The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-07-25
ADJUSTMENTS
Lyceum The Altar Of Friendship.

Lyceum- The Altar of Friendship. -
Never has the Ferris Stock company
appeared to better advantage than It
does this week in Madeline Lucette
Ryley's sparkling English play, "The
Altar Of Friendship The company,
rounded out by the return of Dick Fer
Stone, has accented ali Of The oppor.
tunities offered BY the strikingly clever
play, where delightful humor is artis-
tlcally contrasted with tender pathos
to make a whole that fascinates the in
terest and compels admiration. The
company is justly playing to the best
: business " in it's long history Of sue
The Altar of Friendship was writ
ten expressly for Nat G. Goodwin. The
character Of Richard Arbuthnot fitted
the great American comedian like a
always, artistically satisfying. Not
withstanding this, and the usual unfair
ness Of comparing a stock company
production with one put on by COM
pany that makes play its season IS
work. the Ferris Stock company g pres
entation Of the Goodwin play does not
suffer by general comparison with the
original.
The action revolves around the sin
and ,cowardice Of a divinity student
and the courage and humanized virtues
Of Richard Arbuthnot, all of which are
the resultants of loves which form a
motif of unusual power and attractive
ness. The student sins, repents when it
IS too late, and in his cowardice allows
Dlck' to assume his guilt. The lat
ter, on account of his love for his Sis
ter and Of his friendship for the sin
ner, sacrifices his reputation on the
altar Of friendship. His love for Sally
Sartorls later makes him demand his
vindication at the hands Of his brother,
ln-law. The culprit cringes before a
confession, but his wife, Dick IS sister
learns of her husband mistake thru
his suffering. victim. She vindicates he1
brother, and, being woman,'' for.
gives her husband and all live happily
The play is builded firmly on basic
human emotions and appeals strongly
thru it's heart interest. Its superstruc
ture is decorated with happy fancies
and its lines sparkle with undeniable
| humor.
Florence Stone as Sally sartoris, the
| self-styled "husband hunter,' gives ar
impersonation that is enthusiastically
received. Her charm of manner, he1
clever comedy and effective emotiona
work, combined with her recognized
ability to wear bewitchingly dainty
gowns and wonderful picture hats will
bewildering effectiveness, leave little t,
be desired. -.
I Dick Ferris follows Nat Goodwin 4
conception Of Richard Arbuthnot will
credit: He is the same Dick Ferris
and his appearance is the signal for ap
plause. Last night he inaugurated hi
proposed vaudeville between the acts b,
delivering a monolog that interrupted
interest in the play, but enlightened tn
audience as to his plans. ~...
Lawrence Grattan furnishes con
sistent impersonation of Arnold Winni
firth, the divinity student. He, i
! gloomy to degree that wears on tn
auditors nerves. It seems impossible
that a bridegroom, in love with hi
beautiful wife, should never smile eve
III at her, but Mr.. Grattan refuses to rec
ar ognize mirth in any form. !,
Leila Shaw plays the role Of F1o1
ence Arbuthnot satisfactorily, and alth
she does not rise above the mediocre i
the emotional passages Of the last &C
she does not offend by overactin&
!! Lewis Stone plays Joseph Primer, a
ex-convict and the father of the gi1
Winnifrith has wronged, with uhusus
effectiveness. Kate Woods Fiske doe
another old woman well, and the othe
members Of the company with one e.
ception do themselves credit.
- .S&f9 :. Merton E. Harrison.