The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-02
MORE THAN QUEEN"
Miss Julia Arthur in u Magnificent
Dramatic Production.

Miss Julia Arthur in u Magnificent
Dramatic Production.
On Thursday night, Feb. s. Miss Julia
Arthur will be seen at the Metropolitan
in Bergerat's new play, More Than
Queen Together with the remarkable
talent Of Miss Arthur the elaborate stage
setting and detail of this great produc-
ton have combined to win the heartiest
commentator from Sir Henry Irving.
Around the life and love of two of the
most conspicuous characters of the be-
ginning of our century, the Little Cor
poral,' from the island of Corsica, and
his Creole wife, Josephine the author has
woven a web of great interest There is
an inherent fascination in human love
story. 1t is the keystone of literary fiction
as well as of the most successful dreams.
When the actors reafamous in history
the fascination is greatly enhanced. To
this add the attra ctixe presenta ton of an
unhappy woman who has risen from des-
titution and a prison to opulence
and throne, only to lose it again for
the love of a man who casts away his
wife to perpetuate a dynasty, and we
must necessarily have play of absorb
ing interest, play possessing every ele-
ment of attractiVeness, a plot Astounding
in all that wins applause When such
play is in the hands Of superior artists,
headed by one of the high rank of Miss
Arthur, nothing Is lacking to insure sue
cess. Such. is the play that will be pre-
sented to st. Paul people for but three
nights. The one thing to be regretted
is the short duration of Miss Arthurs
season In this city. 1t should have been
doubled. as it is quite likely to be her
farewell appearance in the Northwest.
She has decided to abandon travelling next
nd w nnI xy
in model productions Of classic and mod
ern plays In New York and London, and
possibly, should her time permit, In Bos-
ton and Philadelphia.
The greatest opportunity her career
as star is offered Miss Arthur as
Josephine, the once cherished consort Of
imperious Napoleon. She certainly makes
most excellent use of It, Fiery, i'm
petuous, majestic, tender and loving; she
embraces the gamut of human passion.
Her characterization of the unhappy en-
press of the French is so intensely human
that 1t is but natural her audiences
should lose sight of the royal attributes
of her character, and see but the woman.
In the prologue of the play she is still
the young widow of the Vicomte de
Beauharnais, coquettish, burning with the
ardor of her creole temperament Weed
by Napoleon, she marries the general,
uncouth and Ill dressed as he is, for she
believes in his lucky star and he does
in her destiny AS the wife of the first
CONSUL an object OF hatred to her hus-
bands family, she meets their scorn with
simple, womanly dignity. On the morning
of the coronation she almost faints I'M
der the weight of the crown. 1t was a
burden to her then
All the details of this production are
carried cut most faithfully. 1t Is a les
son in history so accurate are costumes
ana scenery. The very monograms on the
different swords worn by Napoleon are
changed; the letters on the buttons of his
coat are altered to suit time and position.
And gowned superbly, moving through
scenes of poetic beauty and imperial rich
ness, Miss Arthur appears In a radiant
embodiment of subtle femininity.