The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-02-05
AT THE THEATER

One Of the most delightful and whole
some plays seen in Savannah this year
was Mr. Tim Murphy's production last
evening of "Old Innocence" AS the
actor himself suggested, when. in reA
Spouse to repeated calls. he came be-
fore the curtain after the second act,
it is hardly more than a monologue in
some of its strongest scenes, but. so ac-
complished an actor is Mr.. Murphy
and with so vivid a power of making
real the character he assumes that in
terest never wavered for a moment
while he was on the stage.
The play, simple in plot and setting.
and never dramatic in situation, is a
study in emotions. II is a story of
kind old man, loving and trusting his
neighbors. brought to believe that his
charity has been given to imposters
and his friendship to the faithless. but
restored at last to his confidence in
human nature. 1t was a part at once
touching and humorous, and Mr.. Muir
ply invested it with such charm as
made the old man a very lovable per-
son indeed. More than once entirely
alone on the stage for some minutes,
he gave by gesture, a glance, a mere
uplifting of the eyebrows, an insight
into the heart and mind OF the charac-
ter he represented, and in the delivery
of his lines, whether alone or in dia-
logue, showed equal skill.
Mr.. ]. r. Armstrong appeared as
Flint Green, his brother, hard man OF
affairs, who had made his money and
proposed to keep it. He was excellent
in the part. Mr.. o. j. Griffin imper-
sonated the colored butler and faithful
friend of the kind old master, and If
he lacked somewhat of perfection in
accent, he quite atoned for the def
cheney, especially in the last act, by inn
itation of darkey movements and man
ners.
Miss Dorothy Sherrod was very good
as the young wife, particularly at the
breakfast scene in the first act. when
she was more natural than in her later
appearances. AS Olive her stepdaugh-
ter, Miss Louise Whitfield had quite a
little to say, and said it, on the whole,
fairly well. her little affectations SEEM
ing not altogether out of place In the
role.
The audience was small but most APP
preciative, and after the last act Mr..
Murphy was induced to come before
the curtain and relate a tale
or two, these few minutes
proving not the least delightful
of the evening. His clever imperson-
alton of Stuart Robson quite took the
audience by storm. Nothing could have
been better than his mimicry of that
we'll known actors peculiar voice and
habits of gesture. Equally good was
his representation of the eminent
English tragedian, Sir 'enry Irving"
in a recitation of the celebrated poem
by Eugene Field, "A Little Peach in
an Orchard Grew"
His best story was related of him.
self and Miss Sherrod and quest
upon which they set out re-
Gently in Paris, KY. They had started
for a walk together when the lady
would buy a cake for her mother. But
where? The bakers, said the man.
The Woman's Exchange, said the lady.
But was there a Woman's Exchange in
Paris, Ky? They began a search, and
soon met one of the natives, whom the
genial Tim addressed, my friend" he
said lis there a Woman's Exchange
in the city," Lord God, mani" re-
sponded the astonished native, taking
a sweeping inventory of Miss Sher-
rod, you don't want to swap her, do
your"
At to-day's matinee and tonight
Richards & Pringel's Georgia Min
/ SNlGiS wa DC Tie dllIdCllOI. Inc cOIl-
pany has been here a number of sea-
sons and is well known. Billy Ker-
sands heads the list, and proper that
he should. Kersands has made more
people laugh, and perhaps receives the
largest salary of any black comedian.
The programme promised will be on
the old-time minstrel order, the same
as made minstrelsy so famous in past
years. Sweet Southern melodies, beau
tifJ1 music danroG and vyifficfc111e
make up a programme that is bound
to please and interest The entire bal
cony will be reserved for colored peo-
pie, at 50 cents for the matinee and
70 cents at night. The orchestra
prices are 80 cents for matinee and rs
cents at night. The gallery price at
night is so cents.
Tomorrow matinee and night Al ii.
Wilson will be seen and heard in "A
Prince of Tatters."
This is Mr.. Wilson's third starring
season under the management OF
Charles III. Yale and Sidney r. Ellis,
and his success has been most pro-
nounced. "A Prince of Tatters" is a
story of heart interest interspersed
with humor, filled with climaxes and
interpreted by a clever acting COM
pany. Throughout the action of the
play Mr.. Wilson sings six songs, CIV
ing ample opportunity for the enjoy
ment of his rich, melodious voice which
has earned for him the title 1.-THE
Golden Voiced Singer" He sings bal
lads with rare feeling and his voice
has that sympathetic quality and
sweetness of expression that is an in
heritance of nature and much to be
priced. The songs are THE Mermaid
and Buccaneer," whispering Breeze"
1.-THE Winding of the Yarn" Mem
ory." when Your Ship Comes Home"
and THE Echo" "a yodeD.
Saturday. matinee and night "Ari-
IONA" will be the attraction. AS the
name would indicate, the play is a
stage-told story of the lives and loves
of men and women living in that pic
vFSfs
r. TIE