The Savannah morning news., 1903-01-23
AT THE THEATER

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Another successful performance was
given last night by the Tolson Stock
Company in The Gamblers Sweet
heart" The scene was laid in Idaho
from 1876 to 1884. eight years elapsing
between the second and third acts. Gus
Arthur appeared in the title role, and
Lorena Tolson as Bessie Fairfax. his
sweetheart. Master Frantz Tolson
made quite hit as Jack Mason Fair
fax. The play was exciting in plot,
and was warmly received.
There will be a matinee to-day, 1.-The
Man From Kokomo," and the bill to-
night will be "a Romance of the Adj
rondacks.'
The company's engagement will
close tomorrow night. "Fanchon"
will be given at the closing matinee,
and 1.-THE Widow and the Foor' at
night.
The presentation of Hall Gaines
drama "The Manxman" next Wednes-
day evening is an event worthy of
note. 1.-The Eternal City," now run
ming in New York city and the sue
cess of 1.-The Christian" has stamped
Hall Game as a writer. There is a
quality in his stories which no other
of the present day has been able to
initiate, and which is eminently salts
factory for dramatic productions.
As to the star, there are really but
faxr i frrs
States who do not know that there is
no American born and bred actor now
living who can boast a record like
that of James O'Neill. What other
living actor is there who can point to
the score of times in which he has
played Iago to Edwin Booths Othello,
| and Othello to his Iaso. alternating
them on successive nights; who has
| enjoyed the same distinguished honor
| at the hands of Barry Sullivan and
nearly all the other great actors of the
past, who have toured America; who
| has for two successive seasons played
| leading support to Charlotte Cushman;
who was pronounced by bewitching
Adelaide Nelson the best Romeo to
| whose honied phrases she had ever
| listened; who has been recognized as
| one of the best and the most versa
tile actor of his time, as shown in the
varied roles which he has been called
| upon to assume.
OF the production it need only be
said that it is Liebler & Co. pro-
duction, production by the same en-
terprising firm which did not hesitate
to supply Mr.. O'Neill with a $4,000
production for his revival of Monte
Cristo," which never does things by
halves and which the public knows
and understands will give Mr.. O'Neill's
new play the kind of a production such
an important venture demands. II
can be relied upon as being complete,
The box office will open on Monday
| morning at 9 o'clock. Prices, $3.50.
81 and rs, so and rs cents.
Mary Tudor, as portrayed by Effie
Ellsler, in When. Knighthood Was in
Flower" is a vixen, but she is not all
ways vixenish. She possesses love and
tenderness when her heart is stirred.
She has a will of her own as Miss
Ellsler portrays her. She is determin-
ed to have the man of her choice, come
what may. Miss Ellsler points the
complexities of the character with a
deft touch.
In the first act she is a termagant,
eager to see if she really loves; in
the second act she Is a torture Of
doubt as to the fate of her lover; in
the third act she risks all to run away
with him, and when it is finally neces-
sary to save him, by marrying old
Louis of France, she does SO like a
true heroine. When old Louis departs
this life she sets about regaining the
object of her hearts desire, and finally
by a pretty wit 1narries him and brings
everything to happy issue.
Fife Ellsler has achieved a pro-
nounced success in this arduous role
and her audiences everywhere have
taxed the capacity of the different
play houses.
The production is under the direction
of Frank L. Perley. The complete
original Julia Marowe production as
presented an entire season at the
Criterion Theatre, New York, will be
seen here next Friday evening. The
sale of seats will open on Wednesday
morning.
A brilliant local amusement event
will be the appearance next Thursday
matinee and night. Kathryn Kidder
in Alexander Dumas Fills society
drama, "Francillon," renamed for
American presentation, AN Eye for
an Eye" because of its clever sug-
gestion of the plays motive. Though
a classic, and confessedly one of the
greatest works of the great French
dramatist's genius-immortalize by
"Camille"-the play is now being Of
fered to American audiences for the
first time. American managers have
for years been trying in vain to secure
the American rights, but it remained
for Miss Kidder to succeed. The sense
of the American title given the work is
indicated by the plot, concerning, as
it does, good woman's use of the
biblical metaphor of AN Eye for an
Eye" in her passionate demand for the
SOULS right of revenge for an offense
against itself. Whether her avowed
purpose to return evil for evil is
fulfilled is not revealed by the man
agerial sponsors of Miss Kidder's cur
rent tour The play, it is said, does
not leave the question in doubt With
the knowledge of the personal charac-
ter of the charming star, it is a fair
inference, however, that the heroi lie
comes through the fires unscorched.
This, however, is only conjecture. 1t
is reported that playgoers are not to
be apprised of the denouement until
Miss Kidder reveals the issue herself