The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-17
ADJUSTMENTS
Walker Whiteside at the MetropOli-
tan In ''Heart and SvvOrd.''

tan In Heart and SvvOrd.''
Walker Whiteside in his little speech before
the curtain last night, ingenuously admitted
that it was good fun" to descend from the
solemn heights of the classic drama into the
rose garden of romance. And it. was just as
good fun for the audience as for Mr.. White
side, 1t has cost Mr.. Whiteside much time
and more money to learn that the public now
adays is not at all at ease in that sublime
but rarefied atmosphere on the classic heights
and to push the figure a little farther, has
little inclination for Notwithstanding even
with great tragedians for guides. Hero-Wor-
ship is as much in vogue as ever put the
public has lost it's admiration for the grand
and gloomy hero born down by an o'ermaster-
ing fate, and prefers in his stead the merry,
deyil-may-care fellow who can run dozen
adyersaries through and daintily wipe the
blood from his blade with lace kerchief,
while making off with the lady fair. Mr..
Whiteside has been one of the last to concede
that Shakspere spells ruin, but the hoXofce
argument has at last convinced him and the
romantic drama has gained y promising re-
cruit.
Heard and Swcrd,' the romantic comedy
by j. H. Pengrew, in which MI. Whiteside
has chosen to make his descent, betrays kim
ship to prince Rudolph" and The Prisoner
of Zenda,'' but it lacks their seriousness and
is more frankly comedy. The first act, in
deed, sounds very much like the ltretto OF
comic opera, but the two acts that follow
develop story Of sufficient interest to Danish
the blight of farce There are even some
tense situations, brought about naturally
enough by the plottings of the cOnspirators
that ever abound in your German pTincipalt-
ties of romance. The complications are COM
pounded with considerable craft and are duly
spiced with little war, liberal pinch of
politics and relishable love story. In
short, ''Heart and Sword, . without being a
remarkably strong or convincing play, fur
nishes opportunity for an evening of excel
lent entertainment. $50
It must be said that Mr.: Whiteside's comedy
is still bit ponderous. Although he has
dotted the buskin, his stride still at times
suggests the tragedian. For all that, he is
better fitted by physique and temperament
for romance than for tragedy, and his long
schooling in the strenuous legitimate fur
nishes him with an invaluable equipment for
his new venture. His best natural gift is his
voice. 1t is to be doubted whether there is
an English speaking actor to-day who has a
better speaking voice than Mr. Whiteside.
And he possesses an intelligence which ena-
bles him to it to the best advantage. Add
to these gifts his natural carriage and I'M
affected gestures and it is difficult to see why
he should not win the laurels of a wider sue
cess for his brow-and also the appurtenant
sesterces for his purse.
Miss Leila Wolstan, who plays the princess
to Mr.. Whiteside's prince, lacks as of yore
variety of expression. Neither her face nor
voice seems capable of expressing the chan
ging emotions that surge through the soul of
the princess. Yet she invests the character
with royal air and feminine grace. Miss
Kate Beneteau achieves a success in the more
interesting character of the princes cousin
and is especially piquant in the masquerad-
ing escapade of the second act. 1t is in this
act, too, that William Mack, who plays the
princes secretary, does his best work: He
is an actor of ideas and resourcefulness. Lau-
renee Evart plays the role of the traitor with
convincing distinction. John H. Greene as
the prime minister of one principality and
VIM. Clifford as the prime minister of the
other give well contrasted representations. It
looked very much last night as if the latter
'doubled" the part of the town crer in the
second act. This character, by the way, is
novel device Of the playwright to announce
developments in the plot without impeding
the action. The other characters are well
sustained and the play is well acted. The set
tings and costumes are deliberately beautiful
and in the best of taste
w. B. Chamberlain.