Michael Strogoff

There was a good audience at the opera house lastnight, when iJiss Ida Van Cortland and company produced "Michael Strogoff," and a fine perCormance was g-iven. Miss Van Cortland acted her part in a faultless styie ana received fine support. Jules Verne's thrilling tale of Michael Strog-ofE contains material for a striking and interesting drama, and, f fairly well performed, the play hever fails to arouse and hold the interest of the average audience. The version which the Van Cortland company presented at the Grand last night is one which has been concocted to suit the listé of the United States public. The two war correspondents who play such a conspicuous part in the story - one for the New York Herald and the other for the London Telegraph - are most accurate representations of character according to the American view. The American correspondent is a fertile, energetic, tactful fellow who never gets left and is always ahead; the Englishman is a grotesque, eccentric, bad-tempered, tut good-hearted chump, who is always "scooped" by the other fellow. Of course there can be r.o doubt '.nat I portraits are true to life, as the great American public understand it. Miss Van Cortland, as Marfa Strogoif, succeeded in being impassioned without the necessity of ranting. Good woik was done by Howard Hall in the title role. Mr. Hall is a fine looking man with a good voice. The ither characters were respectably performed, and the piece was very well staged. As usual, the specialty features which were introduced proved popular. The audience fllled the house in every part.- Ex. Ida Van Cortland is at the Grand Opera House for three nights, opening in the above play.