The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-03
AT THE THEATERS
MetropoIItan-Robert Edeson in "Ran
sons EolIv"

MetropoIltan-Robert Edeson in "Ran-
sons Folly"
Robert Edeson invests the young lieu
tenant in Richard Harding Davis COM
edy of army post life with just those
dashing and lovable qualities that all the
world likes in a fighter, whether he bat
ties on land or sea, on the gridirOn or
in the arena. Young Ransom, as Mr..
Edeson conceives and pictures him, Is a
daredevil fighter, a generous and likable
comrade and an Irresistible lover. His
sunny disposition radiates good humor on
every side, while his restless spirit chafes
under the deadening tedium Of post life
in the desert. He makes love and starts
out on an absurd wager to hold up the
stage with equal impetuosity. And when
both enterprises go. wrong and he finds
himself in a serious predicament as the
result Of his adventure, he Is far more
concerned over his quarrel with the post
traders daughter than his peril. The
contagious good humor of the youngster
is shaken by nothing save the tears Of
the girl he loves. The sudden transition
in that moment from the rafllery with
| which he has been seeking to dispel her
| ideas about social inequality to profound
concern when the unexpected tears come
shows Mr.. Edeson a master of his art.
Altho suffering last night from hoarse-
| ness, the latest aspirant for stellar hon
ors more than justified the faith in him
inspired by his achievements in support.
Mr.. Edeson has the swift, sure touch Of
the natural comedian. And, what is more,
he has a personality that warns and at
| tracts his audience. -~.s'.
The comedy is founded on a tale Mr.,
! Davis wrote a year or more ago. II
moves toward its climax rapidly, but with
some vagueness at times. The secret
of the holdup is we'll kept until the last
and the explanation is then made 81
quickly that the auditor is left in state
of some bewilderment. But the atmos.
phere of army life IS admirably repro
duced and the dialog is snappy1 ant
bright. 49,. $3.50 :. 80! ;, =. =: -
>. The post traders daughter is simply
and effectively played by Percita West
who certainly justifes' the lieutenant!
!, remark that no one could make a lad,
out Of her-because she was born one
The chief defect of the impersonation il
/ it's lack of shading. Miss West is pref
tily girlish, charmingly naive and alto
gether such a maid as Ransom woul
inevitably fall in love with, but it i
hardly likely that Mary Cahill would al
ways speak so loudly or that after tn
y tears had flowed freely her voice woul
: not show traces of emotion. The por
f trait Of her rough father, whose onl
: purpose in life is the elevation Of hi
: daughter is done in harsh outlines b
$ Edmund Breese These are the principe
: characters, but several good bits are fur
n nished to complete the picture such, fc
instance, as the Irish sergeant Of Law
J, renee Sheehan, done in excellent taste
O the colonel of w. H. Burton, and til
y other officers Of the post who figure
r the story; the colonel's wife Of Graz
n Thorn and her hystericky sister and ser
n sible niece, done by: Eleanor Carey an
d Adele Richardson. a..
49,. w. B. Chamberlain