Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-01-07
SHOWS FOR WEEK
The Counterfeiters Attraction
Tonight at the
Illinois.
FLoRADoRA TO BE HERE 18TH
Fatal Wedding the Sunday Offer.
iDg-Other
Bills.

| fuR-Other
Bills.
| The chief incidents around which
the story of the new melodrama, THE
| Counterfeiters," is written were fur
nished the author, Charles Z. Rice, by
an intimate friend, one of the chiefs
| of the United States secret service.
i he story is sensational, but founded
| on fact, almost tragic in its climax,
! though il also has its humorous side.
| The simple love story so charmingly
told advances step by step until en-
tangled in the criminal web it strug-
giles vainly for n time to free itself.
Pride, hate, love, cupidity, despair, re-
venge, all meet in the counterfeiters'
den where the climax of the powerful
action makes enthusiasm run riot.
The play is written on new lines, and
its astounding success has amply JUS
tilted the strong cast and magnificent
scenic establishment given it by Carl
\. Haswin, under whose management
the production is made. 1t comes to
the llunOlS tonight.
On the Strike of Twelve.
''On the Stroke of Twelve" n power
ful scenic drama that played to rec
ortI-breaking business in the popular
priced houses of the east for three
successive seasons, will appear at the
Illinois Thursday. Manager w. ID.
Lawrence has not only taken great
L., sc Il H..
season, but has given the play com
plcte new production. The stage eff
fects are said to- be marvel in stage
mechanism. The remarkable and SEN
sational part of Van Dyke, the mystic
rious prisoner, No. 1909. who organ
ICES the escape from prison ION the
stroke of 49, is one of the most real
istic characters ever portrayed. Man
ager Lawrence gives assurance that
he has taken every advantage offered
for scenic display and promises some
novel and effective settings.
The Convict's Daughter.
The Convict's Daughter" a power
full melodrama, and one that has
caught the public fancy, will be pro-
duced with all its wealth of scenery,
startling devices, electrical effects
and superb acting company at the
Illinois Saturday. Although only in
its second season the play has been
witnessed by larger audiences than
any other melodrama written in pre-
vious years. 1t appeals to every class
of theatergoer, from the boy in the
gallery to the mother of the family;
to Sweethearts and sisters, and
the father who loves his home. Yet,
even with all its power of entertain
ing, the manager has not been salts
fed to stop at that. He. has furn-
ished every little details i'll regard to
scenes and situations, properties and
mechanical devices to make perfect
performance. The first act opens at
Col. Gould's Kentucky home, with its
pretty home-like cottage, beautiful
flowers and shade trees. and the air
of perfect happy contentment. One
commences to feel its sunshine and
warmth from the very beginning,
and the interest never flags from the
first to the fifth and final act. You
are carried from one scene to another
with keen excitement, and great
hope and desire that right shall sue
coed and wrong shall reap its just re-
ward. a wonderful bond of sympathy
has spread itself through the audi
ence for the sweet innocent child of
the convict and her down-trodden
father.
The Fatal wedding.
For those who are fond of a drama
that appeals directly to the heart,
and though pathetic in its general
tenor is withaI clean comedy
drama, THE Fatal Wedding which
is the attraction at the Illinois, Sun
day, should prove of interest. The
scenes of the play are laid in New
York, and the various incidents it con-
tains are all based upon life in the
great metropolis. From the rise of
the curtain until the final fall, the in
terest of the auditor never flags, and
as pathetic scenes and startling eli
makes pass in rapid succession, here
and there is interspersed comedy of
no mean order, which materially
lightens the heavier parts. The play
when first produced, proved an in
Simultaneous success. 1t has been
playing to standing room only, night
~, and the vociferous applause which
the climaXes elicit, proves conclusive
ly the entire success of the produc-
tion. The characters are interpreted
by a company of unusual merit. each
member being chosen for his or her
fitness for the role portrayed. Par
ticular attention is called to little
Marie Childs, child actress of more
than ordinary ability. who in the
character of Jessie, the little moth
err wins the audience from her first
entrance and holds them fast until