The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-06
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AT TILE THEATERS
MetropoIItan-Robert Edeson In "Strone.
heart"

problem play in "Strongheart, with
American football for a background. This
singular combination Of themes justified
perhaps by the important position Car
Isle Indian players have taken in the
football world, is nevertheless incongru-
Gus and the play, in spite of its rapid
action and it's ingenious construction,
cannot in the nature Of things be a pleas
ant one to see. Race prejudice is deep
rooted. The soul of the white man re-
volts at the thought that any of his wom-
ankind should wed a man of another hue.
stronger than any human emotion except
love. The author recognizes these facts
and bows to them in the denouement.
Starting with the hypothesis that his ed
ucated Indian is the equal in every re-
spect of his mates-as strong and fleet and
heady on the gridiron, as intelligent and
cultured in the classroom; as we'll man
nered in society and as high-minded and
honorable in the affairs of life-Mr. De
Mile is nevertheless compelled in the end
to forbid the banns. The return of the
chief to his people alone is not only an
artistic denouement-it is thessonly one
possible. So that while the race problem
has been handled strongly and artistical-
ly, it remains an unpleasant theme for an
American drama.
The football in the play is quite another
solid ground and his pictures of the great
American game are drawn with sure
| and graphic touch. It is probable that for
its football alone, "Strongheart'' will be
| a success Certainly a more stirring act
| than that in the teams training quarters
between the halves one could not wish to
| see. The crafty coach, goading his men
| on to deeds of might by every device he
can command-cajolery, insults, impreca-
| lions. threats and pleadings-makes q
scene that will appeal to every. man who
| knows football, and will strongly grip the
interest of everyone who doesn't It Is
a glimpse OF real football-the strenuous
absorbing game that leaves room for
| naught else in the mind of the man In
training. It is not the football the spec
tator in the grandstand goes crazy over
but the inside of the game from
the standpoint of the player. And Their
later, when Strongheart, barred from the
game, follows its course with tense inter.
est and describes to his injured team mate
what Is happening, the scene has all the
dramatic interest of Rebecca describins
the battle to Ivanhoe. There are, it il
true, some inconsistencies-such as the
| long interval between the halves and the
brief duration of the last half and the
written secret signals, around which the
plot turns, but which would be utterly i'm
possible in real life. But these may b.
covered with the ample mantle of dra,
: matte license
Mr.. Edeson undertakes the always seri
Gus role OF Strongheart and plays it Will
earnestness and fidelity. His reproduction
|! OF the Indian physiognomy, voice. speecl
ana manner is irreproachable, while tn
simple grandeur of the Indians nature
1eellngs Is 1mpressively revealed in thu
love scene. But Mr.. Edeson-as he dem
onstrated In "Ransons Folly'-has a elf
} lor natural, unstrained comedy, AM
) the TACT that this gets no opportunity i,
2 tne role or the Indian, is a loss and a dis
appointment. But there is no lack q
J comedy in the play, and it is of the fresh
Tree sort to be expected In this colleg
atmosphere. The various types of coleg
life are cleverly lustrated-Billv. tn
generous slangy big fellow who play
; center (Herbert CorthelD; Ross the "a :,
freshman but made Of the right stut
i. 'h1chard Sterling); Reade, the grind. on
presslVely learned and amusingly awk
Ward CIaylor Holiness; the head coac
aforesaid Edmund Brcese): and other
l to NIL the picture. Sydney Ainsworth doc
the traitor on the team with dissertation
} ana francis Bonn as captain Of the tear
, and Henry Kolker as the great ha1f1,ac
: are well bestowed in roles important +
me unfolding of the story. Naturally, tn
feminine roles are Of minor importance
G st compton plays Mollie, in love wit
, a:trongneart, acceptably but not conyinc
lngly. Perhaps it is not possible to con
vince in such a role. Dallas TYLER SIM
plies some refreshingly ingenious coined
WIS " ner scenes with Billy, while Percit
west makes the best of small role.
Inc team looks fit and, no doub,
,OLoughiin would pick them to win ate
looking them over carefully. This mean
tilat the players on the stage have bee
selected to look as If they might rea1lv b
players off the stage. When the nroSuo
t'on is put on in New York in the ne ea
th certainly ought to "go.' IN
4 'i'eie no telling what Gotham will like.
w. B. Chamberlain