The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-15
AT THE THEATER.
Wilton Lackaye's Presentation OF
DR.. BeICraff,

DIR. BeIgra6.
Wilton Lackaye and his excellent COM
pany presented DR.. Belgraff to a large
audience last night. The production was
a successful one. Hypnotism is the pivot
on which the action of the play swings,
but mesmeric power is illustrated in
different light that has yet been shown on
the stage. The story is strong and force
full, and Mr.. Lackaye's role affords him
ample opportunity to display his powers
of characterization.
A year or so ago the manuscript of Dr.
Belgraff was submitted to him, and after
careful study and elaboration he cOnclud-
ed that he had at last found play in
which he might safely exploit himself as
star. 1t is the first play in which he has
appeared as such. When A. M. Palmer
produced Trilby Mr.. Lackaye played
Svengali. The critics and the public, with
out a dissenting voice, declared the work
of the young actor equal to the best eff
forts of even such notables as Irving and
Coquelin. AS the engagement progressed
the talk was more about Lackaye's Sven
gall than about Trilby and the actor was
the man of the hour. The character of
DR.. Belgraff is a hypnotic character. 1t
is not a pleasant one, but it shows the art
list.
Miss Wainwright who supports Mr..
Lackaye, in the character of Agnes Lang
ham, was enthusiastically received. The
state veteran c. w. Couldock's connec-
ton with the cast added interest to the
production. In Squire Fenton there is
suggestion of Dunston Kirke, but the
aged actor, who in a few weeks will have
passed his four score and two years, plays
with all the vigor of a man of less years.
The others in the cast were; Forrest Rob-
inson, Byron Douglas, Joseph Allen, ALT
Hampton, Edwin Wallace, James EN-
mons, ]. w. Rennie Russell Weyler, Vim
cent Osborne, Alice Evans and Caroline
Franklin.
Tonight oliver Doud Bryon and his
wife, Kate Byron, will be seen in The
Turn of the Tide. Tomorrow night they
will appear in The Ups and Downs of
Life. Both Mr.. and Mrs. Byron are
favorite actors with Savannah audiences.
Their plays are always well presented.
This year they come with what they say
is the best supporting company they have
ever had. Their play The Turn of the
Tide is of the same order-melodrama and
comedy-as the plays which they have
presented here in former engagements
The Ups and Downs of Life is a pretty
story of love and the best play which these
stars produced in long time The com
edy hinges on a young domestic who ad-
vertises for a husband and signs herself
a Lady of Rank. She is answered by an
other mental who says he is a lord. The
efforts of these two worthless to make
their claim good affords food for merri-
ment and laughter then interviewer into
this is pretty vein of sentiment, max
| ing the performance a clever and attrac-
tive comedy. Mr.. Bryon appears in the
role of Vivian Ransome.
A good comedy is an exceptional thing,
and good comedy well presented at 10,
90 and 30-cent prices, is a rarity, but the
management of Francis Jones, who be-
gins a three-night engagement at the Sa-
vannah theater on next Monday night,
| presenting I'm Old Madrid as it's OPEN
| ing bill on Monday night, promises that
| theater goers will witness one of the best
/ comedies that has ever been produced.
| 1t is modern, bright sparkling and witty.
| It's plot is one of the most ingenious and
! original that has ever been thought out.
| It's fun bubbles up spontaneously out of
| the situations. These are never strained
! but grow naturally out of the story and
are always vivid and life-like. In tone,
| it is absolutely clean and wholesome, and
! it's production demonstrates that literary
merit does not prevent a play from being
excruciatingly funny This is a comedy
| that can be enjoyed by all, rich and poor,
| and theater-goers have paid dollar
many times for inferior productions.