The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-12
ONEILL AS ..MOxrE oRIsro."
A Brilliant Performance of Feehter's
Creation.

|
From the reception given it last night
it would seem that age cannot wither. nor
custom stale the infinite variety OF
O'Neilfs production OF Monte Cristo. Sa-
vannah theater-goers gave him an excel
lent audience and he and his company
proved themselves worthy Of it.
When O'Neiu first secured the play from
center, people who saw him said: Very
! SOOul DuI nothing like Fechter does II.
IN the course of few years, however,
! they were saying, s'F'echter's mantle has
fallen on ONeills shoulders" Now the
| ORIGINATOR OF the play has practically pass
| ed from the memory Of the theater-gOing
/ - Nelii 5 name comes with 1t and vice
/ versa Mr.. O'Neill deserves much credit
LOT me marvellous success Of Monte Girls
| 10, which always attracts everywhere il
/ goes, and every time II goes there 1t is
not only the play that takes, but it's
| - Neln and his version of it, the oddities
/ ne makes each year he presents il and the
| company.
A representative of the Morning News
/ saw MIR. ONeill last night In his dress
| ing room. The Able Busoni at once be-
came the genial and entertaining actor
ana gentleman off the stage.
! nrst came to Savannah in 1870 short
! ~ after the war" Mr.. O'Neill said, in re-
ply to question. Il was with John L.
tord Company from Baltimore, which
l think was the first of any importance
I
ing parts then, and we remained here
four or five weeks playing a comedy by
6HoDlnson called In school, Rosedale.
Streets of New York, the Hidden Hand,
SIaude Melnot and other pieces. We came
mere after opening the Academy of Mu-
SIC IN Charleston My next trip was as
Staf IN Ihe American King and The
| celebrated Case, in 1883, and the next year
first time"
Just then he heard his stage call
Excuse me while l go in and kill a
man. he said. I'm return presently
After Riding himself of the despicable
pIOcureur Nallehrt, the famous ''One,' -
O'Neill returned
-, Il want to say" he said, that your new
tneater is great Improvement on the
oId mouse, and 1 consider it one of the
most comfortable and convenient houses
IA me south. l am we'll pleased with the
stage arrangements and / have no doubt
the people of Savannah are glad to get II. -
Mr. O'Neil said he viii never give up
playing Monte Cristo as long as he plays
anything, but he feels that he has arrived
at time of life when he should be doing
something better He has played in ali
OF the legitimate works, such as Virginius
ana shakespeare plays, and he is grad
ually working into that field, although
ne VIII always stick to the venture that
mas mas brought him fame and It's said for
island of Monte Cristo.
Tonight "Shore Acres" will be given
- AilNldA pIOuuCllQn IN savannah. The
play is an interesting one and has had
a memorable success from the time il
was put on the stage. When asked why
he made such a wide departure from the
so-called modern drama in writing
. Shore Acres" Mr.. Herne replied: Sim
ply to represent life as it is, and not hide
IL behind the mark Of artihciality
which is unreal and away from the true
purpose of the drama. Science, mechan-
les and art in almost every form, except
the dramatic, has advanced, and why
at cffl Ill
life as 1t is, and not as 1t is so generally
depicted upon the stage should be the
STANDARD for the dramatist." 1t is this
ndelity to life that has made "Shore
Acres such pronounced success
throughout the country. Its author has
avoided all technical rules of the drama
and II the theater-goers who have wit
messed the pastoral play during the last
-FOUR years are to be relied upon, a
dramatic treat is In store. The company
includes many eminent players, among
them being Mr.. Archie Boyd of THE
Old Homestead fame.
sent his new play, "villon, the Vaga-
bond" The play IS founded upon an incl
dent in the life of a French vagabond
poet, Francois Villon, who is one of the
most interesting Characters in the history
of literature.
Villon's life was particularly rich in in
cidents which supply abundant dramatic
material. His genius as a poet is undis-
puted, and yet he was undoubtedly a
thief, a drunkard a lover of many Wom-
en-; in fact a ne'er do well and de-
bauchee. 1t is more than probable that
many Of his poems were written in iris
on for from l455, when he first killed his
man, until 1851, when he was released
from his episcopal prison at Meury he
seems TO have been pretty generally in
the clutches of the law. But despite the
fact that he was more or less an out
law, he seems to have had powerful
friends at court. Charles VII pardoned
him twice and Louis XII once Villon
was twice sentenced to be hung. His
patron, Gullaume de Villon, from whom
he most probably took the name-Villon's
real name was Francois de Montcorbier,
entered him at the University of Paris
taking clerks orders he seems to have
gotten no further, either through his
disnclination to work or through his
craving for debauchery.
Mr.. Skinner has been very careful in
the selection of his company and has
surrounded himself with an Organization
gagement here is limited to four perform
ances. 1t opens next Friday even
Ing iuor with it'll vd the P|eseRtatiOti Of
present his last seasons success,
His Grace de Grammont," and at the
evening performance The Merchant of
Venice" and Katherine and Petruchio."
The ladies of the Temple Guild have
arranged for pretty musical entertain
tChS ~ MS ~ a NAoSOiAS ASulpie. I IOl
Fernandez has been engaged and will
perform many wonders on his musical
Instruments.
The Baldwin Melville Company will open
an engagement of six nights and three
matinees next Monday night. Manager
Baldwin has popular company at popu-
lar prices. He advertises a performance
at a small price of admission, equal to
many attractions at high prices. A change
of play will be given each performance
during the week. Clay NJ GREEN'S comedy
success, THE Golden Giant Nine" will
be the opening bill. Popular prices will
prevail during the engagement Might
prices, 10, 20 and 80 cents. Matinees Tues
day, Thursday and Saturday. Matinee
prices. admission, 10 cents; reserved seats,
10 cents extra.
Ladies will be admitted free on Monday
night II accompanied by a person with
a paid 30-cent ticket.
FOR ASSAULT TO NVRnER