The morning call., 1891-08-11
THE THEATERS.
Success of "Alabama," Thomas
Southern Pastoral Drama.
Morrison as Baron Le Bots in 1.-THE Galley
Slave" - Business at the Other
Houses-General Mention.

In the case of Augustus Thomas "Ala-
bama." produced before a crowded house at
the Baldwin last evening. there is little if
any cause to discount the preliminary re-
marks in regard to it published in the East
ern papers, and with which the mails in
this direction were lately loaded. 1t is in
its way, and as far as can be compressed
into four acts, well-drawn picture OF the
South, with its new oncoming generations,
and with the echoes of o fratri-
cidal war heard from afar. In all
its business it is as placid as
bowl of milk-rural, reposeful and, for the
most part reminiscent With the exception
of the first act. which has for its scene of
action Mrs. Pages garden. all the move
ment OF the piece Is confined to Colonel
reston's premises at Talladega IAN Ala
bama village), with its ruined gateway and
other scars left by Sherman's troops on their
march to the sea. One of these scars is also
Colonel Preston (Mr. j. II. StoddarD him
self, who, though old and feeble, feels in
his fast-failing heart hatred unappeasable
toward the North for the ruin the war brought
upon him. Stoddart was remarkable in his
portrayal of this character. In the public
estimation he stands easily in tie first place
as an artist, and Colonel Preston may be
considered one of the chef d'nuvres of his
artistic career. The talent he possesses is
sharply marked, while it Is of high order
The mobility of his face conveys in every
line the spirit of his acting. With unusual
capacity for the strong emotions of hate
horror, the agony Of remorse and despair,
lie combines sense of sly humOr. He
never fails to lift the smallest part
into prominence, whether by the exercise of
the pathetic or pathetic quality, each of
which he seems to possess in an equal de-
gree. Another relic of the Confederacy
which the cast carries is Colonel Moberly
(Mr. L. N. HOlland). who is typical Ala
bamian, and. in fact, q type of the South
erner generally, excepting Louisiana, before
and at the time Of the war. Holland is in
the atmosphere OF the time aud place CON-
pleteIy. He is polite to fault wor-
ships woman as if she were a saint
"niched in cathedral WALL eimin-
ates the or" carefully from his
speech. and "milks" his long chin
WHISPER, not too much, but just enough.
Heis a lawyer by profession and Colonel of
the Talladega Light Artillery, but his senti-
mentality and pOliteness, especially when
there is a woman in the case, interfere con-
siderabiy- with his light duties. Mr.
eccentric lOw-comedy touches as Squire
Tucker. a Coosa County justice. Holland
and he make portraits of their respective
parts. Although the book was written
before the war;. Moberly aud Squire
Tucker might have stepped out of
the, pages of Judge Joe Baldwin's
Flush Times in Alabama" Maui
rice Barrymore as Captain Davenport,
Northern railroad man. and Mr.. Edward
Bell as Mr.. Arms trong, his assistant, sus-
tanned their roles well; but there was not
much characterization in either of them.
Mr.. Walden Ramsey has an unthankful part
in Raymond Page, who gives the villainous
accent 10 this otherwise Southern Acadia.
Decatur, an 'ante-belum'' negro servant,
played by Mr.. Reub Fax. was good con-
ception. well wrought out. All the lady
characters are subjective, and were nothing
in dramatic way beyond being easy
and agreeable, and the objects of Colonel
Moberly's polite and increasing attentions.
The entire third scene at the ruined gate
way of the Preston mansion was a moOnlit
one, and played to q darkeaed auditorium.
1t was an exquisite stage picture. and as
such more attractive than in any other re-
spect. During the progress of the piece a
concealed quartet sang several melOdious
numbers which harmoniZed admirably with
the scene, and the selections by the or
cheStra, Judiciously made. fell on apprecia-
tive Ears. Hinrichs is q conscientious leader.