The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-19

SASbSoASeSA
themes-that is to say, the themes Of Gre
clan and Roman mythology-are artificial.
Mr.. Phillips Is essentially SO, the scenes
of his ulysses" being those Of uninspired,
mechanical contrivance, and the language
of 1t being-tho occa sionally eloquent and
fervid--formal with obvious art. The au-
thor's development of his story, however.
provides abundantly for scenic display.
and this Is an attractive element Of the
drama. AT the beginning there is a pic
ture Of Olympus and a synod of the gods,
and the Thunderer grants Minerals
prayer that her chosen hero shall be
rescued from the siren and restored to
his kingdom. Then, presently, follows
picture of the temporary infatuatiOn of
Ulysses, In Ogygia the Isle of Calypso, and
to this, after his release by Hermes. is
appended a prospect. of his transit thru
the horrors of the under world--a perilous
and afflictive progress, commanded by
love and made by the hero in expiation
of his fault. At the last he is shown In
his disguised return to his domain Of
Ithaca, where he discounts his enemies
and happily embraces his son Telemachus
and his constant affectionate, noble wife,
the heroic Penelope.
Mrs. Fiskes engagement is limited to
four weeks. The brief season will be
devoted principally to the presentation Of
MARY of Magdala,' but Mrs. Fiske will
also give a lew peT1OT11lauCeS VI lDSell >
"Hedda Gabler," in which her admirers
long have desired to see her. The revival
of this powerful drama will be one Of the
most important artistic events Of the
dramatic season.
What an incubus a comic reputation is!
1t has saddened the life Of many a hapless
wit and barred the progress to dignity Of
many an ambitious actor. Motley is per-
llous wear, harsher than sackcloth, hate
fuller than prison stripes, when it does not
fit the mood.
| They are telling curious stories Of the
1nishaps that befell Miss May Robson, who
is making earnest efforts to be taken seri-
ously In her personation Of Queen Eliza
beth in Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall, -
now going thru rehearsal. For years Miss
Robson has been identified with exagger-
ated comic types in farce and comedy,
and her characterizations have been real
artistic creations. AS Tilly in 1.-THE Hoop
of Gold as Emily in Nerves" as the
henpecking wife in "The Bilionaire,'' she
has been laughed at by thousands, who
might find great difficulty In forgetting
those clever absurdities.
| The ,eccentricities of Queen Elizabeth
appeal strongly to Miss Robson, and she
thinks to make Of that impersonation the
triumph of her career. But her fellow
players are not disposed to grant dignity
Of any sort to her
| Mark; Twain suffered similar expert
ence. He found that he could do moth
ing serious, but needs must be funny
The public would have it so. However
Twain is a man of expedient. He pub
lished Jeanne dare" in the Century un-
der an unfamiliar nom de plume, and as
he himself expressed it, he succeeded ir
"fooling en-" Possibly had Miss Robson
been presented as plain Miss Smith OF
Miss Brown, she might not have had tc
contend with her reputation.
Joseph Holland, who created the role Of
I Captain Redwood in Jim the Penman y
is to have a leading part in E.. w. Horn
! ing's burglar play, 'The Amateu Cracks.
man. Liebler & Co. thought that II
would be a capital idea to transplant the
role of Captain Redwood to the new piece
and have Holland play it. The idea was
all right, but from across the ocean there
came a protest from the heirs of Sill
William Young. They employed lawyer
and the affair promised to result in a lega
| tangle, when Liebler 6, Co. put an enc
to thettroulbe by changing the name of the
character to Captain Bedford. 1t was 8
new wrinkle to Liebler & Co. to learr
that the name Of a chara cter In a PLAY
was protected by copyright. The differ.
ence in the name want make any differ
ence in the enactment Of the role, so tina
l 1t is hard to see what the playwright.
heirs gain by the squa bible.
Miss Percy Haswelps starring tour ii
'The Favor Of the Queen" will begin Ii
Annapolis next month. While THE Favo
of the Queen" will be the principal We
hicle Miss Haswell will use on this star
ring tour, she will also have in READINGS
Romeo and Juliet and Should she u.s.
this in connection with 'The Favor of tn
Queen" which is written about the frs
| nT06ncftnngt ~ TIL; 80,
would be a novel blending of the geniu
of Shakspear with the genius of modern
writer of marked individuality, Roy S
Sensabaugh, who wrote the new play.
''The Fisher Maiden comic opera /,
two acts by Arthur j. Lamb and Harr
Won Ttlzer, Is built around a pretty gil
named Marjory, who is to be married b
the 10th day Of June, the time the oper
opens. After being pressed by her suitors
she confesses that at the age of she fe]
in love with an old sea dog, whose pictur
she still cherishes. Sir George Gliding ar
rives on the scene, having: heard there wa
to be a wedding, and since his doctor pre-
scribed a wedding for him, he is annoye
to learn that Mallory will not wed othe
than her old love, Bill Bobstay, the sailo
aforesaid. #s z
Sir George induces a young sailor t
make up as Bobstay, and Marjory is abou
to wed the 1mpostOr, but Is prevente
by sMaydee. a South Sea Islander, VIII
claims Bobstay deserted her years age
Many complications follow, with the usus
happy ending.
At last an excuse has been found 70
the Souvenir" postal card. When tn
stage manager at Days theater com
, menced to prepare his stage for the pro
, duction Of Three Little Maids he foun
. | himself quite without MANS IF III
scenery or picture Of the production t
| help him. AS Is not uncommon, the Eng
fish managers had failed to send over Il,
3 necessary data. Mr.. Hawkes., Charlie
5 Frohman's representative in New York
: remembered, however, that he had a sou
J venir postal card Of the play. showing tn
n Beer Hahii