The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-03


THE BOOK OF oHILDRENs PARTIES. BY
Mary and Sara White. Illustrated. Book
OF Suggestions for the Amusement OF Children.
New York: The Century company. Minneap-
oils: NJ Mccarthy. Price 81 net.
AT THE THEATERs
MetropoIitan-"The Eternal CITY"
When Hall Game left the Isle of Man
and established the Republic of Man"
in Rome he left field In which he was
quite at home and adyentured into one
he did not understand. Italian character
and Italian institutions he doubtless stud
led In preparation for the writing of his;
book 1.-THE Eternal City" and the later
dramatiZation Of the story, but neither
play nor book gives evidence that he has
succeeded In understanding them. That
most complex and marvellous Of Italian in
situations, the papacy, is dragged into the
melodrama in q manner quite impossible.
Mr.. Game has not treated 1t irreyerently
and he has attempted to forestall for the
play the criticism that followed the book
by explaining that the action is supposed
to take place in the future. so that no
reference to any past or present pope or
premier can be intended. Yet it is not
so much theTpersonality of the pope to
which he does violence-tho the very idea
OF a pope with son is repugnant; it is
the traditions and the spirit of the papacy
that suffer under his treatment. Even
su.pposing that the present pope brings
about rapprochement with the govern
ment Of Italy, and that the church is
fnally reconcied to the loss of it's tenn
poral power and forgives the House Of
Savoy for robbing it of it's possessions,
such a scene as Hall Game asks us to
accept between the pope of Rome and tile
premier of Italy would be not merely i'm.
| possible but highly absurd
Considered merely as a drama. without
reference to the probabilities, '"rhe Eter
/ nal City exhibits the tense action. the
| strOng play OF elemental passion charac G.
| ter1st1c OF Mr.. Gaines work. Like MANY
| another maker of melodramas, Mr.. Caine
Is sometimes guilty Of supplying INSULT.
Client motive for the deeds of his charac G.
ters put the people in the play are very
4 human and the action moves swiftly. In.
/ deed, the eight tableaux into which tht
story has been condensed are rennarkabl,
/ Tor their Intensity and continuity, wher
one considers how difficult is the transmu
tatlon OF novel into play. Where there il
SO much to tell. the delineation of char
acter becomes a matter Of great diff
Guilty. 1t Is revealed by the successive
1 nashes OF moving picture machin
rather than by the delicate touches an,
standings an artist uses. The most seriou
i structural weakness in the play is the de
4 movement, which is weak and disappoint
| ing. The announcement of tremendo,,
4 changes IN the government Of Italy tn
unraVel1ng of all the snarls of intrig1
i and the reunion of the lovers, freshl
snatched from the brink of the grave, ar
al accomplished SO swiftly and with S
1 little foundation previously laid that III
whole thing sounds like comic oner
i plot. -
EDWARD Morgan plays the young Italia
I reformer with a repression that makes
highly effective. The ascetic, idealism Z
the leader Of the people who had thr
hardship and bitter experience learned t
know me and who yet could hold a stead
mana on the throttle that controlled th
boiling and seething aspirations of democ
racy, was denoted in the expressive fac
ana the alert, yet masterful manner Of til
actor. The softening effect Of a great Low,
and then the desolation of despair tina
settled upon his soul when it seemed ce
tain that his love was unworthily be
& slowed, We're truthfully depicted. Nj
Morgan has voice to match his face an
his manner. The role is one that fits hi1
well. Miss Sarah Truax is gifted wit
Il emotional powers that. are taxed to TIL
q utmost in relating the heart history {
the woman whose fate is so strangel
bound up with that of the young leade
. her art has that pictorial quality whic
OF her voice, in the expression of her nc
) pile face and In her natural gestures. He
. lmpersonation of Roma is such as to prom
!, Use for her widening career on til
: stage.
third fine impersonation was that {
: Frank g. Bangs as the holy father Dc
: spite the 1ncongruity of some of til
! scenes in which he appears and the falls
!, position In which the pope is put M
. iBangs invests the character with a swe,
; salntliness quite in keeping with the trs
ditions of the holy office
Frederick de Belleville is a fine act,
whose usefulness is somewhat circun
; Escr1bed by his mannerisms. It happen
!. however, that the role of the premier
Italy Is one into which his mannerisms
= very well, while his courtly grace of maj
: ner sits well on the scheming and NJ
r loverscrupulous statesman.
. OF the rest Of the long cast of cha
lacters. it is necessary to mention but tw
e w. p. Bonney gives strong picture
t the young leaders, faithful lieutenant
8 picture homely and wholesome. Hem
: Harmon is entitled to credit for his %
a lice spy, which quite satisfies the imagil
d alton. s
: The whole production is managed wi
e taste and money has-not been stinted
: the properties. The Mascagni music wri
Q ten for the entr'actes is appropriate witt
s out being especially impressive
w. 3. Chamberlain,
Is Foyer Chat.
Is TT avg DOckstader and bje ,,,o,4 ,.,;,,-.-