The age-herald., 1899-04-09
Miss Lucy MorrOW's Role
 In the White Heather

Washington, April S.-(Special. )-The play that had the biggest run here last week was "The White Heather" in which Miss Lucy Morrow, of Birmingham, played the leading role. The play is intensely inter- esting, being built largely on the melo- dramatic lines, the scenes being laid in England. It had an exceptional run in New York, and much interest was manifested in it's production here. The author made complete study of the aristocratic circles in English life before writing the play, and, while the drama is sensational, still the characters and scenery are correct iii mat ters of detail.
 Its chief recommendation in New York was this fact, and the remark, "Go to the Empire theater and see how the English aristocracy act, dress and talk was often made
 husband, a duke, in the courts to have their child acknowledged. The aristocratic circles side with the duke and assist in every way possible to crush the woman who seeks to enter the smart set through the law She finally secured the sympathy of the dukes sister, who does considerable swearing, but whose heart is in the right place.
 While the sister of the duke has the pop ular character, still the heaviest work falls to Miss Morrow, who assumes the role of the wronged wife. I watched the play as
  tention the work of the young Alabama girl, who has won her way from simple roles to a leading place under the manage ment of Daniel Frohman, the American theatrical king.
 The general criticisms of her work here were that it was excellent. But to one in- terested in Miss Morrow her work meant much more. What she did she did well | splendidly in fact. But there was also dis ! cernable power in her acting that shows | her to be capable of much better work | still.
 wronged wife fighting clique of Eng l fish aristocrats does not give much scope for acting, the part is naturally con- l fined to narrow and circumscribed limits l She can never be anything but doleful 1 There was little that was light in the part | She has to keep keyed up to a certain con- | cert pitch all the time. She has to depend | largely upon the qualities of patience and | quiet fortitude for the sympathy of the | audience.
 l It was in Miss Morrow's ability to keeI | within the limitations of her character that | was especially noticeable. One word out o1 | the way, one expression, may have jarred 1 the character out of its rghtful propor- | tions. Miss Morrow's handling of the part | showed a perfect standing of the role | and left nothing to be desired In the dra- | matic scenes in the first act, where her hus- | band repudiates her and denies their mar
 
 | to be an actor of exceptional power | Around her was grouped all the characters | and from her radiated the entire action of | the play. She held the center of the stage | with great dignity and consumate case l She had artificial tricks to catch the 1 audience. She never disappoints. Each | line she reads well and with exceptional in- | telligence. Frohman is seldom mistaken in | his estimates of a woman and the fact that he should have chosen her for this difficult l role places her beyond quiblng criticism of | any kind. But in this role one gets Q | glimpse of an ability to do much better | when an opportunity is afforded her in the future. I understand that MT. Frohmar | will give her a more difficult part next sea. | son. It Is something to have ones talent | recognized by Frohman at all but it is g l great deal more to be singled out by hin | for his leading roles. It is safe to predict
 that Miss Morrow will reach heights il
 her chosen profession that will be satisfy. ing to her own ambition and gratifying tc | her friends. A. w. B.