The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-15
ATTHE TIIEATERs
Metrop olltan--Na 1T 4 c. Goodwin In 1.-THE
SGD Altarsof, FrIenfi Ali No. sssss.s9s

Metrop oil tan--N Nat G. Goodwin In ",The
q Altarsof E rlsnfi atip.' ss
IS. ~ " matter for regret that the art Of
Mr. Goodwin does nit show greater de-
syelopment withsths ia ssaxe, OF years He
seems to lack the spur Of lon to in-
cite him to higher achievement. No
american comedian in years has come be-
fore the public better equipped In native
.talentSthan he.s laughter dances attend.
ance CT his mefust beck. nor issher cou-
SIM pathos, ever far away when he gives
summons i. sunny. genial temperament
years-is his birthright. Vat Mr.. Good
win seems content TO rest upon his lau-
rels, to 90 on in the old way imperson-a
ating the same old Sood-as-gold bachel-
ors whose lives are full OF sacrihce and
who at last win the lady In spite Of them
selves. While he usually brings a new,
play on each annual visit, It Is almost all
ways 2 play cut and fitted to his figure.
instead OF one in which his talent for i'm
PRESERVATION may be utilized.
Madeleine Lucette Ryley has written
him such Acne in tA The Altar Of Friend
ship. It IS obviously q made to- order
play with the role of Dick Mr.. Goodwin
always Nays someone named Dick
sketched on the lines made familiar in its
preaecessors. The play. 4 however, is
neither SO strong, nor. so coherent as, for
instance. When We Were, Twenty One
or An American Citizen I" Yet it is mild
~ entertaining with a quiet humor Of dia-
logue and moderate play of action. OF
cl1maxes there are few and the curtains
come down most unexpectedly; and even
at times inopportunely. The bogus en-
easement OF Dick to Sally and its evolu-
zion into a real engagement Is whimsical
fancy with elements OF genuine hun1or,
put somehow one cannot escape the feel
Ing that in working it out Mrs tRyley has
missed many opportunities for comedy.
Most of the other persons Of the play are
| shadowy and i'll defined and there is not
among them even one study Of. character
worthy q note. While the play is sup
posedly English and the scene is laid in
England it might as well be American
SO far as any local color or atmosphere
IS concerned. Why do American play
Wrights think it necessary to lay their
scenes abroad, where they tread upon
strange ground, when their America
which. they must know so much better
and which their audiences, OF course
know better, IS ready to hand7 Naks
Mr Goodwin s work is, as always
lnotable for its natural and unafrecteG
4 quaEty. When Incorporates some witt.
/ ctsnn, his face is 4 frrahiated with thai
childlike enjoyment which always proves
SO infectious. Those Sdpuches of farce.
4 comedy which he 50 fond Of putting Ii
4 90 not seem out ofsplaee, while his blerI
OF patf1os and hunnor as as effective al
4 ever. IS - - 81 & ssssfs3
The company, however. is not up to tn,
4 standard I'd and this hurtsthe quality of the
4 performance. ! It may seem ungracious t,
4 say 1T but Miss SSZeffie Tillbury, Will.
equal to the. acting requirements of tn,
] role OF Sally, does not possess the quaHt,
. Of personal attra ctiYeness which is neces
sary to make the romance Of which; sh,
4 is the spring seem natural Fred Tide,
slsgplayss the young Bridegroom, whose oil,
q love affair causes tail the trouble, rathe
nHconvineingly. This may in part be du
to the unconvincing@c character Of the rol
itself. His bride is charmingly imperson
ated by Miss Julia Dean, who is, however
4 rather overweightede with the task of ex
!. prsssin8 her emotions the disclos
ures comes. Miss May Martyr is entitle
to mendation for the thoroly consist
:. ent and reasonable conception she ha
worked out Of the stenographer. She pic
turessthe girl who has come up from tn
lower classes, her ideas and her ways, t
the life. J. r. Crawford as. her convic
father quite fails to impress one with tn
verify Of his representation! or the othe
characters but one, Neil O'BrieI1's Eek
cellent Colonel sartoris. seems worthy I
special mention.
w r ChaS,,hariofn