The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-01

Daniel Sully in the character of Father
Whalen in The Parish Priest" sup
ported by carefully selected company
will be the attraction at
THE the Metropolitan for the
week beginning to-mOr-
PARISH row night, with the usu-
al n.atinees Wednesday
PRIEST" and Saturday. The story
of THE Parish Priest is
one of life, With its hopes, disappoint-
mentS and smiles, rot religious story,
for Father Whalen is rather the man than
the priest. In no act or situation does
he allude to creed, but 10 what is human
and good in every man Or woman, regard
less of their religious belief. He takes
the. tangled SkeinS and knotted thre ads Of
the lives OF his friends, and with his
shuttle Of goodness and chart tableness,
WeaveS them into a cloth of happiness.
The play tells no complicated story. A
mistake IS made; an ambitious youth,
blinded by his love for the good things, Of
life, forgets the girl 10 whom he is bound
by the ties Of honor, and his act is the
corner stone of the interesting incidents
that follow. Act /. is the lawn Of the
home of Dr.. Cassidy, who turns over his
practice to Edward Welsh, who has just
graduated from medical college, for
which he was fitted by services in the
Office of Dr.. Cassidy. The latter has
daughter, Agnes, who is engaged to be
married to Frank Dougher, a young at
torney but her father hopes she will
marry Dr.. Welsh, whom he loves as a
son. Welsh is engaged to Helen Durkin,
unknown to DR.. Cassidy; and Welsh, in
his desire for wealth, accepts his friends
daughter, when she, in a moment OF
anger, quarrels with her betrothed, and
for revenge turns to Welsh. Father
Whalen is the uncle Of Nellie Durkin and
has been a father to her as we'll as to
Welsh, who was left an orphan at an early
InInpStnnI
that Nellie and young Welsh are to marry.
Jim Welsh, big, good hearted brother
OF the young doctor, labored in the mines
to earn the money necessary to secure the
education for the young doctor, and this
is Jims happy day. for is not his brother
physician with his name in gold letters
over the door? He, too, loved Nellie, but
he sacrificed that for his brother, and,
as he says, tried to prove his love for
both of them by making. Ned worthy of
her. While Father Whalen is talking to
DR.. Welsh of the happy home he will have
with Nellie as his wife. he learns that he
is engaged to the daughter of Dr.. Cassidy.
1t is like g. thunder bolt from a clear
sky, and strong scene results. Father
Whalen prevents Dr.. Welsh from sending
an announcement of the engagement to
the papers and the curtain descends on
scene natural and powerful
Act II. is the lawn, the same evening.
Father Whalen labors to keep the truth
from Nellie and Jim, and the interest is
intense. Katherine Corrigan, a wealthy
Irish girl, touring America. stops over in
the village en- route for Ireland. Not
knowing the seriousness attached to the
engagement, she tells Jim Welsh. He
fnds his brother, who acknowledges the
truth of the report and Jim attempts. to
drag him to Nellie. Father Whalen pre-
vents serious encounter; Nellie learns
the truth, and with Jim, determines to
leave the grounds and not wait for the
dinner that is to be given in honor of
DR.. Welsh, but Father Whalen induces
them to stay.
Act III. is one hour later in the house
OF the priest. Through the door floats
the voices of the choir and the music of
the organ. The situations are powerful.
Father Whalen devotes himself to the
task of righting things; and by arts that
4 are diplomatic in character, restores all
to reason and Love triumphs.'' Michael
Sullivan, who is in the employ Of Dr..
Cassidy, furnishes abundant comedy, and
the humor OF Father WhaIen is delightful.