Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-03-16
O.o.ososo.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.o
. PLAYS AND PLAYERS. :


+: PLAYS AND PLAYERS. :
e.o.o.o.o.o.e.o.O.O.o.o.S
Thomas W. Keene and his COM
pany OF players gave IN elabor,te
presentation Of Shakespeare's cub
lime historical tragedy, Julius
Cesar, q Harper's theatre lsst
night. The audfence, both in mum.
bers and charaoter, should serve
- anothsr proof TO the theatre
management that meritorious At
fractions will receive the Response
that becomes them in Rock Islsnd.
and that It il not necessary 20 en-
courage the lower grade Of actors, 90
called, who tread the stage, in order
to develop the financial side Of the
amusement enterprise.
The three main characters in the
immortal play were we'll played Last
night. Whilo Mr.. Keono does mot
seem 20 we'll adapted to the portrayal
Of Cassius a. he 10 to the more emo
tional characters which Shakespeare
has conceived in history's pages
Glouster and Macbeth, for instance
yet the passing Of time has left
him still . genius. The ranting
which has become . part Of the em-
bodiment Of his Richard, which 10
his masterpiece, 10 less becoming in
the classic yet cunning old Roman
statesman in which we saw him last
night. His best acting was in the
tent scene in the quarrel with Bru-
tur. At all events, it was then that
We saw the best of Keene-and
Keene at best 10 great. Charles b.
Hanford's Marc Antony was superb.
In his Grafton over Caeser's bier, his
great powers as an actor found full
scope. The role 10 one Of the most
heroic and inspiring In dramatic art
and history. 1t wss in it that Mr..
Hsnford distinguished himself while
with Booth and Barrett, and still
later ~ q star. It IL . creation -
Mr.. Hanford portrsys it. Marc An
tony was if anything the distinctive
role in the play last night. Carl
Ahrendt's Brutus was strong. but
could have been given more feeling,
more life. The slight parts Of Cal
phurnia by Mary Timberman, and
Portis by Marie Trofnsh were
sweetly enacted. and the company on
whole was well selected. Keene
presents Louis XI at the Burtis this
evening.
Lincoln J. Carter. author of %
many successful mslodrsmas, 10 0
man Of remarkable fertility Of inven-
ton. In his latest play, 1.-THE Heart
of Chicago, )" which comes to the Bur.
tbs Wednesday afternoon and even
ing, he has succeeded in introducing
something absolutely new to the
stage. 1t is the much praised .ap-
preaching train scene, in which IN
engine and a line of cars are seen to
be approaching the footlights, ap.
parently for miles away, for fully 10
minutes, without for one moment
becoming lest to view. This scene
occupies 10 minutes from the time
the headlight is first seen to the mo-
ment the engine comes to Q halt 1t
the footlights. Those who have seen
the approaching train pictures O.
thrown on screens by the vitascope.
cinematographe and other animated
picture machines, can appreciate the
beauty of the scene. But this IL not
accomplished by pictures. A heavy
engine and real men at the throttle
and fire box, aided by double stage,
clever perspective arrangements and
complicated stage apparatus, fairly
outdoes Edison. Full returns from
the great prize fight will be read
from the stage between acts.
O'Neill in ''Monte Cristo" ID an 1t.
traction that always is considered q
sure money-maker in all the princi.
pal theatres in this country. Its stu
pendous record of 10 years coutinu-
GUS success 10 . source Of wonder to
managers and public alike. Mr..
O'Neill's performance of 1.-THE Count
Of Monte Cristo" has earned for him
money and fame. and the title of the
leading romantic actor in America
He will be seen In Dumas great play
at the Burtis next Thursday evening.