Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1893-12-21
THE ARGUS. THURSDAY. DECEMBER 81, 1898.
THE THEATRE.


EZRA Ksndna h tAe sssubstleuts'.-Dtusr
Robssa-OtAer Atsractss.s.
The favorite comedian, Ezra Ken
dali, presented his sparkling new
comedy, The Substitute" written
BY Messrs. Archibald Gordon and J.
w. Harkins. Jr.. at Harper's theatre
last evening. While Kendall's "Pair
OF Kids" was always a delight. 1.-The
Substitute" is far in advance Of it, in
its comtcal situations, its well devel-
oped plot. and the vein OF refined
and wholesome comedy that runs
through 1t. The musical and other
special features incidental to the ac-
tion Of the play were first-class, and
IN the third act a very pretty stage
setting is introduced. Ezra Ken
dali appears in the character of ISL
mon Pure. and is q host in himself.
HE is splendidly supported by Ar
thur Dunn, the. diminntive come
dian. by John Hart, the opposite ex-
IRENE, and Jennie Dunn Kendall, in
the more prominent parts, while
Charles E. Eldridge as the centen-
arian gave master piece of acting.
Mhe remainder of the cast was con-
siderably aboxe the average.
stuart Robson 10 Legitimate Comedy.
Stuart Robson, who has grown
gray in the faithful service of the
goddess who prcsides over the high
est form of dramatic art, comes to us
Saturday night prepared to delight
Doth our hearts and intellects with
an elaborate production of Shakes
peare's inimitably funny conceit. the
COMEDY Of Errors" MIR. Robson
has no sympathy with those so-called
saSes who hold that Shakespcare's
plays were intended only to be read
in the privacy of the library. He
knows better, for he is aware that
the great author was one of the most
practical playwritcrs and construc-
tors that ever lived, and he further
more knows that Shakespeare
Throughout his life strenuously resist
ed all cntreaties topublish his plays,
because he knew their publication
would at once deprive him of the
handsome revenue he had been wont
to receive from their presentations.
These are some Of the reasons why
Mr.. Robson adds this year to his long
list Of revivals of the classic drama,
that Of the COMEDY of Errors. "em-
bcllished with elaborate pictures of
the different scenes and repro
ductions of the beautiful costmes and
the manners of the interesting peo-
pie of EPhesus during that semi
classic age Immediately following
the introduction of Christianity.
This play, which is an adaptation as
well as a great improvement upon
Plautus' Latin comedy, The Meme
chmi." written 1900 years ago. has
always possessed special interest for
the student of Shakespeare, not only
because it was his very first dramat-
ic work. but because he is believed
| to have made in it more than once,
illusions to his own life. Thus the
reasoning of the beautiful and chaste
Luciano with Antipholous of SYRIA
cuse. to persuade him to be faithful
to his wife, is n reminder of the lee
lures Shakespeare received at home;
for in his youth he was VIGOROUSLY
gallant to the fair sex. and the vivid
description of a nagging wife. given
by the abbess. furnishes graphic
picture Of the domestic broils which
the jealousy OF the poets imperious
and highly strung wife raised about
his ears. until in sheer desperation
he fled to London to secure his indie
pendence. and by SO doing found
himself in circumstances that called
forth the genius which was destined
to astonish mankind in all ages.
Other Events.
Following closely on the heels of
this performance comes another cx-
ponent of legitimate drama in Robert
Downing. who is to appear Mt Har-
per's theatre next Wednesday night
in 1.-The Gladiator" .ti
"Alabama." which is variouslv
known as MIR. Thomas triumph, Mr..
Thomas dream, but principally as
the ideal American play. will he the
attraction Mt the Burtis on Christ
mas and Tuesday, Dec. % and &c.
alabama" is a pure comedy. A
story Of the south. 1t was born in
the south. and belongs to the south,
and mas been appreciated as much in
the north as i; has in the south. Mr..
Thomas conceived the plot of this
play in Talladega. Ala, he laid the
scenes Of his play in that picturesque
spot, he founded his characters upon
people he met there. and wrote his
play there. And it can be said with
out fear CT contradiction that '.A1a.
hama" il the most successful Ameri-
can play ever put upon the stage.
. The famous actor. Frank g. Bangs,
heads the cast. And thcre are also
Clement Bainbridge, William Cal.
houn. l.. T. Hicks. James K. Marlett.
w. j. Dean. +. Il. Galloway. Edward