The Saint Paul globe., 1904-12-26
At St. Paul Theaters


life, appropriately entitled "Ranson's
Folly, dramatization of his own
story by Richard Harding Davis, in
Producing Robert Edeson in the role
of Lieut.. Ransom, was the offering at
the Metropolitan last evening. And it
was a most agreeable offering.
The play is not pretentious af-
fair, suggesting problems, or placing
any woman's character under a pos
sible, probable shadow of doubt what
ever Only the hero's honesty is as
sailed, but as he, conscious of his in
noeence, makes comedy of it all, there
are no depressing moments permitted
10 creep into the play. Indeed the first
two acts are almost trivial notwith-
standing the climax of the second, in
winch Lieut.. Ransom is charged with
holding up the army paymaster and
shooting colonel. But the third act.
which is the last, affords vigorous
contrast in point of stirring scenes be-
tween Jeff" Cahill, the post trader,
and his daughter Mary, and subse-
quently between him and Lieut.. Ran
son, her sweetheart
Brisk and breezy dialogue charac-
terizes the whole play With the in
st1nct for writing narrative, rather
than soliloquy suggesting action
rather than psychological meditation,
the author has abbreviated the con-
yersation allotted to each character,
distributing it in such brief portions
as to guard against anybody becoming
bore. This is welcome relief from
the didactic style that has spoiled
many otherwise clever creations.
Lieut.. Ransom, in a jesting spirit of
praVado, has wagered with brother
ofneer at the festive board of the post
trader that he will hold up the pay
masters stage with a pair of shears.
lie accomplishes the. feat without
bloodshed, but unfortunately for him
the vehicle that contains the money
ana the army officer, is, a few mo-
ments later, actually robbed by the
real Fra Diavolo and the colonel Sc
r1ousiy wounded. Lieut.. Ransom is ar
rested soon after noon on complaint
OF jeff Cahill, his sweethearts father.
The resulting situation affords the
dramatic situations that ensue in act 8.
Mr. Edeson, who makes his first ap-
pearance on the local boards in a
stellar capacity, is to be commended
for his spontaneity. He has acquired
the pleasing accomplishment of speak
ing his speeches "trippingly on the
tongue" without the affectation that
makes them seem studied. His appre-
citation of humor is evidently keen, his
comedy eorrespondingly natural and
unforced, his action and bearing easy,
u
mannerisms. He manifests a reserve
that proves effective in that last act,
when the lieutenant prevents the
rather OF Mary from taking his own
life. The role is not one to test great
h1Strlonic power in any line of en-
deavor. 1t Is sufficient that Mr..
Edeson is always adequate to it's de-
mands.
Conspicuous for the manifestation of
np1f y
acting on the part of Percita West, in
the scene between Mary Cahill and her
rather, in which the girl tells him of
her love for Lieut.. Ransom. Without
the fa1ntest touch of theatric artifice in
voice or expression, yet in accent and
manner vibrant with the eIoquence of
maiden's heart revealed, this young
actress confessed her undying affec-
ton for the lieutenant It was unde-
nlably strong in its appeal to the heart
and the head alike, the real dramatic
climax of the play. Miss West is
young, but her aptitude for ingenue
roles unquestienable.
Edmund Breese contributed a. cred
liable portrayal of Jeff" CaffH, the post
trader, who would commit crime to
provide for the future of his daughter,
and Frazer Coulter was thoroughly
spontaneous in the role of Capt. Chase.
ALo " c1iCcs oHSeiidil- gave d cOmfneAq-i
able character sketch of Sergeant
Clancy.
The supper scene in the first act, in
which Lieut.. Ransom wagers he will
hold up the paymaster's stage coach,
was acted with capital relish by Mr..
Edeson, Richard Sterling, Taylor
Holmes, Sydney Ainsworth and Mr.
Coulter.
The other characters are mere filters,
and their interpreters of average quail
ity.
Mr.. Edeson was obliged to deliver
curtain speech at the close of the sec
ond act. F. c. H.