The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-01-05
--------AT ST.
THE AT RE S

Blanche Walsh has done we'll for
herself in appearing in a new role in
a new play. She had nothing to gain
Dy essay1ng Sardou roles, vivified by
Saran Bernhardt, and presented in di-
luted English by the late Fanny Daven-
port.
In the role of Salammbo, the hero
Inc of Flauberts stirring story, Miss
Walsh has found a new character
which gives her an opportunity to dis
play originality Of conception, as we'll
as power of execution. Miss Walsh has
pronted thereby and so has the public
The audience that assembled at the
metropolitan last night, with the ex-
ceDuon of a few 1atheads that are
bound to find their way into the gallery
OF a theater, witnessed and appreciated
the presentation of a tragedy of the
heart In that the lovers die almost
together, the tragedy suggests Romeo
and Juliet" In that the tragedy teens
with action, instead of grooming under
the burden of soliloquy 1.-The Daughter
OF Ham1lcar' reaches the people.
For this relief, much thanks to the
dramatist, Stanislaus STANCE.
And while thanking the playwright,
II IS only proper to express gratitude
TO the artist or artists responsible for
the ornate stage settings which i'm
part distinctive atmosphere to the
whole
Blanche Walsh has never before ap-
peared to such advantage, as in the
character Of Salammbo. Miss Walsh is
not as strenuous, in a physical sense,
as she was when playing opposite to
one Melbourne McDowelI-when good
ness knows she had need of physical
strength as well as histrionic talent
out her artistic caliber has grown. She
manlfeStS at all times a restraint that
conveys the impression of reserve
force, always more potent than the I'M
licensed exhibition of it.
AS said before, the play is full of
action. The dialogue is terse and re-
sponslFe. The explanations necessary
TO acQuaint the auditors with the state
of affairs then existing in Carthage
are brief. A 5 in all tragedies, the ac-
tors, charged with delivering flying
messages during battle, confuse the
keenest ear-who ever heard the
speech of the servant that told Mac
beth about the soldiers advancing on
ms castle-but otherwise the players
were distinct.
Miss Walsh can be congratulated in
having found a role in SaIammbo
which cannot subject her to COMPARE
son with other actresses. To her cred
it, it may be said, it is doubtful if any
other actress before the public could
play it with the authority that she
displays. While portraying the very
desperation of love- she always retains
the innate dignity that accompanies
virtue. The conflicting emotions
aroused by the man she loves, and her
duty to herself and her religion, she
delineates graphically.
In these scenes with Matho, the bar
barian chief of the Mercenaries, who
is impersonated by Charles Dalton, of
former Sign Of the Cross fame, Miss
Walsh displays rare good taste She
indicates her love and adherence of
the man with true human expression.
The climax of the drama is achieved
in the tent Of Matho, where Salammbo
visits him at midnight to recover the
sacred veil. This scene is admirably
handled by the dramatist. 1t is like
wise splendiGly acted by Miss Walsh
and Mr.. Dalton. It attains height
above the commonplace. The situation
is trying one for the audience as we'll
as for Matho and Salammbo. But
Matho triumphs by letting Salammbo
depart with the veil, as pure as when
she entered the tent
That Mr.. Dalton affords Miss Walsh
ample aid is at all times evident A
forcible, convincing actor is Dalton,
with no evolutionary mannerisms nor
STACEY struts to mar his acting. Like
Mark Antony, he seems to say, Il am
plain. blunt man that do speak what
do know" He speaks from the heart
and acts with Il fervOr that COM
mandS sympathy.
One more highly effective imperson-
alton was that of Jerome Harrington,
who plays the vindictiVe Greek, Spen-
dius. 1t is Spendius who really starts
the play and keeps it going. Mr.. Har-
ringtCn's distinct enunciation had
much to do with his success. His ex-
hibitions of a revengeful spirit were
literally applauded.
The play possesses a historical in
terest, in that it introduces the char
acter of one of the worlds greatest
-Hannibal-albeit, he is only
twelve years old at that period. The
role was played with remarkable spon-
taneity by Harold Welsh.
Picturesque to an uncommon degree
were the scenes representing the in
terror Of Hanilcar's palace, the garden
of the palace, the ruins Of the Temple
of Delos and the outer court of the
Temple of Tanib.
Fred G. Hunt.