The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-13
"sHORE ACRES"
One of the Strongest Plays Ever seen
in This City.

in This City.
A play new TO Savannah was presented
last night at the theater; and this may
possibly account for the fact that the at
tendance was no larger. The word play
is used advisedly for Shore Acres is a play
in the true sense OF the word II is from
the pen Of an American. James A. Herne,
the actor, being the author. It is GER
tainly not wide of the mark to say that
it is one Of the best American plays ever
written.
While it is purely local in character,
the scenes being all laid on the coast Of
Maine. the story is so beautifully told and
the characters so finely drawn that it is
comprehensive to all who witness it.
There is no sickly and canting efforts at
mOralizing, as in some dramas OF this
nature, but a real true lesson is shown
the lesson and religion of humanity
Ihe characters are not the usual person.
ages OF the stage, but are living, breath
ing people that are met with every day,
and the heroism Of ordinary life is strong
The character Of Nathaniel Berry, the
self-sacrihcing hero in homespun, is
beautifully drawn and Is easily recognized
as a type Of man Of whom the world
hears little, but Of whom no doubt many
exist, and though obscure, DO much to
make the world better. The production
departure in stagecraft. The people in
the cast do not act their parts they
live the characters they represent The
individuality of the actor is lost in the
role assumed. This may be said Of the
entire cast, and the auditor soon forgets
lhat he Is in theater. and y does not
,dhe great stretch OF IMAGINATION 70
believe Cne's self paying visit to the
Berry" farm house.
Where all are so clever IL would seem
invidious to make comparisons. Sufhce
So 40
in the character Of Uncle Nat, while
James Lackaye was no less successful
as Martin Berry. Others in the cast were
Edward J. Connolly as the quaint Joel
Gates, VIII j. Dean as Sam Warren, VIII
liam Burton as Blake, Caroline Franklin
as Nell Berry, Polly Poland King as Ann
Berry, all of them actors of a high class.
The work of the several children in the
cast was wonderfully clever.
Tonight Otis Skinner will present his
new play wilton the Vagabond." Mr.. Skin
ner is one Of the leading of the younger &C
tors of the day. He was seen here last year
in His Grace de Grammont." His Villon
the Nagabond" was a success from its
first production. 1t is written around Fran
co.'s VillOn, the French poet of the middle
ages. who, despite the life he is supposed
to have led, is said to have done for French
literature what Chaucer did for our own
tongue. The play Is one of absorbing in
terest and has already won fame for the
young actor. Mr.. SINNERS company this
season, is said to be one of the strongest
in the support of any star now before the
public. 1t includes such well known names
as Fred c. Mosely, Mark Price, Robert
Peyton Carter, Frank l.. Sylvester, John
Weeks, Custer Cunningham, ]. Lane
OConnor, Earl Ryder, Paul Gerson, Maud
Durbin, Sarah Truax, Rose Shuman, Ruth
Holt and Adalide Roberts At tomorrow s
matinee Mr.. Skinner will present His
Grace de Grammont," tomorrow night
Merchant of Venice" and katherine
and Petruchio." If II can be said at this
late day that an actor has created a
Shakespearean part 1t can be said that Mr..
Skinner has created Shylock. He makes
him a hale, hearty well-fed merchant
dressed in robes of moderate affiuence-
not of miserable meanness. In a word his
entire makeup and stage manner, are a
man entirely distinct from the feeble
crouching specimen which has been the
Shylock Of popular conception.