The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-07-16
ADJUSTMENTS
MetropoIItan-"The Sorceress."


Florence Stone and the Ferris stock
company In a magnificent production Of
Victorien Sardou's powerful drama, 1.-THE
Sorceress, were accorded a most graf
flying reception at the Metropolitan the
alter yesterday. A large audience greeted
the afternoon performance, and in the
evening all records were shattered. Be-
fore 8 o'clock a line Of people eager to
buy tickets extended up to Fourth
street, and by 8:15 standing room was
being sold. Both audiences were unusu
ally enthusiastic and gave unstinted a;p-
prevail of both the acting and the sump-
tuous mounting Of the stirring stage
| story. .51r as.a. ~
Like most Of the great French drama
| lists plays 1.-THE Sorceress" depends for
It's action and interest upon the illicit
love Of a beautiful woman and a brave
man. The power Of Zoraya, a beautiful
Moorish woman, over men, and one man
In particular, forms the basis Of the pow
erful story. There Is, however, enough
of virtuous impulse in this woman's sac
! rihce Of everything for Don Enrique, upon
whom she lavishes the wealth of her pas
| sionate love, to redeem the character
from the sensualism with which 1t
abounds.
The drama is replete with startlingly
dramatic situations and the rapidity Of
| the action prevents any tagging Of In
terest. The romantic atmosphere Of
Spain in the sixteenth century, faithfully
reproduced by scenic artists, stage direc-
tor and actors, makes effective the artis-
| tic variations Of a daring theme. From
the meeting Of Zoraya,, known as "the
sorceress," with Don Enrique, the Span
f. sh nobleman, in the first act, thru the
meeting and murder in the governor
palace, and the historical trial scene be-
fore the inquisitton., to the tragic death
Of the lovers, who take poison from each
| others lips before the silenced mob in the
! final Yact, the auditors attention and in
terest is irresistibly held by the kaleid-
oscopic action. 1 ........
| Florence Stone, who has won a high
and assured position among the emotional
actresses Of the country, is at her best
in 1.-THE Sorceress."I As the sweet Moor
ish maid who wins the love Of Don En-
rique when he comes to take her pris-
| oner, she seems indeed the sorceress in
her wonderful use OF all the charms of
mind and body, and the Spaniard would
be less or more than mortal man did ne
fail to fall victim to her wiles. Later,
in her love and jealousy and in her no
BILE sacrifice of herself for her lover, she
rises to the heights Of repressed emo
tional acting seldom seen In Minneapolis.
Louis s. Stone is given his first real
opportunity Of the present summer en-
gagement, and he improves II TO the sat
isfaction Of his many friends. Mr..
Stone plays Don Enrique, the Spanish
nobleman who loves, in spite of legal
prohibitions, with a fire and an artistic
finish that compels admiration His con-
ception Of the role Is consistent and the
delicacy with which he handles his many
difficult situations shows ability. and a
temperament that Is prophetic of greater
things. ..-.. . $780,.
The other characters are capably por-
trayed by the members Of the company
They are unimportant as compared with
those Of Zoraya and her lover, and they
are so we'll done that they never obtrude
but fit into the places meant for them
and constitute an artistic whole. -..-
The magnifcence of the costuming and
scenic investiture is unusual, even in q
road show. It makes possible the finest
of effects and would be a credit to the
production Of any Of the great managers