Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-04-23
ROBERTSON INTERPRETs IesEN.
Classic of Famous Norseman Pre-.
sented by Chicago Players.

seH1eo by ShlcaSo Players.
Marshalltown saw Ibsen for the first
time at the Odeon last night, when
Donald Robertson and his associate
players presented the famous Morse
mans last drama, John Gabriel Bork-
man."
As an exponent of art for arts sake
Mr.. Robertson has an able vehicle in
John Gabriel, but to popularize his
name from az commercial standpoint
John Gabriel alone would prove a dis
NAL failure, especially with a road
company.
But Mr.. Robertson is not for COM
mercialism. He stands for the idealis-
tic in the drama above everything
else. The artistic features of the cele-
brated dramatic poets works are what
he would have appeal to his audience
thru his Interpretation.
There is something so dismal, and
so weird, in this strange story of the
life of John Gabriel Borkman that an
audience must needs forget natural
desire to be pleased by a story, and
see only the artistic side. If this can
be done the witness to Mr.. Robertson's
offering of last night can enter into
an appreciation of the dramatist's
ideas. If not disappointment is in store.
1t is perhaps with difficulty that the
average audience is led to fully COM
prehend the characters of the far north
country as they are portrayed by Ib-
sen. The theme of the dramatist is
selishness, and in every character
save one that trait dominates. Bork-
man himself is for self alone, for pow
er commercially His wifes uppermost
thought is for self, first, and incident
ally her son. Ella Renthem, Mrs.
Borkman's twin sister, would sacrifice
everything to gain her selfish end,
beaten as she was when her love for
Borkman was put aside by Borkman
that he might gain his coveted power.
And so on, down the line of principals,
excepting Wilhelm Foldal. He alone
displayed the only consideration for
another and was happy that his
daughter Frida was to succeed
After 1bsen shows the lives of all his
characters ruined by selishness, and
brings Borkman to his sudden death,
he adds a touch of human interest in
the re-uniting of the twin sisters, over
the dead body of the man one had loved
and failed to win, and the other had
won and did not love.
Mr.. Robertson, in the title role, prob
ably appeared to the best advantage as
John Gabriel as in any of the produce
tons in which he has been seen locally
The character of conceit and selfish
ness, apparent in every word and act
ion, loses the sympathy of the audi
ence, and naturally makes a successful
Interpretation the more artistic.
Marion PadIiolo c,,pIi11
man, portrayed a character that is
equally as hard at Borkman, and. much
different from the dashing Donna Blaza
OF "Zaragueta." Her work was very
artistic. Anna Titus, who in private life
is Mrs. Robertson, was most acceptable
in the difficult role of Ella Rentheim.
niece of Indelathio in "Zaragueta,'
eleverly interpreted the gay young
widow for whom Erhart Borkman sac
rificed both parents and aunt William
Owen was delightful in the character
of Foldal, and John Bowers, who was
the Carlos of "Zaragueta," made a good
Erhart Miss Esther Boardman, for
mer Marsnaiitown girl, had minor
part, Frida Foldal.
Mr.. Robertson and his company ap-
! peared in their last engagement in this
city for the season in last nights pro-
4 duction. Their season will end in Chi
cago within the next week, but follow
ing their thirty weeks engagements in
the western metropolis they will make
a four weeks tour of smaller cities, and
possibly appear in a few college towns
under the auspices of graduating
classes, giving from their repertoire
plays that will be substituted for the
usual class plays of the students.