Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-12-05
TALES OF THEATRE

own dramatization of his celebrated
novel of the same title, to be present
| ed at the Illinois this evening, is max
ing as much of Juror as the book.
James X. Hackett, whose elaborate
new production of the play last
spring, was hailed as n triumph for
both the dramatist and producer
everywhere he appeared in it. is pre-
senting Isabelle Irving EN- tour in the
original production of the stirring
but wholesome American romance.
The best evidence of the success of
The Crisis on the stage, is the re
cord week played at the Olympic
theater in St. Louis. All the scenes
are laid in the old Missouri metropO-
lis, and the models for which Church
i'll drew his characters lived there at
the time, and some of them are still
alive. The late Hon. Henry Hitch
cock was the original Stephen Brice.
St. Louis theatregoers, many of whom
lived in the period, were delighted
with the truthfulneSs of the charac-
tiers and accuracy of local coloring.
1t was a crucial test, and the result
which was a 1000 weeks business,
spoke for itself Miss Irving is crowd
ing houses where she plays nightly,
and the audiences display every indi-
cation of thorough and lively enjoy
ment according to the trend of au-
lucrative newspaper accounts.
Charles II. Yale and Sidney II. Ellis
1.-The Evil Eye which comes here
Sunday is Il Kaleidoscope, pantomim-
ic. operate. melodramatic spectacle
of merit. ably interpreted by Il clever
east and brimful of mirth-provoking
situations, pleasantly relieved by well
executed musical numbers, first class
vaudeville novelties and amazingly
funny pantomimic tricks and sensa-
tons bordering on the marvellous,
with an occasional piece of strong
dramatic work to add to its interest.
Such is the description in a modest
way. of what is offered, and so that
pleasurable expectations will not be
dulled by too much detail. we refrain
from further comment and advise
that all those who seek a good time
should go where good time can he
found, and that is at The Evil Eye"
The most popular of all American
plays, I'm Old Kentucky" now in its
tenth season of unprecedented success
in this country, will be presented at
the Illinois Monday. The production
this season is entirely new through
out, having been prepared especially
for extended engagements the piece
will play in New York. Chicago and
l., -.
organized on a more pretentious scale
than ever before, the pickaninny con
tingent being greatly enlarged by the
addition of some of the funniest and
most talented little coIored boys OBJ
tainable. The players who will as
sumo the leading parts are all we'll
known people and the performance
promised will be the best in the his
tory of the drama. 1t is this big com
pany that will be seen in this city.
Probably no American play of the day
appeals as strongly to the masses as
does this idyllic romance of the south
with its characteristic types of south
ern life, its scenes on the race track,
its grotesque pickaninnies and its
manifold other features. The singing
and dancing little darl<ies come in for
no small share of applause and this
portion of the entertainment is one
of the delightful episodes of the play.
There are some thirty or more of
these ragged little pickaninnies, some
of whom compose the Whangdoodle
brass band, others sing, dance, shoot
craps and amusc themselves in var
ious ways. Their native, unaffected
ease and apparent enjoyment of all
they do render this a remarkable
stage picture. The lovers of good,
wholesome stage entertainment find
"In Old Kentucky veritable mine of
good things. 1t is always sure of
big house whenever it comes to this
city.