The Minneapolis journal., 1903-12-04
AT. THE THEATERs
Observation-Disclosures BIoodgood in "TI
Girl with the Green Eyes''

MetropoItan-CIara BIoodsood in "The1
Girl with the Green Eyes"
'"Ehe Girl with the Green Eyes is a
dramatic treatise on feminine jealousy in
the best Clyde Fitch manner. 1t moves
forward with natural sequence and a
fearless logic quite like Ibsen. The tragic
note is struck at the outset and is sounded
with increasing insistence as the action
proceeds. But the dread of an impending
tragedy is frequently dissipated by the
introduction OF bizarre comedy effects SO
characteristic of Mr.. Fitch
We long since learned to expect sur
prises in anything turned out by the
fertile Fitch, and there is no disappont-
| ment on that score in the present case.
! The satire on the European sightseeing
fad is keen and refreshing 1t is worked
| out with clever audacity. While it inter-
| rupts, it does not seriously impede the
| progress of the tragedy In the lives of
the husband and wife. This is based on
! a misunderstanding which is ingeniously
! contrived for the purpose of putting the
. unfortunate victim Of jealous disposition
| in the wrong.
| In the greatest tragedy ever written on
the theme of jealousy, the innocent Des
/ .demona never learns until it is too late
how suspicion has crept into her huS
1 bands heart and finally possesses his
! whole being. Never is it in her power to
avert the catastrophe While Mr.. Fitch
has succeeded in inventing a set of cir
| cumstances that on the face of things
| justifies the husband in his course of
1 action and convicts the wife of criminally
/ foolish jealousy, it becomes apparent in
/ the end that the husband is really par
/ ticeps crininis. His only motive for con-
i cealing from his wife the truth is his de-
sire to save her from the shame and
humiliation of a scandal affecting her
brother. Altho he has been forewarned
of her peculiarly suspicious temperament.
and altho he has had many and increasing
i evidences of her hereditary tendency, he
i persists in a course of action which a
man. of his rational stamp must have
known would inevitably wreck his domes-
4 tic happiness. And the superficial mean.
ing of the circumstances Mr.. Fitch has
invented is SO damning that few women
whether naturally jealous or not. could
have maintained their faith in the mar
J on his mere assertion of innocence.
7 Mr.. Fitch has not the courage for al
1bsen denouemeTt. but chooses rather tt
have the repentant husband, after spend
ing night in examination of his own con
duct, rescue his wife, whom he has left il
anger, from the results of her despair
This, it must be admitted. is strong ant
) original ending for the story, tho it is
p practical confession on5sthe playwright
I part that he has failed to establish hi
theory. And one may well doubt whethe
the reconciliation spells happiness for tn
pair, unless, indeed, the unha ppy man ha
I learned that mutual and complete confid
{ ence is the only safe way in the marita
{ relation.
) Clara Bloodgood, the New York woma
Z who has deserted society for the stage
{ and who has already won a reputation b
{ her impersonation Of the jealous wife
} Mr. Fitchs play, makes. distinctly ia
: vorable impression. She is by TO means
pretty woman but she has distinction an
{ a style that show her to be to the manne
} born And her acting is commendable fc
2 it's entire naturalness and freedom frol
{ affectation. The characterization is
{ thoroly consistent one, distinctly feminir
and we'll sustained. Mrs. Bloodgood seen
I to possess the artistic instinct which lea6
her to do the right thing, at the rgf
time. When for instance after storm
scene she has acknowledged her error an
strives to win back her place in her hu:
I bands heart, she sings a coor song
bring back the smiles. This song is
) dainty bit of work. utterly unconscious ar
: addressed thruout to her husband with I
I apparent thought of the audience. tt
Siheartache beneath the assumed merrimei
: makes it a rarely pathetic touch.
Robert Drouet's impersonatien of II
: husband is a strong, virile piece of wor
- Its vital quality is such as to enlist and RI
- !, tain the sympathy of the audience in spi
= of the inconsistency of the character RI
" I.vealed by analysis Mr.. Drouet is an ar
), list not only in the speaking of his lines b,
in all those little touches of glance ar
>, gesture and manner that round out an in
!, personation. The other roles are for Il
- ~ most part we'll bestowed. notable amor
~ them being Miss Grace Henderson's r.
freshing irnpersonation of the socially an
, bilious but frankly outspoken girl who
:. parents have the divorce habit. Ro
- - Flynn plays the girl who is the innoce
y, cause of the jealous outbreaks very a
, ceptably but Frank Dekum as the wes
brother is not SO convincing. Little Mi
;, Edith TalliafeTro is excellent as the pr
a. lcocious child.
- Altogether "The Girl With the Gre,
:, Eyes" is an intensely Interesting play W.
=, played. Not everyone will approve N
- Fitchs treatment of the theme but fe
will be able to resist it's appeal to ones i
- terest w. B. Chamberlain.
er Foyer Chat.
&c Ezra Kendall appears at the Metropolit
OF the first half Of next week in the. thre
~ act comedy 1.-THE Vinegar Buyer TT
ic- Of Z Ie