The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-19
At ST. Paul Theaters

There is lots of human nature in
Lottfe Blair Parker's drama of the
South, entitled, Under Southern
Skies" presented at the Metropolitan
last night.
It needs no ghost come from the
grave" to tell us that a woman wrote
this play. That delightful uncertainty,
winch has ever made woman mans
most interesting problem on this mum
dane sphere, Is effectively exploited In
tnls play. The average masculine
playwright could scarcely have done it
so well.
Love is the theme and green-eyed
jealousy it's sauce. The combination
makes an appetizfng dramatic dish.
Crudities the play has, but they are
more than counterbalanced by honest
sentiments couched in vigorous,
straightforward language. and by
dramatic situations that appeal sue
cessfully to the spectators.
Two hot-headed Southerners love the
same girl. The lover with swarthy
complexion and hair like night, loves
her so f1ercely that he is willing to
break his oath to her father and blast
her mothers character to marry her.
Her other admirer is a whole souled
gentleman with deep auburn hair. but
just as ready to fight his brunette
rival as he is to kiss the girl.
This combination offers fine OPP
portuntties. of which the dramatist
takes full advantage. It is really good
that scene in which the jealous.
black-haired man stands in a balcony
and beholds his red-haired rival with
his arm about the neck of the girl
they both want. This love story never
grows old.
1t isn't great play that Lottle
Blair Parker has written. 1t isn't an
Alabama" by any means. But it is
good and honest play, and like Gala
bama," it has an atmosphere, quality
too often lacking in modern efforts
A little scene in the last act between
frolicsome eoIored girl and the sim
ming but repentant wife of her master,
is one of the prettieSt touches of, ma
ture in the drama.
No member Of this company is
starred. For this relief much thanks.
Players of more distinction OCCASION
ally grace the boards in our city, but
companies whose average caliber is
much narrower too often appear.
The emotional burden of the play
falls on the shoulders of Miss Minnie
V1ctorSon, woman of slight build but
of considerable temperament. In the
role of Leila Crofton she is confronted
with the painful alternative of marry
ing man she hates or provoking him
to disclose the alleged fact that her dead
mother is tainted with negro blood.
She consents to wed the scoundrel,
and portion Of the marriage cere-
mony is represented in the next act.
When the Episcopal rector arrives at
that interesting question whether she
will take the man standing beside her
for her husband, Leila weakens and
repudiates the groom, much to that
Villains ehagrin. simultaneously her
supposedly dead mother, whose blonde
complexion denotes her simon pure
white origin, appears and faints, and
| the marriage contract is not completed,
| the minds of the contracting parties,
as the lawyers say, failing to meet"
| An this neeessitates the display of
| emotional powers, which Miss Victor
| son finds it difficult to adequately ex-
press for lack of voice. Her facial ex-
pressions are appropriate and her
makeup in the wedding scene effect
i've in denoting utter despair and hope
| less deSolation.
A creditable portrayal of Maj Ca
| ruth, the father of Leila, was furnished
by Burr Caruth. William Perry con-
tributed a breezy characterization of
| Col Paul Daubeny. who was consumed
with passion to fight an editor who
had maligned him, and Louise NJ Dick
| son gave an amusing impersonation of
Aunt Doshey, the "old nanny" who
knew the family secrets and kept them
in her big heart.
| Petite Ida Mule, the Cinderella of
Crystal Slipper fame, played a r.
year-old pickaninny with irresistible
comicality.
The scenes in the second act repre-
| senting the Indulgence by the young
| folks in Halloween sports pleased the
audience immensely. Such touches DIS
| these invariably appeal to the hearts
of the spectators, who have been
there"
The outdoor scene, representing the
exterior Of Maj. Crofton's Southern
home is very pretty. F. G.. H.