Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-12-08
HAMPTON ROADS DRAMA.
Danks' aad Csek's Effort Proves Glowing
Success.

Donke' ma COok'o Effort trOve9 0loWiD4
Success.
The military and historical drama,
champion Roads," written by Banks
aud Cook, was given its initial pre-
sentation before large. appreciative
and much pleased audience at the
Bur.is last evening. The cast was
made up Of tri-city people, but so
carefully had all been drilled. each
enc entering iato his respective role
in 6 spirit Of eATnestuets, that the
play ran as smoothly as il 10 the
nsnds OF professionals al the way
through. Inc play itself proved
such success that there we're en-
thusiastic curtain calls, and at the
end OF the second act the authors
were comPlimented with such an
ovation that they made graceful &C.
knowledgment in short addresses.
The story Of the play hinges on the
battle between the Monitor and Me,.
rimac and involves the invention OF
the Merrimac indirectly, but the zeal
OF her inventor leads to treachery,
betrayal and villainy on the one
hand with love and patriotism on the
other. The climsxes are dramatic,
and the general plot neatly woven.
we'll rounded and all well written.
A fine old southern gentlemen
and Washington widow, supply the
comedy, which is CT q high order.
The story is dramatically to!d-scene
after scene going straight for ward &c
the end. which is thrilling indeed.
Gustav Donald, o German tragic
actor, assumed the part Of Gen. Won
Bensinger, and Carrie Wyatt Banks,
formerly Of the Madison Square com.
pany, was Virginia. Mr.. Banks ap.
.peared as the Virginian, and Miss
Emily Murray SIS the widow, AID
both were ideal characters; Miss Claire
Gilmore, Of Rock Island. was q beaut-
iful character as EsteIle, evinced q
high order OF dramatic talent. W. H.
Martin and c. W. Schlegel we're the
other leading parts and justly came
in for share of the honors. The
play is confined to the Two days of
actual occurrence. 1t is purely 8
Drama and was written by Charles
Eugene Banks, formerly Of Chicago
newspaper writer, poet. etc., now Of
Davenport, and Prof. George 'Kram
Cook. Ct the department of literature
OF the Iowa State university, and
also of Daveh port. The scenery,
which lie very beautiful. is by Loui.
kindt. of Milwaukee, father of Man.
sger c. T. Kindt, of the Burtis.
The cast of the characters is ap
pended:
Gen Hugo Won Benzinser, a soldier of for
Lieut.. Henry Hamilton. a Virginia naval
oincer Loyal To the tniOn, IN love with
! Virginia EggeSton. ..........W. Z. Mood,
Lafe Earlan, Confederate guerilla CAP
tain in love with Virginia Egsleston
waterloo wins ar correspondents. u.naap
Lieut.. Worden, commanding Monitor. $50.
.:....::...... .......... William Butterwortt
squire Henderson, slave holder in re-
duced circumstances. .................
.................. Charles Eugene Bank
Col Geary, stac ofticer 10 Gen. von Ben
Anser. Capt o. b. Mitchau
| Lieut.. Gordon, stan oftcer 10 Gen. West
........C Charles r. kild
Sargeant Green, stan OF Gen. Won Ben
ZESSI.:.- .......... IT. W. Lonl
I'nvAte Hillls... Sergeant Louis F. W arr
Jel B0.shv, boatman In the roads. Gus Brow
| Seth, family servant Of the Egglestons
l. ;............. Chris Schlege
Little Joe, the property" OF Squire Hen
dersoo. ..................Clsm Buse,
virginia EgsleStOn. southern girl, mis-
tress OF Waverly plantation. ........
:......-..........Mr Mrs. Carrie Wyatt Banl,
Mrs. Cora Poynter. Virginia's foster sister,
reGct OF the late Senator Poynter...
.......... ............,... Miss Emily Murra'
E>teilc, Nirginia's maid. -. Miss Claire Glnor,
Oficers OF the Monitor, Messengers,