The Washington times., 1901-07-09
AT THE THEATRES.
Lafayette-'UncIe Toms Cabin.

For the first time In several weeks the
Lafayette Stock Company was greeted
last night by an audience which was so
large that it was necessary to open the
gallery in order to meet the demand for
seats. In reviving iUncle Toms Cabin"
the stock company is following the ex-
ample of nearly every o, her organization
of its kind in the country, and if the size
of last nights audience is any indica-
tion this week will be u busy one at the
Lafayette Theatre. Uncle Toms Cabin"
received its initial production as far back
as 1852. and through all these years has
maintained its position in dramatic litera-
ture despite the inreads made upon the
field by innumerable plays of higher merit
in point of construction, dramatic force
and brilliancy of dialogue. The piece
however, is classic of its own particu-
lar kind, and those VINO saw the play
many years ago on the occasion of its
last local production may go to the La
fayette this week without a qualm as to
what progressive dramatists may have
done 10 the old manuscript, for it has not
been tampered with In the smallest de-
gree
The play is in seventeen scenes, and
some of them are very unique. Those
showing the slave market. the river
blocked with ice and the cotton field form
very attractive pictures The singing of
plantation songs and Introduction of spe-
cialties constitute an important feature
of the production. All the old characters
that have made the play of lasting
memory are there, and the scenes depict
ing the many Phases of life at that period
of history are realistically and accurately
portrayed Uncle Tom and Eva have
their familiar talks and the irrepressible
Marks and his faithful green umbrella
never fail to bob up at the most unex-
pected intervals. Eliza makes her hazard
Gus escape across the ice-blocked river
and is followed closely by the blood
hounds, while Topsy, with her wicked
heart, and Miss Ophelia, shocked with
the ''shiftless" conddct of affairs in the
South, endeavors to bring about a reform
Taken altogether. the Lafayette produc-
tion of Uncle Toms Cabin" is a genuine
rehearsal of the play according to all ac-
cepJed IDEAS, and il provides what is un-
dOubtedly several hours of distinctly nov
ei entertainment. The day of lurid melo-
drama seems 10 have been spent, and in
the rush of the more select forms of
dramatic offerings which has character
lzed the stage III The last few years one
has almost forgotten the necessity of
the trap door and the usefulness of the
drop scene in front of which two char
acters conveniently meet and hold a short
conversation while the stage hands are
quickly setting the subsequent act.
Nevertheless, Uncle Toms Cabin has
proved its merit and will undoubtedly
succeed in tilling the Lafayette Theatre
during the current week.
Edwin Arden essays the role of George
Harris, ELIAS husband, who escapes
from his master and ultimately makes
his way to Canada. Ia the hands of Mr.
Arden the role seems like a new one, so
conspicuous does he make ii by his strong
conception. The unusual and awkward
construction OF the lines is completely
lost in Mr.. Arden'S reading and il viii be
a matter of keen regret to his legion OF
admirers that the character of George
Harris is written in but two acts. Rob
ert rogers looks the role of Uncle Tom to
a nicely, and having played it before
finds no difficulty in filling the part easily
this week Thomas l.. Coleman does very
good work as Simon Legree, the slave
tality in all its forms. and Wright kra-
mer extracts all there is 10 the part OF
St Claire, Eva's father. Horace New
man scored one OF the distinct hits of
the performance as Marks. the lawyer
and Myron Lefiingwell created distinct
impression as good old Pnineas Fletcher
James Mahony realized the role Of
Skeggs, the auctioneer
Minnie Radcliffe does effective work as
Eliza. although the role offers few op-
portunities, and Louise Macintosh con-
tributes an excellent character study as
Miss Ophelia. part particularly suited
to Miss Macintosh S capabilities. BlJou
Fernandez, in the one scene allotted to
her as Classy, quite surprised everybody
by her strong portrayal. Louise Nalen-
tine, who came on from New YORK Tor
the week was duly mischievous as Top
sy, and contributed her share to the spe-
cialties in "A song and cieyerly executed
old-time breakdown. Baby Lee Woii Ia
Yor as Eva, and the tiny miss who played