The times., 1899-06-14
THINGS THEATRICAL.

Neither that worthy charity, the George
town University Hospital. nor the man
ayers of the Carroll Institute profted
financially to any great extent by the per-
formance of Alabama at the New Ma
tional Theatre last evening. However, this
lack of material remuneration was more
than balanced by the delight of the fair
sized audience present, for the attraction
merited patronage testing the capacity of
the large auditorium
Considering the play as offered last even
ing from the same point OF view as taken
in other criticisms in these columns. it
must be said that it was excellent. The
nervousness so manifest at the previous
presentation gave way to feeling Of con-
fidence, which, however. was eounterbal-
anced by a manifest unfamiliarity with
lines and too slow taking up of cues.
To the ordinary auditor these defects were
OF little weight, but to those hardened
against sentiment and schooled in Gym
icism these demerits were pronounced. All
of this does not detract from the orig
inal statement that the offering was more
than good
Considering the characters represented
last evening, paramount credit should be
given to at least three people. This trio
consists of Ed ]. Walsh. viii McCarty.
and Alice Irwin. Others are good. indeed,
but these come nearer to professional
ideals. Mr.. Walsh is probably the best
cast and is always good, his last act being
the least meritorious, the apparent sim
certify of grief being wanting. Mr.. Nc
Carly, following Odell Williams and Harry
Corson Clarke in the character OF Squire
Tucker, finds himself in a considerably ar
tistic company. yet his performance is in
finitely superior to that of Mr.. Clarke and
loses little in contrast with that of the
rotund Williams. Little Miss Irwin is a
dainty morsel OF strong personality and
fits the part of Carey as a skin does an
orange, her sentimental scenes being nat
ural and within the limits of possibility.
OF the others, George O'Connor is capable,
despite his physical diminutiveness. the
part calling for man of rather imposing
build. He gets more meaning out of his
lines than did the originator of the part,
however, and deserves great credit for this
fact. A too rapid enunciation is the chief
defect of Mr.. O'Connor his lines receiving
greater significance when given with 4
Southern drawl A. T. Seaman was suf-
fering from a cold and lost much of the
sentiment of his part thereby, his empha-
sis being badly placed, this being espe-
cially disappointing after his better per-
formance of three weeks since. Daniel
Murphy is such an Improvement on Myron
Calice OF the Frawley Company that one
is compelled to forget his lack of dignity
and power and authority. Percy Leach is
capital as Decatur, his accent being COM
mendable and his gait true to the part.
Miss Paige has as her chief demerit an
I unnatural Southern accent. although this
is not so noticeable when contrasted with
that of the others, since each performer
approaches the supposed twang of Dixie
land as a rat must the bait in wire trap.
Miss Paige is satisfying as a whole. but
! lacks intensity in her love scenes. Thank
/ less is the task of Finley Hayes as the
! heavy" and he was at sea for lines at
! times, but was thoroughly and consistent
| ly villainOus throughout. The smaller
! parts by Mrs. Leach, Mrs. George Harris.
I and p w. Evans were of uniform excel
/ lence.
Appropriate music By the Carroll Insti-
! tute Orchestra was furnished in the entr'
acts. The production was well staged by
Mr.. Leach, assisted by Frank Romaine.