The times., 1901-05-28
The Lafayette-"AInbnmn.n

ht
The Lafayette Square stock company
has selected Augustus Thomas beautiful
play, Alabama" for the current weeks
bill and it is hardly probable that more
entertaining effort could be found than
this product from the pen of one of Amer
ica's foremost and brilliant playwrights.
The name OF Thomas stands for every
thing that is natural true. and beautiful,
and he never seems capable of degrading
humanity to any material degree. even
his so-called villains being drawn with
such precaution and care that one scarce
ly remembers that there has been a vii
lain in the story. His delicate touch and
insight into human nature are marvellous
Alabama" has been seen here several
times within the past few years. but the
play never fails to excite interest it's
pretty tale of the South after the war be-
ing one of the most delightfully."- told and
happily treated stage stories of many
seasons Mr.. Thomas is essentially a stu
dent, and a very deep one, or he could
never picture the people. customs. and
general atmosphere of a place as he in
variably does in all his plays, in each sue
ceeding one of which he nearly convinces
one that the particular country in which
the scenes are. laid must necessarily have
been his home. so clearly does he present
the life and so accurately does he de-
scribe it's people. An author could choose
no more lucrative field for a subject than
the South, that part of the country which
suffered and lost so much and whose peo-
pie have been idealized through their hos
pitaIity and generosity. Alabama. the land
of magnolias, affords a pretty background
for the story and introduces types some
of which remind one of old-fashioned
roses breathing sweetness ana natural-
ness all their own. In contradlstnctlon to
these are others of a more progressive
and active spirit. resultant from contact
with the buster North Nearly every au-
thor has some charm in christening his
plays and with this dramatist it seems to
be to select the name of a State for his
title Some one on hearing that the au-
thor had Just completed another which
ne had called Colorado told him TO
keep on writing. for there were still
few States left" So be ii, and should Mr
Thomas elect 10 contribute as many de-
nghtful plays to the number or states as
vet not utilized by him, the theatregoing
public will undoubtedly be a unit for eX-
pansiOn.'
Edwin Arden. the new leading man Of
the Berger company, is as flrmly eStaD-
lished a local favOrite as If he had been
doing nothing else all season but delght-
ing Washington audicnces- His artistic
work in Captain Swift is duplicated
this week as Harry Preston. known as
Davenport, and he certainly has no rea-
son TO doubt his immense popularity II
the cordial reception of last night audi
ence counts for anything. the ease and
grace which are a part of TINS actor
work. together with his absolute com
mand OF his art, were distinctly IN eVl-
dence last night and made his deIlneatlOn
of Davenport a delight in point of artls-
tic flash. Thomas l.. Coleman gave
splendidly balanced portrayal OF colonel
Preston, the kindly old Southerner, whose
pride and gentlemanly instinct have with
stocd the effects of the great struggle:
This is the first emotional role entruSted
TO Mr. Coleman and he proved himself
thoroughly capable of taking care of It.
Robert Rogers had many opportunities in
the role of Squire Tucker, whose pen
chant for chicken Is apparent at every
mention of the word. and the actor Great
ed a great deal of amusement by his droll
irnpersonatiOn. William Seymour, the
stage director of the company. made his
second appearance OF the season as Col
Onel MOberly, the gallant old soldier, VINO
persists In comforting n military title upon
everybody and whose pride In the 'Ial-
ladCga Light Artillery knows no bounds,
strong and played the role OF the young
surveyor very cleYerly. while Myron l.ef-
nngwen was a good Raymond Page.
In the role of Mildred Page Minnie Rad
cliffe found herself with mere TO do than
in Captain SWIFT and her work was
much more productive OF GOOD results.
Her scenes with Mr.. Arden were very
effective and among the most en]oyahle IN
the play. In fact, This Is the best work
Miss Radcliffe has done since she came
TO the Berger company. louise Mackln-
tosb gave a humorous portrayal of the
coduettish Widow Stockton and Agnes
Scott made AtlaTita4Moberly charming
little miss Kathleen Chambers was en-
tirely at home as Carey Preston ana
gave a very delightful drawing OF the
character.
The production of Alabama" is alto
gethe~ a most entertaining one ana last
nigbt the performance was unlike most
first nights in the matter of smoothness.