The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-28

s,ppi. is the attraction at the Bijou this
week. It is an interesting play despite its
lack of originality and it is we'll acted.
cat the Old Cross Roads" serves merely to
call attention again to the lesson taught the
world by the American civil war. Its plot
is not new; and its subplot, for which, by
the way, no adequate motive is provided, mas
been cribbed bodily from Bulwer's Lady OF
Lyons" However, w. d. Howells says there
are no new stories; and if the old story be
we'll told, what matters it, after all?
In constructing his drama, Mr.. Reid has
wisely avoided .sensationalism. His appeal IS
to the hearts OF his auditors, not to their
nerves. In the common acceptance OF The
term, Sat the Old Cross Roads IS a play
without a hero and even it's villainies are
committed before the rise OF the trst curtain
It follows, therefore, that the story must be
interesting if the audience sis to be enter
tanned. 1t is Interesting, and the entertain
ment is not lacking. -
In brief, Dayton Thornton, the son of
northern reformer who has settled in The
south, is forced by his father to marry
slave whom he had wronged. Their child
is brought up in ignorance of her birth, the
mothers identity remaining a secret. 1t IS
at this point that the curtain rises upon the
first act
Annabelle Thornton loves and is loved by
Tom Martin, against whom her father cher
ishes a grudge However, he consents to the
union, and then publicly tells the story OF
his DAUGHTERS birth. Smarting under the
wrong done her child, Parepa, the mother,
meets Thornton at the old cross roads. He
strikes her across the face with riding
whip and she shoots him dead. She is ar
rested and questioned before coroner.s Jury.
The coroner produces the whip found beside
the body OF the dead man. Parepa asks to
see it. It is handed to her, and, whirling it
through the air, she brings 1t down heavily
upon the officials back. He springs toward
her, a curse upon his lips.
.What would you do if a man had treated
you that way?'' she cries.
s'Ktll him!" retorts the coroner, furiously.
..That's just what did, and Parepa draws
aside her scarf to disclose an ugly welt across
one cheek.
The jury retires, and ultimately brings in
verdict of justifable homicide.
In the end Doc Kerr, a Mississippi river
gambler, discovers that Parepa is not ne
gress, but Spanish woman. The taint OF
miscegenation is removed from yAnnabelle,
and the final curtain falls upon her prospec-
tive marriage to Martin.
The play lacks unity, and the incidents Of
the minor plot have been dragged in, as the
saying is, by the heels. They do not en-
nance the interest of the story, but serve to
provide a comedy element, elsewhere lacking.
Miss Estha Williams plays Parepa with good
effect and a-clear understanding of the re-
quirenlents Of a somewhat difficult role. She
avoids overaccentuation, but Is always con-
vincing, whether in expressing her mothers
love for Annabelle or her hatred for Anna
bellies father.
Frank Mostyn Kelly irnpersonates Tom Mar
tin with rare naturalness and Miss Jane Cor
coran is charming AnnabeHe. The others
are satisfactory. No attempt has been made
! to reproduce the costumes of the period in
which the plays action takes place. The
scenery is good. ~. S. Lawrence