The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-06-14
At St. Paul Theaters

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A play of sentiment and of sentiment
only is "Old Heidelberg which Mr..
Mansfield brought forward at the Met
ropolitan last night But the sentiment
is sweet and true and the atmosphere
of the play redolent of youthful ro-
nance. Plot it has none, which neces-
sarily renders the action tame. There
are no vigorous speeches, no intease
dramatic situations, no stirring cH-
makes, no villainy to combat, In short
none of the usual. ingredients of ro-
mantle drama, nor of light comedy
notwithstanding the absence Of these
potent factors "Old Heidelberg" is still
delight
Especially does it appeal TO one who
cherishes "reminiscences Of college
days. Some forty or more excellent
male voices sing the undying college
songs at times in the presence Of the
audience and at other times softly in
the distance. when the music is in ex-
qulsite harmony with the sentiment of
the situation. This was notably APP
pealing during the parting scene be-
tween Prince Karl Heinrich and his
sweetheart, when the Heidelberg stu
Ihee, Queen of My Loving Heart"
SO with the "Gaudeamus Igitur,"
which Stirs the blood of the princes
aged tutor to joy, old as he is.
These reminders of youth, when all
the world seems gay, are so artisticaHy
pictured in scenery, song and action
that to one jaded with the strenuous
life both on and off the stage the per-
torrance is restful. Indeed, without a
Manifold and a Mansfield production
1t would be in danger of putting many
a spectator to sleep. But with the adj
mlrable stage management which is
brilliantly conspicuous in all the scenes
IN which the students participate, and
the unconventional one might say &C.
centric delineation Of the young prince
by Mr.. Mansfield. your senses remain
on the alert without effort.
Those who visited the Metropolitan
last night with the expectation of see
ing Mansfield execute a strenuous or
intricate histrionic achievement were
unquestionably disappointed. The por-
travail Of just an ordinary young man
though he be a prince-whose spirit
and love of liberty are fettered by the
restrictions of q ceremoniOuS court, and
who displays exuberant joy when re-
leased from all conventions, is not a +,
task requiring infinite subtlety nor ex-
ceptional histrionic power. That an
ments and versatility finds the role far
from taxing his abilities is quite evil
dent. That he present an interesting
embodiment Of the young prince, to
whom he imparts a distinct individu-
ality, is true, but the character itself
is nothing more than what it Seems.
The prince neither says nor does any
thing signally heroic or brilliant, or
even clever He is simply a royal good
fellow, tired of pomp and ceremony,
loving freedom and honest simplicity
and a pretty girl who comes into his
life at the university. That is all.
That this little story serves as the
theme of a pleasing theatrical per-
Torrance is due, as already intimated,
to the artistic presentation of the play,
the admirable stage management en-
phaSized by the employment of eff
fective detail, and of course the COM
petent acting Of the principal players.
Mr.. Mansfield was ably seconded by
Ida Conquest, who was the embodi-
ment of ingenious, modest girlhood,
in the role of Kathie; A. G. Andrews,
who contributed a rich representation
of the old tutor. DIR. Juttner; Leslie
Kenyon, whose Characterization of the
officious, conceited valet Lutz, was
most convincing, and Henry Wenman,
who was excellent in the role of the
old innlzeeper.
IOnSnt MI. ManSnoId VIII appear in
the role of Ivan the Terrible, far
cry from an impetuous youth to a
superannuated, stricken, wretched old
bigot, zealot and tyrant. The de-
voices of the strenuous should be sat
isfed tonight. F. G. H.
The Four Cohans. in Running for
Office" George NJ. Cohan's latest mu-
steal comedy offering, will be seen at
the Metropolitan Thursday night. The
songs, If / Were Mr.. Morgan i Want
to Go to Paree, Papa" I'll Be There,
at the Public Square" and Root for
Riley are popular
Another large audience greeted Miss
Percy HasWell and the George Faw-
cett company at the Grand last even
ing. Miss Haswell scores a distinct hit
in Du Maurier's ''Trilby," and is we'll
supported by the Fawcett organization.
George Fawcett's Interpretation OF
Svengai is intelligent and intense.
The play runs the entire week, includ-
ing matinees Wednesday and Saturday
During the second week Miss Haswell
and the Fawcett company will be seen
in two plays, Moths" and 1.-The Great
Unknown"
Mutoscope pictures Of intense inter
est and striking vigor form a notable
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