The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-29
At ST. Paul Theaters

The truest line spoken in Sudermann's
.Magda,' which intense domestic
Drama was presented by Eugene Blair
ana her company at the Grand yester-
Gay afternoon and evening, is the last
OF the play, in which Magda opines
mat she made big mistake in COM
ing home. She accomplished nothing
save TO precipitate the death of her
father
After witnessing this play two or
three times one becomes impressed
With its futility, though unable to re-
press admiration for the dramatist's
skill IN constructing vigorous dialogue
and intense situations
II may not be the dramatic critics
Junction to- discuss the ethical aspect
OF TINS drama and it's effect upon the
spectator, but the fact remains that
the erect is not pleasant, and that the
play is not distinct gain to dramatic
literature. one wishes at the end that
Magda had not come home and the
play had remained unwritten.
The abrupt Introduction into a quiet
religious provincial household of a dis
owned daughter hardened by the re-
Duffs of the world, the blush of girl
MOODS innocence worn off, and no long
er the posSeSsor of woman's priceless
Jewel, Is severe shock to the finer
sensibilites. 1t jars them.
The sole purpose seems to have been
to once more bring the iron-willed ia
ther and his headstrong daughter into
violent contact, only this time the
daughter occupies position of indie
pendence, which enables her to defy
the old man, grown feeble with age.
The dramatic climax is achieved when
the father seizes a pistol and is about
to kill his child. A fatal stroke of
apoplexy illustrates his intent and he
dies on the spot, while the wretched
Magda, surveying her dead father, re-
marks that she ought never to have
come home. Quite true
Magda's bitter arraignment of the
hypocrite who betrayed her is perhaps
the most justifiable dramatic outburst
! in the play, while the character of the
unselfish pastor is the one truly COM
mendabie individual. Indeed, Pastor
Heffterdingk's elf-abnegation is well
nigh ideal
Miss Blair's portrayal of the DOM
ineering, self-wiiled Magda is at all
times convincing. She acted with I'M
common fervor and intensity, and with
spontaneity most gratifying to be-
hold.
Harry c. Browne, to whom was en-
trusted the role of Leopold Schwartz,
Magda's father, made the venerable
army officer a Strikingly picturesque
in the delivery of Schwartz's lines was
noticeable, Mr.. Browne failing to lower
his voice in the less emphatic passages.
G. Alanson Lessey impersonated the
pastor with a dignity and restraint
becoming man of the cloth.
The character of DR.. Won Keller, the
cowardly hypocrite, was satisfactorily
interpretated by Frederick Ellis Duff.
The minor roles were all in capable
hands. F. G. H.
James A Herne's perennial drama of
rural life, "Shore Acres" will be next
weeks attraction at the Grand.
Seat sale opens this morning at the
Metropolitan for the enga cement Of
Richard earle in "'The Tenderfoot,"
beginning a weeks engagement next
Sunday night. - -
''The Eternal City, is still we'll pat
ronized at the Metropolitan, and is
proving one. Of the artistic successes of
the season.
The Thoroughbreds company is Civ
ing a performance at the Star which
pleases the patrons of that house, for
the audiences have been very large
during the week. Next week the Tiger
Lilies. a popular attraction in this
city, will present the bill. In the COM
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