The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-02
"shenandoah" at the Lyceum.

Bronson Howards civil war drama of
shenandoah" has been revived by the
stock company at the Lyceum this week
and was presented last evening before an
audience that applauded enthusiastically
both play and players. Like good wine.
shenandoah" needs no bush. It has
been presented here on half a dozen diff
ferent occasions by as many different or
ganizations Its scenes and situations are
familiar; it's characters appear in the
guise OF old friends; and with its very
dialogue we claim intimacy
However all this merely proves the
worth of the drama, for had "Shenan-
doah" been Other than an interesting play,
admirably constructed, 1t could not have
survived. Love and patriotism, the two
strongest emotions of which humanity is
capable, are the basic notes of the theme.
and they are reiterated throughout in
mastery style. But comment upon Bron-
son Towards work is superfiuous at this
late day, when our concern should be
rather for the actors.
So far as the manner of it's playing is
concerned, Shenandoah, lin its present
production, is a curious mixture Of good
and bad. Some Of the parts are excellent
~ played; others are used most despite
fully. The piece is exacting. It re-
quires a large cast and even it's minor
roles demand attention. The chief in
terest hinges about the loves of Colonel
cavalry, and Gertrude dillingham; a
southern girl, whose sturdy allegiance is
given to the doctrine of states rights.
Miss Hayward plays Gertrude Elling-
ham cfarmingly. She depicts with fine
accuracy the girls struggle between love
for what she conceives to be her country
and love for the man who has won her
heart; yet she does not fall into the error
OF making the part too tense. Unfor-
tunately Mr.. ,Corbett is not success as
the northerner = He ruins his best scene
by an air of Indifference totally at :vari-
ance with the lines, and is, in fact, more
impossible lover than Captain Heartsease
himself. .s.a as= -. +. @s3's-<5isS,--~
West has been wounded and is subse-
quently placed under arrest To him
comes Gertrude Ellingham, a confession Of
love upon her lips AS she speaks, the
roar Of cannon is heard in the distance.
i. What Is that?" she asks, in fearful
amaZement.
THAT" replies the colonel, that is on1v
a battle. You love me!''
Mr.. Corbett reads this line with about
the same expression a man might use in
calling for his shaving water. Nor is he
happier in other scenes of the play.
The two roles best played in the cur
rent revival are Colonel General Haver-
hill, entrusted to Ben johnson; and the
captain Heartsease Of Dick Ferris Mr..
Ferris plays Heartsease with a peculiar
jerkinesss Of speech that recalls Robson,s
Bert1e Van Alstyne, but without Bertie's
lisp. It is a cleverly conceived and in
gen1ously executed piece of chara cter act
ing, ana was so recognized by last nights
audience: Mr.. Johnson is admirable as a.
general despite the fact that he wears a
wig so atrocious that it must distrac ct at
tention from the merit of his work.
MISS Maud Gilbert is good as Madeline
west ana w. II. Murdoch is satisfactory
as Captain Thornton. Credit is due
Mlron LeftingwelI for good i1npersona-
ton of Sergeant Barket who, when asked
II ne had searched a young woman for in
eliminating papers, naively explained that
ne was not married himself, and was '.ull-
familiar with the geography of the sex. .
The battle scene is managed with fine
realism and the playsi is we'll staged. ~ -.
Tomorrow will be G. A. R. night, the
various posts of the city having made
plans to attend in a body
II - sE ~ j. S. Lawrence. =: