The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-17
AT THE THEATER.
"a COntented Woman" All That Is
Claimed to BE.

Claimed to he.
AS a satire on women in politics and a
picture of what is possible, which is all
that Mr. Hoyt claims for his play "A Con-
tented Woman" is all that is claimed for
it. 1t is like all of Mr. Hoyts plays, simple
in plot and story, bright and crisp in dia-
logue and amusing to a degree.
It tells the story of an election for mayor
of Denver in which husband and wife are
pitted against each other. The husband is
not practical politician, but a wealthy
man, who has been put forward as the can
didate of the reform party. Woman suf-
frage is in vogue, and the wife of the re-
form candidate is brought for
ward as the candidate of
the woman suffragists. The pecu-
liar condition which this state of affairs
presents furnishes the plot for the piece.
The woman is elected but finds out at the
moment that she is to be serenaded by the
victorious woman suffragists that she is
not of age, and consequently not eligible 10
office.
The story is we'll told and the incidents
and characteristics are timely and well
drawn. The typical ward heller and the
enthusiastic follower of Mary Ellen Lease
are both there and form an amusing,
though striking contrast.
Miss Belle Archer as "Grace Benton"
the woman's candidate, was very effective.
Miss Archer has been seen here before in
Hoyt's plays and her sweet manner ard
thorough ability have made her familiar
to thea ter-goers.
Mr.. Dustin Farnum, wealthy and po-
litically ambitious was good as the de-
feated reform candidate, who won on a
technicalty. Mr.. Harry D. Byers was
the familiar bachelor, often seen in Hoyts
plays, to perfection.
Miss Henrietta Lee, who played admir-
ably the part of Mrs. Ebbsmith, several
times divorced and doing well, was recog-
nized by many of her friends in Savannah
Miss Lee spent several winters in Savan-
nah with her mother at the De Soto and
the Pulaski House, as young girl, and
she was pleasantly remembered by those
who were fortunate enough to meet her in
a social way.
Miss Bonnie Lottie made breezy little
soubrette and the balance of the company
was in capable hands.
Rosenfeld's orchestra furnished the mu-
sic last night and will continue to do so
through the season. The selections were
all good and the music was commented
| upon. ''The Manhattan King March, -
| composed by Mr.. 1. NJ. Resented, was
played between the second and third acts
and was very much enjoyed.
Tomorrow night THE Prisoner of Zen
/ da' will be the attraction. The company.
which is one of Daniel Frohmans from
the lyceum theater, New York, is said to
! be thoroughly capable. The actor who as
sumes the leading part in this play, has a
| trying role. In the prologue he is a sombre
and brave prince, with a foreign accent
| and courtly manners. In the following act
| he must be a brilliant, jolly young English
| gentleman, drunken and maudlin prince
and finally a sobered and valiant English
| man. In the succeeding act, which is the
| coronation at Strelsau, he is a picturesque
and debonnaire king. and before the play
closes he must play heroic and almost
| tragic parts.
! Mr.. Howard Gould, who so successfully
filed the role last season will again be seen
in it this year. The other members of the
company are said to be adequate.
Stuart Robson's "Lemuel Jucklin," the
simple old-fashioned North Carolina far
nler in Opie Reads delightful story "The
Jucklins," is a new departure on the stage
The book is full of novel characters, which
wind gracefully through tender story OF
| life near the Kentucky line A story is OF
simple life among the plain folk who live
up among the hills, picturesque story OF
| picturesque place, where life is easy and
the worlds never ending struggle for ex-
| istence is unknown. In "Lemuel Jucklin -
Mr.. Robson has found a character different
from his other work, for he steps from the
| dress coat of society into the habiliments
of the simple farmer.
|