The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-02-12
At St. Paul Theaters


Those who have recently read George
w. Cables Southern romance, 1.-THE
Cavalier" might possibly find it's
dramatization, which was presented at
the Metropolitan last night coherent
and therefore interesting. Those who
have never perused the novel-and 1t
cannot be assumed that the majority
of the theater-g going public is familiar
with this book-are confronted by a
drama that is indistinct and fragmen-
tary, to say the least.
In fairness to the dramatists. Messrs.
Paul Kester and George Middleton, it
must be admitted that Mr. Cables
story does not lend itself to effective
characterization. Such Southern color as
it possesses seems to have utterly lost
its glow in the transition to the stage.
At any rate, the company engaged in
presenting the play, failed to impart a
particle of Dixie lands atmosphere
to any Of the scenes.
The indistinctness which character
ICES the play is attributable to the
players as well as the dramatists.
Even the star, Miss Charlotte Titten,
was not free from this fault. In her
hurried speeches, designed to explain
possible to catch many words, and fire.
quently whole sentences were lost to
the audience. Several of the other
players We're equally indistinct at crit
zeal moments, and the result in front
of the footlights was uncertainty, not
to say confusion. The denouements
We're in truth dramatic surprises to
those unacquainted with Mr.. Cables
story. Indistinct enunciation was the
RiAT1nR ChOFfnnT17ir7cr nP g,
a whole.
Miss TitteH is starred. The man.
agement which owns the play is doubt
less responsible for this policy. 1t
should be said right here, that many a
player with far less right to stellar
distinction is exploited by theatrical
managers who subscribe to the creed
of the late p. T. Barnum, anent the
humbugging Of the people,
Miss TftteA has an essentially ref1n-
ed and pleasing personality. She is
refreshingly free from silly affectation
and transparent artifice. She speaks
her lines with spontaneous and there
fore effective accent, and employs di-
rect, natural methods that convince. 1t
was only in the moments of excite
ment demanding rapidity of utterance
that she became indiStinct
But to entitle her to stellar distinc-
ton an actress should have such abso-
lutte command of her art as to render
her adequate at all moments and in
every situation, from the Iightest to the
loft1est. The actress may feel it all, but
she must do more-she must express it.
Miss Tittell, to be candid was made
quate to the climax which closed the
first act. She showed marked improve
ment in the second act, which is easily
the best in the play, and throughout
the others she seemed more en- rapport
with the character. H er Southern dia-
lect was good, though not so noticeable
In the strenuous scenes.
Some day Miss Tittell may be en-
titled to star, but give her time. She
possesses distinguishing intelligence
which Is much, and undeniable dra-
matte instinct, which, so coupled, is
more.
Two members Of an otherwise fnefff-
cient supporting company merit spe-
cial mention. They are j. G. Wallace.
who played Capt. oliver, the Northern
spy in Confederate uniform, and John
Monks, who appeared in the dual role
of Capt. Robert Jewett, the federal off,
Ger, and Gen. Jewett, his father. Both
of these actors gave convincing pOr-
trayals, and spoke their lines distinctly.
The death Of Capt. Jewett abruptly
introduced as 1t Is, was effectively done
by Mr.. Monks.
The character Of Gen. Austin, Of the
Confederate cavalry, was a sad travesty
on the South's military genius, as pOr-
trayed by Robert V. Percy, who spoke
his lines in that colorIess, monotone,
indicating nothing but a good memory.
The role Of Lieut.. Edgar Terry. the
gallant, truehearted Southern officer
was intrusted to J. A. Miesen. Mr.
Miesen is st. Paul boy, whose career
upon the stage has been brief in view
of the Importance Of the role he as
sumed, but who shows much promise
That he acquitted himself so creditably,
with such limited experience, is a ia
Vorable sign. Like all young actors
he was unable to conceal his self con-
seriousness in the ordinary scenes, but
once In the second act, when Lieut.
Ferry cannot restrain the declaration
Of his love for Charlotte, Mr. Miesen
seemingly forgot himself, and every
word he uttered rang true.
The young man has certain manner
tsms of carriage and facial expires
sion and peculiar movement of the
head that are magnified three-foId in
an actor playing a juvenile role that
admits Of no disguise. These, of course,
must be overcome in order to render a
Juvenile impersonation effective. The
civilians apparel worn by Mr.. Miesen
in the last act, after the war is over
may have been the correct thing in
Louisiana in 1865, but a more subdued
hue would be in better taste
F. G. H.