The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-04-04
AT THE THEATERS
Metropolitan--H enrIe crosmar,s In 2 N I
tresS NAiiV

tress Nell" . .ss,
Since Henrietta Crosman played last in
Minneapolis-just how many years.ago it
might not be gallantsto say-she has at
tanned stellar rank. She awoke one fine
morning In New York, some three years
since, to md that her performance of
MISTRESS Nell had in a trice brought
her lame ana reputation. She had been a
good actress before that-only the public,
which is 80 obstinately blind sometimes,
had not found it out. But New York made
up for lost time, and acclaimed her so
loudly and locked to see her in such
numbers that she has been playing almost
CONTINUOUSLY ever since for the metropolis.
AND as success was attained in an inde-
pendent mousse and, in spite of the "syndi-
cate, she has remained one Of the few
Independents. Recently, however, it was
decided that Miss Crosman must be seen
IN the provinces, and so a rapprochement
WIN the trust was arranged. And that Is
now 1t happens that Minneapolis now has
an opportunity TO see Miss Crosman in
the role that made her famous.
Unfortunately, however, the new COM
pany organized for the tour begins it's
work here with Insufficient rehearsal, and
the opening performance last night went
SO haItlngly as to give but little idea of
what the piece is when played with proper
spirit. The waits were interminable and
rev OF the players, save Miss Crosman
herself. knew their lines The star was
SO busy coaching her colleagues that her
own work suffered, and her colleagues
We're so engrossed in searching their mem
cries for cues and lines that they could
not do themselves justice. :
There were glimpses OF comedy, never
! theless, that gave delightful promise. The
character of the laughing, ready-witted
rue-hearted actress who captivated 8
king and held his truant heart captive is
| one that Miss Crosman invests with pc.
! culiar charm. Nell's impersonatlon Of
| the young Irish gallant at the masked
ball is a capital bit of work, once vol
admit the playwright's premise that none
Of the guests would recognize the actress
in male attire. The climax is reached
| when the daring young masker, driver
into corner where exposure seems Ger.
tain, jumps to the window and, before
leaping out, consigns her pursuers to per
dition In the rich Irish brogue that mad.
the line famous. -
- The play, is an ilealized treatment o
some episodes in the amour Of Charlie
II. and Nell Gwyn. It must needs b.
played quickly and with snap to seen
4 at all probable. It's comedy is not strik
i ingly original, but has a fresh and relish
able, flavor that makes it genuine: II
I Reeves Smith, fine actor plays the kin
4 with whimsical hunor that is historic
Addison Pitt. who has no other, importan
lead-the Duke Of Buckingham-is as We
ineffective Emily Rigl will no douh
make of the Duchess of Portsmouth
Nel's French rival, "a convincing impe1
sonation. Last night she looked the par
but her lines-between the French accen
the lisp and the faulty memory-wer
u frequently quite unintelligible. J. r. Fur
| | long WAS Sllfficinnt1y Stapv aS the actor
manager and William Herbert will max
a good character bit of pthe}eold fiddle
Edwin Fowler "doubles' as the callbo
and the constable and does well in bot
roles. Fanchon Campbell, as the orang
7 girl befriended by Nell, makes a good fo
r for her mistress in the effective last act
the best of the play.
When Mistress Nell'' is whipped int
! shape again, it should Justify all the Ell
thusiastic things Gotham has been sayir
about it and Miss Crosman.
w. B. Chamberlain.