The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-22
At. St. Paul Theaters

LOUIS James and Frederick Warde
appeared at the Metropolitan last night
In new play bearing the title of one
of the worlds greatest warriors, Alex
ander the Great, the man who wept
because he could find no more worlds
to conquer.
Considered as a scenic production,
Alexander the Great is a worthy
achievement. AS a vehicle for the ex-
ploitation of the two stars, it natur-
ally suffers by comparison with the
! masterpieces Of dramatic literature
comprising the rest of their repertoire.
But the twentieth century public is
consumed with an Unsuitable desire for
something new" Hence Alexander
the Great"
Rupert Hughes and Collin Kemper
are the authors Of this tragedy depict
ing chapters from the life of the illus
trious conqueror. In essaying such
herculean task, the representation in
dramatic form of world-f famous man
and events, the dramatists must nat
urally challenge comparison with the
geniuses who have embalmed and glori-
| fed by their creative power other vital
events in the worlds history. Thus it
| is the characters Of Shakespeare,
| Schiller, Corneille, Racine and the
Greek dramatists have attained an inn
| mortality that no mere historian could
| impart
A person who had never beheld
Shakespearean tragedy adequately pre-
! sented would be in a better condition
| to enjoy Alexander the Great"
| It's action drags. The history
of the interchangeable conqueror is
adhered to with commendable fidel-
/ ity in the play, even to the famous
| tears he shed when no more worlds
to conquer appeared in sight. There
| hicrn1 6,-o1, no
tween Alexander and his demoniacal
prime minister, Perdiccas. notably in
the third act, at the tent of Perdiccas,
| pathos of a noble quality is supplied
! by the introduction of Roxane, an
Egyptian princess, whom Alexander
loves, and passages charged with grim,
sardonic humor are allotted to the per-
nicious Perdiccas, impersonated by Mr..
| Warde.
/ 1t seems scarcely necessary to say
| that Mr.. James and Mr.. Warde were
adequate to the demands of their re-
| spective roles. Mr.. James played the
| all-conquering Alexander, whose noble
! dust might have been traced, as Hamlet
remarked. until it was found stopping
| a beer barrel. Mr.. James was the per-
sonification Of vigorous, strenuous
warrior to whom mountains were but
molehills, so long as he suspected
there were new worlds behind them.
The love episodes devised to relieve
the martial front and voice that Alex
| ander must necessarily assume at
forded Mr.. James opportunity to
avoid monotony, and portray the gen.
tier traits of the man. His magnifi-
cent resonant voice being well attuned
| to the expression of pathos, the scenes
between Alexander and Roxane (Miss
Alma Kruger) were the most touch
| ing and human in the drama
Mr.. Warde contributed a striking
characterization in the role Of the
| viper, Perdiccas. His makeup was
effective, and his acting throughout
marked by keen appreciation of the
possibilities of such a reprobate.
Miss Alma Kruger invested the
character of the misunderstood Roxane
with much tenderness and sympathy,
and Norman Hackett was altogether
satisfying as Clitus, the friend of AL
exander. The minor roles were played
as efficiently as could be desired.
1t would be pleasure to point out
any lofty periods or exceptionally terse
or vigorous English such as play
dealing with so big theme ought to
contain, but none can be called to
mind at this time. One of the strongest
lines in the play is ITO kill king" of
which effective use is made in the third
act.
The climax of the drama is depress-
ing, unsatisfying, even though per-
fectly possible, and perhaps historically
correct. The successful poisoning OF
! Alexander on his wedding day and the
unalloyed triumph of Perdiccas in &C
complishing the murder, out-Ibsens
Ibsen in it's pessimism. F. G. II.
In 'The Mummy and the Humming
Bird" in which Mr.. Gilmore will ap-
pear at the Metropolitan for four nights
and Saturday matinee, beginning
Thursday evening, he is credited with
having scored~a greater success than
he did last year in 1.-THE Tyranny of
Tears"
'For Her Children's Sake" which is
the Offering at the grand opera house
the current week, tells a story of love,
adventure and tragedy. The play will
| be at the Grand all week with the usual
matinees.
The first presentation in this city of
| ssWedded and Parted" one Of Sullivan,
Harris and Woods melodramas, is an
nounced for the Grand next week.
Fred Irwin's company at the Star is
Offering a varied bill which is attract
ing large audiences. The specialties
in the olio are strong and the burlesque
iS raa1Iv ooOd The cOmDanV is max