The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-12-06
ISIS HOPKINS"
Miss Rose Melville and Her Company
Were Highly Entertaining.

Miss Rose Melville and Her Company
Were Highly Entertaining.
The ipimitablc isis Hopkins" in the per
son of Mlss Rose Melville appeared at
Sweeney & COMBS opera house last night
and drew a large audience. The play is
an old and familiar one aud always picsscs
Miss Melville IS supported by company
Of capable players and. like a rare picture
In n handsome frame is pleasing 10 look
upou.
To many persons the title OF tho play
conveys little meaning and their expects.
tions arr rather 10 be entertained with
rough comedy and the amusing antics Of
country pumpkins, but most agreeable
surprise awaits those who have such Ideas.
Sis Hopkins" as a delineation Of char.
acter has been brought 70 perfection by
Miss Melville, who originated II, and sup.
ported by a wcllbalauccd company, she
presents n delightful and entertaining per.
Torrance. Tho Development Of the story
and the situations attendant thereupon al
low a broad range for the display Of Miss
Mclyillc's powers as comedlcnne and ~
the unfolding Of the life Of an uncouth
country girl, Ike the transformation OF an
ugly Chrysnlis into a beautiful butterfly.
comedy drifts into the realm Of the highly
dramatic aud passes Into the borderlaud ~
tragedy where the pathos imbGed into the
closing scenes Of the play by this talented
actress brings tears to the eyes of her
audience.
In depicting the character Of the un-
calmly, awkward backwOOds girl Miss Mel.
vile has q most difficult role, yet one
never tires Of her many uncouth antics, nor
her drol sayings, accompanied by such
cOntortions that makes one uneasy for
~. lf. Efr "a how al a.
The rlay is in itself clean beautiful AMI
instrut tive, ard isis Hopkins" the child
~ nature. tutored IN tar s,hoo of adver.
sity. develops int splendid woman. wise
IA the ways OF the rid. yet preserving
uusullicd her love 4 trutl and home, which
brings her back, after securing her educa-
ton 10 dnG the home saddencd by the
accident 10 her father through which he
has lost his mird. Miss Mclvi II kes TIE
most o. q strong stu II In the last act,
MS in the transit rm tiou rom beautiful,
well-ircssed won n back into the charrctcr
OF the rough, III dress d girl, she wake "
memories In the fathers vacant mind ani
through the sweet Old go 6, Annie
Laurie" he RECEIVERS his mind md recog-
nizes isis" while the curtain fan amid
thc arpl use al an cnwrapt audienc', who
wink beck The tears that como unbidden
over the pathetic scene.
George II Maxwell as Pa Hopkins &C.
0uftfed himself very cleyerly, particularly
in the trying part OF man whose reason
is dethronod. He won enthusiastic APP
plausr In thu last act 10y his touching In
depreciation Of tie part.
Johr rurton as Rijy scarboro was very
successfully done. ana MS nne voice addh
greatly TO his ability as q pl1Ter William
] Mason carried out the part OF Obadiah
] Odlum. an Indiana product, with much
4 credit TO himself his grave" Jokes aud
everlasting determination TO bury every.
BODY being quite laughahle. Edw I'd Hume
as Barth Varnum, a star football player
| and. incidentally, an ardent wooer. made a
great Impression ais dSne'ng specially
was also very good and he bids fair tc
| Miss Belle Miller as seminary girl and
MIS- Mary Attelng as q city-bred youni
| iady. with no reilly important parts y
NAV except to look well, certainly carried
out their p rts TO perfection. Tho remain
dor Of the cast were worthy Of praise, fol
nothing wns lacking 10 mike the play bar
mon!ous throughout
The opera house will be dark until Tues
day night when Paul Gilmore appears 20
one performance IN THE Tyranny o
Tears"