The daily sentinel., 1901-11-09
Sporting Life.

II that was a true picture of English
sporting life which was given at the
Park opera house, last night, we venture
to say that the simple folks of Grand
Junction don't want any Of it in theirs."
The amount of strategy, dishonesty and
temptation that, according to tho play.
exist in connection with contests on the
turf and in the ring, makes the whole
business, at best, dangerous in more
ways than one.
Up to and through the third act Of
sporting Life" the performance was
strong and fascinating. But the death
of Olive DeCarteret removed from the
action OF the play a certain central mo-
tive force the absence of which made the
last two acts drag trihe by contrast
with the others. Besides this, in acts
w and V, the mind was burdened by an
extremely intricate plot, worked out in
an atmosphere foreign to most OF US and
distasteful to many.
The acting, last night, was unusually
temperate and refined for mslodramatic
acting, and this moderation was most
welcome Lord Woodstock, tho hero,
though suffering from severe cold,
still got through his part creditably.
Nora Cavanaugh, one Of his "lady loves"
was commercially gentle at times, but
at times she lacked the power to make
her pure womanhood felt among that
reckless and immoral set. DeCarteret,
the hnancier. Andreade. the money
lender, and old Cavanaugh, the trainer,
all gave excellent Characterization OF
the types they were supposed to repre-
sent. Pugilist Joe Lee was fine-look-
ing chap. and we feel sure that not
few OF the lassies who saw him will hold
his image in their minds eye for a con-
siderable spell to come. Much good
fun was afforded by the twain composed
OF the 'ostler and the mnsic-hall artistic.
When the former sblayed to the ar
tiste (his betrothed) diminutive cradle
that he had purchased At = bargain sale,
and said. "This, my love, his for hemer-
gencies," the audience "nesr to died with
laughter"
The best work OF the play Was done in
| Mrs. DeCarterets chamber, at the close
of the third act. Here young Cavan-
augh, the trainers son, comes to renew
his base relations with the snake-like
woman who has ruined him; here Lord
Woodstock makes his way to plead for
the release OF his swsetheart's brother
from the beleful influence of this beau-
ty; hero Nora Cavanaugh discovers her
lover, through no fault Of his own, in a
compromising attitude with the motor
ious feminine demon; and here young
Cavanaugh, who has concealed himself
behind some draperies during the visits
of Woodstock and his sister, comes to a
full realization OF the utter foulness Of
Mrs. DeCarterst, rushes out from his
hiding place when the others have gone,
and stranglss her until she 10 q limp
eorpse This hnal struggle between the
adventures and the fslon was very mas
terful, both being highly capable play
ers. There we're moments in Olive De-
Carteret's emotional acting when she re-
minded one OF Mrs. Leslie Carter, the
greatest portrayer OF emotional roles in
America.
| Owing to the rather limited dimen-
sions of the local stage, some scenery,
several horses and certain mechanical
devices for them to run on, were not pre-
sented at all. The audience was large
and representative. AVN.
| R%Ar-