Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-01-26
Miss Charlotte Thomp.on's Baggage

ment-"Ehe Planters Wife,
A very refined and intelligent audience
welcomed Miss Charlotte Thompson, an old
Savannah favorite, upon her appearance
last evening at our Theatre. 1t was In this
city that Miss Thompson made her debut,
and the Endorsement she here received from
our theatre goers and from the press first
started her on the career In which she has
become so distinguished an artistic. The
play selected for last evening was q new
comedy drama, written by Dir. j. K. Tillott-
son, founded partially on personal expert
ence during the war, and although possessing
some defects natural TO the first efforts of
an author, nevertheless comprises fund
OF humor that-tinged with the thrilling
and e1citiDg-commends 1t highly, and
affords genuine entertainment. The regret
to msnY OF the admirers of Miss Thompson
was that 1t does not bring her more fire.
quently before the audience. Yet its
construction gives her ample scope to dis
play most adyantageously her fine abilities
SIS an emotional actress, and this regret was
somewhat lessened by the fact that the
other characters bad some chance to con-
tribute TO the enjoyment. Edith Grey"
THE Planters Wife, as persOnated by
Miss Thompson, was natural and artistic,
and so admirably rendered as to enlist the
feelings OF the audience and to call forth
such applause as compelled her reappaar-
ance before the curtain. The character fs
well drawn, and Miss Thompson's thorough
conception OF 1t, and excellent personation,
commended her to the warmest sYmpathles
OF the audience. The scene of the play ia
laid IN the South near the close of the war.
"Arthur Blake" Xr. Walter L. Dennis) Is a
Northern prisoner found a. Andersonville
hEr 49, o. -
Murray, Southern planter ard officer In
the Confederate army, whose life "Blake"
had saved In some manner at the battle of
Antietam. "GFaham" takes 'tBlaken from
the prison to his home, where he introduces
him under an assumed name, as his cousin.
There he meets edith Grey" (Miss
Thompson), whom he has known In the
North under unpleasant circumstances, and
finds that she is about to marry fsGraham -
Knowing her past history, and that she is
the wife Of "Dan Barton" (Mr. G. G. Craigl,
william, he intimates that he will expose
her TO "Graham.n
In aecene between tfBIake'' and s'Edi.hn
she convinces him that 'sBartonn is dead
and that she Is pure and innocent. She is
married to Graham" and Immediately
after 'Bartonn appears upon the scene and
tries to force her to rob s'Graham's" desk Of
an important paper which is kept there.
complete, ''Harry Livingston" (Mr. VIM.
Yerance), succeeded In getting the paper.
and. unknown to Edith" places 1t In the
pocket of "Blake's" coat, which
had been carelessly thrown on the sofa,
their object being to have sBlake'
arrested as spy 10 order to get him away
from "Dora Graham" Miss Ethel Gray
brooke), who is engaged to Livingston"
but who is in love with "Blake." In the
fourth act "Livingston" charges "Blake''
with the robbery and causes his arrest.
Edith" defends him and thereby causes
the jealousy Of Graham" who leaves her.
She offers to explain all, but Barton" en-
teTing suddenly, she faints. In the last act
Livingston" threatening to have 'Blaken
arrested as spy, forces DORA to consent
to marry him to save 'tBlake's" life, but
"Blake" returns from prison and tells her
that he will send for Edith (who has run
away, aud that she win prove that "Liv-
ingston" is a criminal. In the marriage
scene Edith" returns, confronts "Barton'
and Livingston" calls the family together,
and denounces the pair as robbers and
r0gues, and the play ends happily in the
reconciliation of "Graham" and edith"
and the marriage OF ''Blaken and "Dora. /"
1t may be seen from this brief synopsis
that there is field for exciting incidents and
thrilling situations, and when enacted by
good company cannot fail to be well re-
eeived
The principal characters were well rem
dered, and Miss Thompson is very fortunate
in her support, the acing making amends
for any defects in the play. Miss Anne
Montague. who represented the old mauma
"Toinette," was rather faulty, not having a
proper conception of the negro character,
but she is witbal a good actress, and, in a
role suited to her, would he worthy of
commentator. Miss Rosa Keene.
a charming little actress, piquant
and Vivaeious, Is a capital soubrette, and
as "Angie Gorlon' In the scene with
"simeon sincoe" lMr. E. H. Stephensl,
who aspired to literary fame, made a de-
cided hit, and the angling for a proposal
was received with r0ars of laughter. We
may also particularly commend Miss Ethel
GraTbrooke, who has frequently delighted
our play-gcers in previous companies
for her excellent Interpretation of
the character of "Dora Graham MIR.
Dennis and Mr.. Murray are excellent actors,
and no fault can be found with their per-
sonations. Mrs. johnson, as "Aunt Su-
san,n was very good, save in the last act,
and that was the fault OF the play, not
the actress. Although, as we have said,
there are some defec.s In the play, and one
or two scenes were prolonged to WEAKNESS,
yet 1t afforded entertainment, and II the
appliance be q criterion, received the appro-
baton of the audience. The defects WHICH
are apparent will, no doubt, be rectified by
the accomplished author, Mr.. Tillotston,
when suggested by experience, and the
''Planter's Wife" win take its place with
the popular plays of the day.
This afternoon for matinee the beautiful
moral drama of east Lynne" will be pre-
seBted, and this evening Miss Thompson
will appear in her great character of "Jans
Eyre" To morrow evening she will appear
as "Miss Mutton" on the occasion of the
grand complimentary benefit rendered by
the citizens of savannah