Evening journal., 1902-02-27

Y& T
Nothing could better illustrate the
excellence Of the big "Florodora" com
pany to visit this city tonight than the
consecutive number of crowded and
enthusiastic audiences which greet the
splendid production. and the words of
praise for 1t from the most discrimi-
mating dramatic critics in America. 1t
Is the largest and best equipped com
pany which has ever played here The
company OF 100 players, orchestral
musicians and expert stage workers
travel i'm their own special train of
cars, including two sixty foot baggage
cars loaded to capacity with scenery,
costumes and other stage accessories.
Among the players of prominence with
this company are w. r. Carleton. All.
lC. Wheelan. Charles H. Bowers,
Thomas A. Herman. Alfred Cahill, NJ.
J. Smith. Sidney Jarvis, Miss Grace
Dudley. Miss Della Valdez, Miss Fran
ces Gordon. Miss Ida DOerge and Miss
Selma Mantcll Only one performance
win be given In this city. and that will
be at the Opera House tonight
Denman Thompson's Our New Min
lister" will be given at the Opera
House for a return date on Monday
night It's success on it's first presen-
tation here a few weeks ago led Man
ager Baylis to book it at once for an
early temperance. "Our New Minis
ter" is a great play the greatest ever
given to the stage. for critics every
where pronounce it better than "The
! Old Homestead" IL pulses with that
which is simple and gentle and nearest
and dearest to ones heart. IL is a play
that parents will enjoy bringing their
children to see. and profit by IL first
came TO Wilmington mOdestly adver-
tised, modestly announced, there was
no flourish, no great promise. and the
pleasure It gave all who witnessed IL
was all the more enjoyable because of
it's moderate expectations. a sparkling
stream of Yankee humOr runs through
out the play that wins an audience at
the start. The same excellent company
win be seen. Seats are selling rap
idly.
An important event in the theatrical
| life of this city will be the presenta-
tion here by W. r. Nankeville of Hall
Gaines powerful story, THE Penitent
This play ranks co-equal with "The
! Christian Gaines earlier work. and
or intensity of inetrest. stirring char
arter conceptions and strikingly origi-
nal lines. has not been surpassed by
any of that gifted authors otherworks
The production will be on scale of al
most regal splendOr. the scenes depict
ing the beauty of the charming Cum
lberland Mountains. where the story is
laid. being realistic and of a magnif-
cence seldom attempted. even i'm the
most extensive productions. The com
pany that enacts the various charac-
tiers conceived by Mr. Caine, has been
lselectod specially for this cast, en-
bodying many players whose names
lare well-known to amusement goers
Louis Leon Hall heads the list with
, Maud Claire Shaw ably seconding his
efforts Others i'm the cast are David
\ Hanchett. Myles Mccarthy. Minnie
Bowen. Bessie Marlowe and others II
comes To the Grand Opera House on
| Wednesday afternoon and night
B. Charming Grace George comes to tn,
, Opera House on March Z in "Undel
Southern Skies" SO we'll has the au
thor wrought. that the play fairl,
hreathes of the atmosphere Of IN,
/ South before the war. The men anC
women in their quaint costumes seem
ed 10 have stepped from a number o
Godey's Ladies' Book of the '70's. Th
dialogue throughout the play is of tn
y Southern customs introduced for ex
II lample the Halloween games in the sec
5 ond act. In one respect the play
wright has been decidedly daring. II
u the third act the marriage service II
read almost TO the end. OF Miss GeOrg
an exchange says Miss George as tn
young Southern belle dominated tn
entire action by the quiet strength of
charming personality. She is an ex
tremely beautiful young woman with
, mellow softness in her voice and grac
, In every movement Her portrayal O
the role was marked by pleasing natu
lralness. She was naive in the lighte
parts of the play and fully met the re
uuirements of the emotional scenes. II
lhcr portrayal Of all that is sweet AM
wholesome in girlhood. Miss Georg
stands a splendid chance of equalinl
Maude Adams. with whom she ha
lately come to be compared.