The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-02-02
AT THE THEATERS
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Thurston in "PolIy
Primrose" ...-

Primrose"
Actresses we have in plenty who can
reproduce with lifelilze fidelity the woman
with a past, the woman Of society who
frivOls thru life, the woman who is tenn
pest torn on passions sea or who, trans
figured by love, works miracles But where
could another than Adelaide Thurston be
found who would invest Paul Wilstach's
dainty heroine Of old Georgetown SO gra-
ciously with the indefnable charm Of
young girlhood?
. The mystery of 1naidens heart has
ever been a theme to inspire poets and
playwrights, but seldom has it been more
prettily solved than in this little tale Of
Polly Primrose and her love-. "A story Of
the war time and yet not Of the war, it's
action grows out Of the southern. plottings
that were rife in and about Washington
in '63. In strong and tense climax at
the end Of the third act is demonstrated
anew the old theorenn that love is stronger
than patriotism--a truth whose revelation
is no less a surprise to the southern girl
herself than to the conspirators for the
'lost cause" This fine scene gives pith
and moment to a story whose chief char
acteristic Is its fresh and innocent :humor
Mr.. Wilstach has certainly furnished
Miss Thurston with a play better suited
to her talent for the representation of the
sweet, young girl than anything in which
she has heretofore appeared. The con-
Trajectory moods of the maid who does
not know her own heart and whose actions
spring from motives of which she is utter
ly unconscious, are very attractively set
forth in this charming characterization.
While Miss Thurston is the central fig
ure of the play. she is surrounded by we'll
drawn characters creditable alike to play
wright and to actor. Brinsley Shaw is the
Yankee soldier with whose fate love and
patriotism play at cross purposes. It is a
strong, clean-cut characterize ttion, with
just enough of the heroic in its makeup
to justify Polly and enough unconscious
I comedy In the lighter moments to make
their earlier scenes instinct with enforced
| hunor. James r. Mccain and Lizzie Ken
| dali as Polly's parents give a charming
picture of married love, calmly content.
Franklin Jones. as the young scion of the
family, is full of the eagerness and high
idealism Of youth. while Frederick Kerby s
picture Of a similar youth who lacks the
balance wheel Of honor and whose plot
| tings bring about the denouement, is ar
| excellent piece of work. There are sew
| eral minor characters, most of them being
| well done, and one especially-the federal
secret service man of Charles Horn
Ebeing worthy of specific praise
! The wartime costumes, the old furni-
ture and the other properties have beer
devised and collected with unstinteds care
The action Of the play all takes place ir
the same room after the manner of the
| old dramatists. and this, one may be sure
is a faithful replica of the library in the
! old time Georgetown house. Miss Thurs.
ton manages her voluminous hoopskirts a.
| cleyerfy and shakes her ringlets a.
/ roguishly as any real belle of that soll
town might have done. If She fails III
aught, it is in reproducing the southern