Birmingham state herald., 1897-01-03
THE WHITE SLAVE"

The elaborate scenic revival of Bartley Campbells evergreen success, "Ths White Slave" will undoubtedly attract | an immense audience, who are always ready to welcome an old favorite, after a prolonged absence. This will mark the first production of the play under the direction of Robert and John Campbell 0he authors sons) who promise to- both cast and mount the play in the same lav- ish mannen that characterized the. orig inal production at the Chestnut Street theater, Philadelphia, some years ago. It may be said of negro slavery that as an American institution it is far enough Tempved to become historical, and there- fore it falls legitima tefy into the hands of the dramatist who must be dull indeed if he does not find In it a rich abundance of glowing dramatic material ready at one virile truth to fan into picturesque shapes embodying the most attractive attributes of both hun1or and pathos. The gifted author of "The White Slave' no doubt appreciated this, and he had the wisdom to aim directly to present a piet- ure of southern life in ante bellumntimes without any political bias or any appeal to 'prejudice. Aff1uents in color, large in proportion and thrilling in detail as he shas made his story, he has avoided ex- aggeration with comnaendable care. The iplot of the piece turns upon Judge liar din, Kentuckian. whose only daughter had been deceived by a foreigner, and dies giving birth to child. This child, his Gwn granddaughter, hee names Lisa, and gives it to his quadroon slave, Nance, 'tOs rear as her own. As the play opens the judge is dying. He has given Lisa and Nance their freedom papers, and leaves his adopted son, Clay Britton. to see that they receive. the handsome an- nuity he has provided for them. Nance he binds by terrible oath never to re- veal her real parentage to Lisa. Britton has become infatuated with gambling and horse racing before the death of the judge, and besides mortgaging all the estates has fallen under the vicious -in- fiuence of one William Lacy, Mississippi planter. He is persuaded by Lacy to sell him the slaves in a lump, and as the mortgages were executed before tha par don papers. Lisa and Nance go with the rest. Sung by the too tardy remorse. the unhappy young man tries to prevent this by violence, only to be, imprisoned for his interference. As soon as he is free again he goes to Lacy's plantation and arrives just in time to rescue. Lisa. who has spurned her masters, proffered affection and is about to be sent into the fields Daphne, an octoroon mistress. aids in the escape, and during the melee that attends it is fatally shot by the man who would discard her for a younger and more beautiful woman. Lacy follows the fugitive on board the steamer Belle Gre ole,' and is about to force them to re-
 
 fire and is destroyed. Clay, Lisa and Nance float on pieces of wreck to de- serted island, and are again captured by their relentless enemy as Lisa is implor- ing her now acknowledged lover to kill her and save her from worse fate. Upon being taken to Osceola, the cap
 tives find there Mrs. Lee, the widowed sister-in-law of Judge Hardin,s and the family lawyer. Patrick Henry Stich.a The, latter has come in possession of proofs of Lisa's birth, which instantly exercises the malign influences that surrounded her, and in resisting arrest for the mur- der of his mistress Lacy is himself shot and killed. Among the negro characters are familiar types like Job, preacher and butler at Big Bend; Aunt Martha and her husband. Clem. Then there are Mrs. Lees daughter, Lettie, and Jack Hazelton, the lawyers nephew who get married the moment their guardians get out of sight that ends in a match for themselves. The comedy element through out is cleverly developed to relieve the somberness of the main thread of the story. Helena Collier Louise Sydmeth, Lizzie May Ulmer. E. L. Snader Frank Roberts, Frank Drew and Charles Drake win appear in the principal roles: All the, familiar songs of the southland will be sung in the plantation scene by "The White Slave" quartette and a huge chor
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 "The White Slave will be presented at O'BrienSs Wednesday matinee and evening at reduced prices.