The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-03-20
"More to Be Pitied Than Scorned" at
the Grand

The melodrama which began the
week at the Grand yesterday is very
much better than the title would indi-
cate. Charles e. Blaney. the author of
More to Be Pitied Than Scorned,"
has concocted many atrocities in the
melodramatic class, but his latest eff
fort is entitled to a place on the credit
side of the ledger. 1t is better in every
way than anything that he has offered.
Nevertheless the present production
proves that Blaney knew his public
better than his critics. His more lurid
contributions were much more appre-
ciated by the Grand audiences than the
current play. This is not to say. how
ever that the gathering last night did
not enjoy the piece, but it was not as
demonstrative as at "The Factory
Girl" or Across the Pacific"
More to Be Pitied Than Scorned'
is a story of the stage and the church.
The author of the play assumes that
the pulpit is prejudiced unfavOrably
against the stage and its people. Blaney
has evidently taken as his theme the
well known incident upon which 1.-The
Little Church Around the Corner in
New York, was founded. A bigoted
clergyman of a fashionable church
once refused to marry a theatrical
couple, assuming that they We're I'M
worthy of his services and contemptu-
ously referred them to 1.-The little
church around the corner
The play depicts the struggles of an
ambitious actor who is a matinee idol
and leading man of a stock company.
He is married to a minister's daughter,
but owing to the managerial prejudice
against matrimony among "the pro-
fession' the marriage has been kept
secret. The villain in the person of an
aspiring heavy man." who seeks the
stars" position, contriVes to injure
the matinee idols reputation by max
ing public the fact that he is married
to more than one woman. This is an
untruth, but the villain separates the
Thespian from his wife and job for a
time
The hero is restored to the good
graces of the manager in time to play
the leading role in his own play. His
wife and child witness the play from a
box The villain, who plays a second
airy part in the piece, has contrived to
have ball cartridges instead of blanks
inserted into a property revolver
with the idea of thus disposing of the
hero and having it appear an accident.
In this he is leagued with the man
ayers wife, who is enamored of him,
but their design is frustrated by the
herO's wife sitting in the box. The
former pair finally fall into the hands
of justice and everything is lovely for
the hero and family in a home on the
Hudson.
Blaney has not borrowed, but has
evidently been influenced by scenes
from "ZaZa" and The Royal Box"
The comedy is cleverly introduced in a
scene behind the scenes of a theater.
During a rehearsal the manager walks
down the aisle of the Grand and calls
down" the company in true managerial
styles. One of the boxes of the Grand
is also used as a part of the scene
representing the play within the play.
The company presenting More to
Be Pitied Than Scorned" is superior to
any that have brought one of Blaney's
plays to st. Paul. A meritorious inn
PRESERVATION of a theatrical manager Is
contributed by Harry Markham. 1t is
a truthful portrayal of we'll known
type ard one that reflects credit both
on the actor and the author. for it is
free from exaggeration in dialogue and
King Baggot. as the
matinee idol hero. is also very capable.
Walter Wilson as Gatrick Gaunt.
tragedian. is compelled to burlesdue at
times, but beneath the burlesque there
is vain OF real humor and just bit
of pathos in the misfortunes Of zone of
the OLD school,. Baby Dolly Oweise.
as the actors daughter. Is a sweet and
pretty child, and completely captivated
the audience. The other members of
the company are quite satisfactory.
The play IS properly staged.
A vast amount of work was needed to
TO-.