The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-04
"Lost RIVER ut the Bijou.

'Lost River" melodrana which met with
considerable success when first produced last
season, is this weeks attraction at the Rijou
The play is from the pen of Joseph Arthur,
who also wrote "Blue jeans and '"rhe Still
Alarm" 1t is in four acts the scenes Of
which are laid at West Baden, Ind, and this
is it's first presentation before Minneapolis
audience.
Mr.. Arthur has story to tell in 'Lost
River" and he has told it we'll. The fact is
important because many writer's Of so-called
modern melodrama have deemed it all suffl-
Gent to contrive sensational climax for
eachA act and then to connect them together
on slender thread Of tenuous and tedious
narrative, relying for success wholly upon
q pseudo interest aroused by the cleverncss
of the stage carpenter. Lost River has not
been so constructed. 1t does not lack sensa-
ton, but it's climaxes are reached decently
and in order, nor do they transgress the pos
| sbilities.
The story of the play is altogether novel,
but its interest is cumulative, and it is
never dull. In its present form it has been
we'll staged. The scenery is effective and the
| mechanical bicycle race of the third act Is an
ingenious continuance, we'll worthy the en-
thusiasm it evokes. AS angeneral thing the
cOntemporaneous writer of melodrama anx-
| ious to Guido his predecessors, falls into the
error of attempting to place before his audi
ence something obviously beyond stage limi-
tations; and to a certain extent this is true
of Mr.. Arthurs latest play. Yet his offense
appears a virtue by comparison with others
that have been seen at local playhouses this
season. Lord Macauley, speaking of tight
rope walker, once remarked: 1.-The man did it
very badly-a monkey cou d have done much
! better-but the wonder is the man was abba
| to do it ALL" The parallel Is obvious.
| The company, whole. is good. Paul
| Gilmore, whose name appears in heavy type
| fln u,h0 60 ctr
/ to Minneapolis play goers, is cast in the
| leading role. He has what would have been
! termed. some few years ago, fine 'stage
presence and voice whose every tone is
distinctly audible. Moreover, Mr. Gilmore is
an actor of ability However-and here is
the fly in the ointment-he mars his work by
! frequent gestures. Individually correct from a
! Delsartean standpoint, but Hike nothing save
Delsarte in the heavens above, the earth be.
meath or the waters under, the earth.
! Miss Edith Fassett is winsome and charm.
| ing as the naive country heroine. and Harry
McRae Webster is excellent as Buster Mid
dleton." Miss Elizabeth Woodson young
| lady who could endow colleges If faces were
! indeed fortunes. has an unsympathetic role il
| Gladys Middleton, but handles it we'll; ant
| Lottfe Br1scoe, who won fame az ''chilC
! actress only two or three seasons ago, i.
good as Angie Vollner, German American
| young lady, with love of humor and a dis
| like for proprety. John E.. Ince, Jr., who il
| cast as the villain. is unusually bad, ever
for popular-priced melodrama The newt
able male quartet appears in the guise o
| tramps. This novelty pleases the house. ant
| as the quartet sings we'll, the Interpolation
makes a palpable hit. u. s. LaWranoe.