The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-09-05
At ST. PauI Theaters

l.
Thessfresh, untainted breezes of the
rural drama, such as are waited across
the footlights by Way Down East"
Tor instance, which was presented at
the Metropolitan last night disarm tn.
critic. To find fault with a play that
SO effectively appeals to a miscellane-
Gus audience would be what the law
yers would term primary evidence of
dyspepsia. Indeed, a play of this
wholesome, invigorating character,
might well be prescribed for a sour
stomach.
Way Down East is built around ~
third act, with stunning climax. The
Wronged heroine does not permit "con-
ceaiment, like worm i the bud,' to
| feed too long upon her "damask cheek :,
but exposes the villain at the dinner
table instead of bearing the guilt alone,
and dashes out into the binding snow
storm, with hero in hot pursuit. This
act made Way Down East
| AS each character made his and her
] nrSt appearance upon the stage last
night the friendly applause of recogni-
| ton was heard. This was significant
of the fact that the play owns place
| IN the hearts of the people. Fictitious
characters who can survive year in
the minds of the theater-going public
must possess enduring vitality.
There are rural Dramas not more
! drawing is keener, whose dialogue pos
sesses more native wit and humor,
whose situations stamp them as more
striking pictures of the life lived next
4 to nature, but not one of them excels
| this in point of heart interest.
Comment upon the individual men,
| bers OF the company presenting the
play this year would be but a repeti-
ton. 1t is still true that the truest note
! is sounded by Sarah Stevens in the
role of Mrs. Louisa Bartlett, the gentle
wife of the orthodox adamantine
| squire. Here is a fine. intelligent, SYM
| pathetic characterization of a woman
whose mellowed nature has inspired
charity for an unfortunate girl The
kiss the White-haired matron gives
| her. even when she fears the worst, is
really the moral climax of the play.
Bucolic simplicity is caricatured in
! Way Down East" but the people
laugh as ecstatically as Hi Holler does
at the ancient jokes of an illustrated
comic weekly. Delicate tints and
| subtle suggestions would neither be
seen nor heard in this play. So Hi
Holler's laugh is louder and more pro-
longed than it really would be in life,
but the people return his laugh with
| compound interest and the stage man
| ager is the only check on His hilar-
/ ity
Miss L HocUe DAVIES Sllll plays the
| deceived girl, which role she originated.
! 1t is necessarily pitched in a minor
| key, and the actress who portrays It
has a weight to drag. for she must as
| sumo virtue if she has it not. Miss
| Davies is trifie sing-songy in speech
| during the first act, but in the second
and third, where the situations sum-
| mon spirit, she delivered the lines with
| good accent"
| Robert A. Fischer's Squire Bartlett
was convincing. and Uric B. Collins
was strenuous without theatric flourish
| in the character of David, the young
| farmer. Praise is also due William T.
| Ellwanger for his sensible, unconven-
| tional spontaneous representation of
| Lennox Sanderson, the city man. who
caused the trouble. James E. Brennan,
| in the role of Hi Holler, provoked bois-
| ferrous laughter, and Messrs. Blanchard
and Bunny furnished amusement in
caricatures of the town constable, and
| Seth Holcomb. addicted to bitters. Ella
| Hugh Woods village gossip, Martha
| Perkins, was effective.
The scenic effects lend atmosphere.
! The snow storm in the moonlight is
| more artistic and less theatrical in its
manifestation, through the squire's
| dining room window. F. G. I'll.