Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-01-09
MISS BLAIR COMES
To Be Seen as Peg Wellington"
at the Illinois To-
night.
PRODUCTION PROMISED
''Thelma" a disappointment Com
ing Attrac-
tions.


there is great rivalry among the
Leading stars of the stage to secure n
story of dramatic possibilities which
VIII best display their peculiar tai
ents. This season Eugene Blair has
undoubtedly carried off the theatre
cal palm in distancing her many
rivals and presenting the very first
production of that strong and beau
tiful story, Peg Wellington" The
dramatization which Miss Blair pre-
sents was adapted by Wendell ALI
son Hobart from Charles Reade's
noted story. The dramatist has fol-
lowed closely the lines of the novel
list and an admirable play is the re-
suit. Miss Blair supported by the
largest and strongest company she
has ever had, will present Peg
Wellington" at the Illinois this even
ing.
For this production the manage
ment has spared neither pains nor
expense. The scenery, every piece of
which is new, was designed and exc
cuted by REIN and n special car is
required for its transportation. The
costumes may fifty be described as
gorgeous, and are the work of Van
Horne and DaZian, while even the
shoes, with their glistening silver
buckles, were contracted for by Az
zimonti. With the newest and latest
accessories and accoutrements, the
production is made complete by the
supervision of an augmented stage
management.
Those who are familiar with
Charles Reade's classic novel can well
imagine the agreeable sensations
which await them in the portrayal of
the characters of Peg. Mr. Nane. !
James TripIet, Mabel Vane and all
the other attractive personages de-
Picted in the story; while to all it
gives an insight into the actual con-
dition of the stage and drama in the
days when ColIey Cibber, the poet
laureate, was one of the chief play
wrights and gave it such fine" YER
siOns of Shakespeare.
As presented by Miss Blair, the
play deals. as matter of course.
with the story of Ernest Vane's love
for the beautiful and sensible Peg
WOffington. but il includes all of the
incidents connecte with Pegs dis
covery of the family of the starving
triplet. the peculiarly charming man
ner in which she relieves their wants
and the ludicrously funny incident
of the portrait that so disconcerts
the critics of the unfortunate artist
While the book is followed
almost in it's entirity, yet the dramat-
list gives us n Peg Wellington with
vastly more heart and feeling than
Charles Reade assigned to this char
acter, as the great novelist remained
too true to his art in wishing to por-
tray his heroine as she was in life.
Miss Blair's choice of Peg as a role
to create was a particularly happy
one, as she is eminently fitted for
the part and her personality har-
monies with the description given
by the novelist. Needless to say her
gowns are superb and tastefully Sc
lected. Miss Blair's leading woman
this season is Miss Eleanor Montell,
whose lissome grace and natural
beauty. make her an ideal Mabel
Vane, the trusting and sweet-natured
country wife. Among others in the
cast are Miss Clara Lambert, Miss
Julia Gordon and Messrs. Vaughn
CHASER, James DAILY, Frank Richter,
Walter Goodrich and Hugh 4.
Swayne.