The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-01-29
AT THE THEATER

last night was excellent. The audience
was large and although not demonstra-
tive there was, in the dramatic scenes,
a certain tenseness of excitement plain
ly to be felt, and. at the witty sallies,
contagious ripple of laughter that
spoke. even more clearly than hand
clapping, of real enjoyment. 1t was to
be regretted. however. that the actors
did not have their due of individual
applause for the cast was of unusual
merit.
Miss Mary Buckley as Kate, pos
sessing, in addition to her art, a natural
grace and beauty. was almost above
criticism. charming as the girl sweet
heart, powerful as the passionate wom-
an wronged. most touching as the
tender mother
The play Is a very painful one, turn
ing as IL does upon the betrayal of a
woman by the man she loves and who
has sworn to protect her. the desertion
of home and child when the burden
of deceit becomes too heavy to bear,
and the breaking of a lifelong friend
snip. 1t follows very closely the story
of the book, except that the character
of Philip Christian, the deemster, is
made more ignoble. and where, In the
original story, he Is dragged down by
circumstances and yet is always strug-
glanS to rise. conquering at last. in
the play he is thoroughly weak and bad
and altogether a most unattractive per-
son 1t was not a pleasant role to fill,
and 1t cannot be said of Mr., Joseph
Klgour that he filled 1t very we'll.
Pete, noble and lovable in the
book. was no less so In the play. and
there was hardly scene when Mr..
ONeilrs Interpretation was not who'll
ly satisfying. Especially In the lighter
parts, in the whimsical humor. quick
repartee, trusting friendship and ten
der love-making. he was delightful.
There were one or two parts where
the tragedy seemed a little forced,
notably in the second scene of the
fourth act when Kate returns from
Phillips house to Petes cottage to see
her baby and meets Pete face to face
for the first time since her flight This
dragged a little, as did the last act,
when Pete takes Kate back to her
fathers home. and Phillips treachery
is revealed.
The part of Caesar Cregeen. the
Pharasaical, text-slinging father, who
| has nevertheless an eye to the main
| chance, was excellently done by
| perfect. Another remarkably good role
was that of Nancy. the nurse, filled
| by Miss Annie Wood Both of these
| parts, as well as the principal and
| most OF the minor roles, were marked
| by a naturalness that is seldom seen
| except in the best actors and rarely
! throughout an entire cast. This great
| charm, and the realistic and beautiful
stage setting, added greatly to the
1 lou. r.f he ala L..
| Pete's cottage was as pretty and
homelike as possible, and the opening
scene Of the orchard of the nm, with
| live chickens strutting about the yard
and real pigeons resting in the stable
| caves gave a vivid Introduction to the
village life of the play. In the last
act, there was singing by a. quar-
tette, and after the reconciliation, just
before the. curtain fell, white dove
flew across the stage, which was 9TH
erwise deserted, making very novel
i ending 'aFt
| 1t would be unfair to close without
mentioning the baby, which was of a
4 naturalness most unusual in stage
babies, and which. except for its ex-
| traordinary quietness and most abb
normal aptitude for staying asleep,
| might have deceived one into belley-
ing it a real live baby indeed.
Kathryn Kidder will be seen to-day
matinee and night--in AN Eye for
an Eye" adapted from Dumas "Fon-
cillon." The playwright has for his
dominant subject a good young wom-
an, recently married, absorbed In
great love for her husband and her in
FAINT boy. The dramatist holds this
young matron up to observation, show
ing how the unconsciously neglectful
conduct of the husband toward the
young mother threatens to absolutely
destroy her happiness. When the cur
tain falls on the first act the audience
is apprehensive for her, and for all
that her growing transformation
threatens to bring down with her. The
opening scene of the drama is between
the husband and the wife. The hus-
band, just back from hunting trip, is
for departing at once for a round of
his clubs. The young wife at first
attempts to catole her husband into re-
naming at home. This falling, she
essays the sweet arts feminine, all of
which prove unavailing. When the hus-
band finally departs 1t is with his con-
viction that his wife Is quite sensi-
BILE helpmeet who at last Is beginning
to see things in the right light that
a husband is expected to have pastimes
apart from the diversions of his home.
But the husband has been deceived by
the attitude or mis- partner. She SuS-
poets that his clubs are not the harm
less resorts he would have her believe.
So secretly on this night she follows
him. Her discoveries are startling.
The incidents upon which she STUN
bles are really innocent enough I'm
themselves, did she but know It.; but
the circumstances attending the facts
she encounters are superficially con-
elusive of her husbands disloyalty.
The elder Dumas wrote romances
almost solely, with the aim Of provid-
ing sprightly adventure for his read
ers. The younger Dumas, who turned
his genius to the playhouse. instead OF
the book shelf. directed his gifts in
variably to pointing out some current
danger to morals or society.
The sale of seats for Effie Ellslers
production of when Knighthood Was
in Flower" tomorrow night, began
yesterday morning. For two hours
there was line of people in front of
the box office, and the sale continued
throughout the day. Miss EllsIer, al
ways a fav6rite with Savannah thea
tergoers, win have a crowded house to
play before.
There Is said to be pronounced ed
HEALTH
INSURANCE