The evening times., 1896-10-27

Charles Meyer. Marie Davenport and Min
ME Jarboe.
The music Of "Dorcas'' is all bright and
tunc(ul. 1t was well sung and capably
played The theater was filled in almost
every part.
shannon Of the StIt1' 'atthc Grand Opera
House last night. proved 10 he q melodrama
If merit performed hy 4 company who pos
SeSScd more than average adaptahiiity 70
their work and serge tof disc retion in the
treatment OF their parts. TiIc play Is by
+. r. hidder, II man Uf Position among
American playwrirhts tu which he raised
himself by much excellent work, notably
those two early sue CcSseS IN Sol Smith Eus
ellis repertoire, 'PcaCef valley" ana
"A / Uor Relation"
His latest play is in no remCtest respect
like his others. They were quiet and atmOs-
pherIc, humorous and pathetic in a sut-
dned fashion. shannon uf the Sixth" IS
On the contrary Vigorous mclodrana Of
all the high. strong culoTing which con
vcgtiUnJIitv associates with this style OF
work. Wilton, being Q model OF its class II
is possessed Of icss crrditieS ana absuT'iitics
aud more consistency and natural dra-
matte yiGur than many which the pubic are
called upon to witness and forgive in TIE
name Of mclodrama.
1t is "a story of India during the SepOy
rebellion in 1857. An English officer
steals q sacred jewel from the forehead of
u BrahInin iIol. Crossed in Ills love of the
general daughter. who gives her heart to
one Irish lieutenant. shannon. he CON
trives effeCtuaIy to stigInatizc him with
the crime. From this point the play works
through its only possible end. the final tri
umph Of Shannon and the punishment OF the
real criminal.
The scenes are well constructed, and the
dialogue is of the pungen', forccfui char
aCteT which alone is able to sustain the
artificial pla ne assumed In every nicludrama
The scenery is attractive. especially an In
dian jungle. aud a situation in which Shan
non saves the heroine from the mouth OF a
cannon. appeals 10 every lover Of realistic
sensations.
W. Il. Powers plays the Irish Lieutenant
Of the sixth; Joseph Zifiner is the thief
who took the diamond: J. l.. Ashton. the
commander of the British army at Delhi.
They acted well. Nina Morris displayed
power and fascination as Suradda. and
little Miss May Sargent played the heroine
in Il sweet and thorough manner. that en-
titles her to he called the Maud Adams OF
melodrama a woman whom she resembles
some what i'll personality.
Real hot stuff is what the connois-
seurs who saw Al. +. Fields Darkest
America" at the Ri iou Family Thcatcr yes
tcrday slii Of 1t. While that expressive, if
slang. phrase. accuratel describes he many
incidental Specialties and diversions intro
duced, with all its rollicking fun, the piece
has serious underlying purpose.
1t aims to show the development of the
American negro from the dark days OF
slavery to the present time, when many
cOlored people have become talented, edu-
Gated and refined, and some are even hon
ored with places i'll our national legislature.
Therefore, the scenes are arranged inchrono-
logical order, showing the progress OF Jubd
Lynch. a forlorn little pickaninny. from
the old plantation To the halls of Congress.
Incidentally the generosity Of the negro to
his old friends, and his grateful remcm-
brance of a kind old master are shown, to-
gether with all the characteristic sports
and pastmes OF the coiored brother.
On the plantation the good old songs are
rendered as only real negroes can, as
sisted by very competent orchestra of
CUlOred musicians. The first years OF free
dom and life on the levee are fittingly il
Illustrated, during which scene the McCaryer
brothers lead the Mobile buck dancing con
test and a race between the steamers, Rob
ert +. Lee and Natchcz, forms an exciting
climax.
The vicious side of tlarkey life is shown
in the Rabbits Foot gambling den. where
the affection OF the race for craps and
kindred games Of chance is shown. The
final scene is the wedding at Congress
mans huuse in Washington. Through all
these scenes the same characters figure.
Sam Lucas is the rising culored citizen.
Juba Lynch; John Rpcker makes an excel
lent Uncle Amos, while James Crosby,
Robert Irving. BILLY Miller and Others have
good parts. The male impersonations of
Miss Florence Hines and the musical special
ties of Mr.. and Mrs. Lncas are special fea-
lures OF varied and entertaining program.
---+-----
Thomas W Keene and Charles r. Han
ford appeared last night mt the Lafayette
Square Opera House n Louis XII"
The playis a dramatiZation of Sir Walter
Scntt's Quentin Durward," and, although
lacking in Point of plot. it presents series
Of well-tievelopcd situations showing the
craft, cunning, cruelty, avarice and fear
ofthe willy old king
Mr.. Keene plays the title part and he is