The daily sentinel., 1901-10-31
The Critique on "Roanoke. +"

tiQue on Quo Vadis." We were charged
by loyal patrons OF the local play house
and others whose interests required them
to defend the theater, good or bad, with
having thoughtlessly heaped condemns-
tion upon a production which deserved
nothing but unstinted praise.
In their charge the indignant ones de-
clared that the very style OF our writing
indicated Incompetence 10 judge things
histriouic. "Older and wiser critics."
said they, significantly, "are less heart
less in their decisions Someone-we
forget now just who-hiated that we
had ventured "where angels fear to
tread; while few OF the more Feeling
souls" voiced their displeasure in this
wise: "Consider, pray, the disadyant-
ages under which a troupe visiting this
city must labor Oftentimes the jour
ney hither is long aud hard. By it the
actors are worn out on their arrival,
which not nfrequently is only couple
of hours before the play begins. Then,
too, in these humber companies the
members are made to hustle about as
much when the curtain is down as when
it is up. In the face Of such draw backe,
what can you expect? You have spo-
ken, we fear, whereof you were not fitted
to speak"
Good! all very good! but we knew the
water into which we jumped. And the
people who, from the shore, are holler-
ing, Reckless swimmer, you have gone
out to depth that even experts shun"
shall ind US still confidently standing on
firm ground and with our head above the
waves!
To come down to plain language again,
we beg to state that there is something
to be said on our side, too. Briefly and
logically 1--WE hope) our case is this: The
acting Of part is good or bad just in
the degree that it compares favorably or
unfavorably with the best that can be
done in that part. II there are normal
conditions on the stage and the actor is
in health. the latter, in performing, lays
himself bare to all honest dramatic crit
ioism. No extenuating circumstances
exist that can excuse him. Actor-folks
are in their workshops only five hours
day at the outside. Therefore, the most
artistic finish may properly be expected
on the results Of their labor. This fin
ish may be EXPECTED; but the privil, ge
OF seeing it is rare. oh! so rare, in our
city. Why? Surely not because the
actors are tired. No, it is because they
are for the most part inferior; and they
are iaferior for the reason that superior
players are singled out for bigger fields.
Managers cannot afford to present talent
in a city having the size and locality OF
Grand Junction. So, as q matter OF
business, it is not presented, it they
know it. We have spoken.
Some hundreds Of brave people sat
through the performs Of Roanoke"
which held forth at the Park opera
house Tuesday night. II among them
there were any lovers of the widest kind
of melodrana, such were given rich
treat. The play was terrible series OF
well-acted improbabilities. Poison, dag
gsrs, pistols, love, hate and avarice, the
sublimest purity and the blackest viii
laiuy-these are few of the things that
helped to thicken the plot.
The story OF 1.-The sweet pastoral drama"
is, in word, as follows: A sanity look
ing old man by the name OF Morse Zone
can find his likeness on any package Of
Quaker oats) kills General Peyton. Roam
oke's father, for his money. Tho aunt
and cousin OF Roanoke, who witness the
deed, do not disclose the criminal, but
employ their knowledge OF the crlme as
a means Of extorting money from Morse.
Tho last named, after doing away with
tho general, finds himself face TO face
with his son. Joe Peyton. A blow on
the head makes Joe a. idiot, and the
whole mix-up gives Roanoke tho brain
fever, from which she emerges totally
blind. Do you follow us? Then comes
three acts of hard times for Roanoke and
Joe. during hich the sooundrel. Morse.
attempts no less than four times TO muir
der one or the other Of them. Finally,
( onspicions as to the real malsfactor take
root in the minds of both brother and
sister. These suspicious, with the aid
Ia int