1t sees John Storm
hunted by his own parishioners and at
tempting to take Glorys life, to save
her soul from the evil surroundings. The
last act is again in Storms church at
Soho and sees the union of Glory and
John.
I, Miss Aliens company includes Robert
,Drouet, G. Leslie Allen, Edgar L. Daven-
port, Harold Russell, Frank c. Bangs
Oscar Eagle. Charles Mason. Edgar Nor