The Savannah morning news., 1901-10-17
AT THE THEATER.
Frank SummerfeId's Excellent Per-
Torrance of "a Poor Relation"

Torrance of "a Poor Relation"
That the Theater was not crowded
last night at the presentation by Mr..
Frank Summerheld and his excellent
company of Sol Smith Russelfs play,
"A Poor Relation" is a matter of re-
greet. Only a small audience greeted
Mr.. Summmerfield. but it was a criti-
cal one, and the star gained an admir-
er in every one who saw his portrayal
of Noah Vale. 1t was finished; it was
superb.
"A Poor Relation" is really a play
with one .character-that of Noah Vale.
The other characters only fill in and
help to make up the whole. 1t is Noah
Vale, the inventive genius, the phil
osopher, the kind-hearted gentleman,
and his peculiarities that go to make
: the play an interesting one. The
invention itself, and even the plot, are
only minor incidents.
Those who had heard of Mr.. Sum-
merfield expected something in has
Characterization of Noah Vale, but it
is safe to say that very few expected
as fine a piece of acting as he gave.
1t was as finished an fnterpration of a
very difficult role as one could wish
to see. Mr.. Summerfields manner is
of the sort that just fits
the character and his humor
is of that dry, unctious kind
that brought out the best things in the
dialogue.
Margaret Mckinley and little Velma
! as Rip and Patch and Laura Oakman
as Scollop assisted Mr.. Summerfield
greatly. Indeed, the entire company is
strong, and there is not a part that
is not we'll carried. Maud Vaughan
was charming as Dolly Faye.
Mr.. Charles lockwood, who played
the part of Jasper Sterrett, was new
in the part, having only had one re-
/ hearsal, Mr.. Johnson, a member of the
company who took this part, having
been taken i'll in Charleston and left in
hospital there. Mr.. Rockwoods por-
trayal was entirely creditable.
The following is the cast of charac-
tiers:
/ Noah Vale ..... Frederick Symmetrical
Roderick Faye 49,. George R. Sprague
| Jasper Sterrett.. -. Charles lockwood
| Charlie Smith ..............N. Berger
| Marmaduke O'Haley. H. c. Browning
! Mr.. Parson ............ Charles Buman
Alice Warmer Observation-Disclosures.
............ Miss Henrietta Newman
Eunice Faye. Miss Fannie B. Sprague
Dolly Faye. Miss Maud Vaughan
Rip Patch CThe Heritage of the Poor.
Margaret Mckinley, Little Velma
"a Poor Relation" will be given at
matinee this afternoon and again to-
night. 1t is safe to say that nothing
I better than Mr.. Summerfields work
will be seen here this season and it IS
well worth seeing.
THE Sorrows of Satan" will be the
attraction tomorrow night and Satur-
day matinee and night.
THE Sorrows of Satan" is a dram
atization of Marie Corellis story and
the plot includes all the important and
dramatic episodes of the book. The
central character of the play is Prince
Lucio," who is the devil on earth in
full dress. disguised as a mortal, living
in the highest circles of modern Lon
don, possessing unlimited wealth, pow
err, with an irresistible passion for wo-
men, doomed to tempt mankind to evil
deeds, yet longing for their perfect pur-
ity. by which alone he himself may re-
gain heaven.
The company presenting this play
includes the following well known
names. in the leading characters:
Prince Lucio Rimanez, Edward r.
Mawson; Godfrey Tempest. Ross
O'Neal; Lady Sybil, Miss Nellie Yale;
Mavis Clare, Miss Holland. THE Sor-
rows of Satan" is in four acts. and
the scenery is elaborate. The electri-
cal and mechanical effects are said to
be beyond the ordinary.
The appearance and FRANKS of the
devil on earth, arrayed either in his
conventional garb or flaming red, with
cloven hoofs, a pitchfork and tail,
or in semi human form, have been used
as a more or less entertaining ma
terial on the stage ever since the very
birth of the English drama. but not so
in the coming production of THE Sor-
rows of Satan" which is founded upon
Marie Corelli's novel by the same
name In this play the devil is an up
to-date one in human form and is rep
resented as the victim of mans evil
nature, returned to the earth to work
out his redemption and restoration to
heaven through the effort of finding
good and pure natures in humans. The
play is an interesting one and will be
presented in the same elaborate man.
ner as it has been for the past two
seasons when it comes to the
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