The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-11
I AT THE TrIEATERs
Lyceum--UnIversit Dramatic Club In
MPlIlars Of Society, ~ y

4IyCcuHl-O yhaDran1atIC tS'uO ~
pillars Of Society,".
Il The third Ibsen play to be presented
in this city was put on the Lyceum stage
yesterday afternoon by the University
Dramatic club. It Is perhaps less char
acteristic than some Of the others OF the
great Norwegian dramatist, but 1t sutfl-
GENTLY abounds in the sarcastic and
caustic gibes at social conditions to stamp
1t indelibly with the Ibsen seal. It turns
out happily, and the usual depressing
finale OF his other plays Is absent
1 The story deals with It hes foremost man
in little Norwegian scoast town, who
taking advantage Of the impulsive warm
heartedness Of his wifes brother induces
him to leave for America, and after his
departure. imputes crime to him and
the leading role in a. scandal. Upon this
foundation, Consul Bernick builds up a
| fabric of business honor and good reputa-
ton. He marries a girl for her money and
their only boy, Olaf, is the apple of his
| eye. ~ p
Just as Consul Bernick, yielding to his
greed for wealth and position, Is about
| to embark on shrewd and immoral, but
not dishonest, business speculation, ms
old love- who was Tilted for her moneyed
rival, and the impulsive boy, who promised
never to betray him, now grown to sturdy
manhood, return The story, while 1t In
/ wolves. the tangled threads of two other
! love affairs, is in Areality a narrative OF
/ the regeneration of Consul Bernick, and
his admission of the truth thru the inf1u-
fence Of Iona Hessel, his former fiancee.
/ 1t is but just toasay of the presenta-
ton yesterday, that starting with Sc
rious and intensely difficult psychological
problem. the Dramatic club is deserving
of the greatest credit. The play moved
along evenly and consistently. The dra-
matte presentation was ever uppermost in
the minds of the audience, but the eff
| forts that achieved it were seldom appar-
ent: The absence of amateurishness was
a marked characteristic of the presenta-
ton, and this was especially true Of the
principals. The stage pictures were care
fully worked out. and with one exception,
the scenes all went#of smoothly.
/ George Walker took the part Of Consul
Bernick, and certainly won golden opin-
ions. He has a fine voice and good stage
presence, and was most convincing. In
the last act he was especially effective,
where the struggle between stubborn pride
1 and love for his child were cleverly de-
picted. Corneliae Eollingshead was espe-
cially we'll cast as Iona Hessel, the dis
carded fiancee. Ibsen has made the char
acter the strongest aone Of the play, and
/ it fell into capable hands. Miss Eiollings-
u6du WAS lldluEdk anu yeI dL IlAllCS III
tensely dramatic, and her voice assisted
: materially In her triumph" @
Cyrus Brown, as Himar TOnneson, Mrs.
!: Bernicks cousin, afforded the only humo1
in the play, and was the weak, vapid
family intermeddler To- the life. Charles
NJ Hensel conceived the part of Rector
Rorlund with cumulative success. Blanche
, Kinnard gave a good portrayal of the
eternal womanly'fin Mrs: Bernick. The
Dina Dorf Of Sara Preston was a conscf.
entious and successful effort Arthur R
Joyce made a boyish-looking but manly
Johan. Frances Chamberlain played the
thankless but important role of Martha
Her voice was especially effective and hel
characterization of the repressed. an(
quiet sister convincing.
/, Fred Payne, Frederick Calhoun ant
Stuart NJ. Thompson took the parts Of thu
three members Of society well. OF thu
; minor roles, Ruth Haynes as Mrs. Rum
. mel, with her vivacity, her wonderful
Q gown and her gossip spreading proclivi
ties, made the mosts:of her part. Jacol
Wilk was a good Shipbuilder Aune, AM
: Mabel Tondel did the part of Krap, tn
e clerk, well. Misses Mabel Goodrich, Mar
s jorie Vance. Alice Stratton and Eva .Blais
q dell contributed to the liveliness of tn
= opening scenes The boy, Olaf, was takel
: by David West, and was one Of the bes
Y a in the entire eastYaeYYaY n vkt y =g:Y =.
e1 The play was ppf % Wider, the direction
4 of Charles M. Holt, Is whom much Of tn
!. credit of the play and its success belongs