The Savannah morning news., 1903-12-01
AT THE THEATER

Louis James and Frederick Warde,
so often seen in Savannah in Shapespe-
rean roles, appeared last night in
new play, Alexander the Great" Judg
ing by the applause, they aroused their
audience to enthusiastic delight.
Whatever might be said in critical
way of the plays literary merit, it
was, indeed. superbly produced. Twice,
on the rise of the curtain, the mere
beauty of the scene commanded instant
applause. One of these was the last,
showing a banquet tent in Babylonia.
The other was the tent of Perdiccas
in the forest by night, and was really
beautiful. But the scenic effects
throughout were perfect and unusual.
Most remarkable of all and most beau
tiful, perhaps, was the snow storm on
the mountain tops, over which Alexan-
der's soldiers pass. The snow appeared
to be actually falling, and the lights
were so managed as to yield the effect
of the cleaning of drifted snow, nor
was the stage ever dim enough to
give one the annoying sensation of
peering.
Certainly some of the lines were hope
lessly weak and commonplace, such as
those of Porus, the Hindoo King, when
he defies Alexander from his battle
nents, but the play is a succession of
beautiful pictures, sufficiently pleasing
to the eye to atone for the deficiencies
it might offer to the ear. There is, too,
considerable interest in the intrigues
of Perdiccas, AleXander's prime minis
ter, a part in which Mr.. Warde was
seen at his best. Mr.. James role of
Alexander gives less scope for acting,
and appeals chiefly through the imag-
ination and romantic sense.
The company is a very large one, but
in spite of this, Miss Oshier, Miss Leon
ard and Miss Royal, were the most
overworked people in the cast, appear
ing as Greek girls, Egyptian priest
esses, mock soldiers and real soldiers
in various becoming uniforms-rather
disconcerting the realistic mind. The
costumes were very handsome and ar
tistic, a striking feature of the per-
feet stage setting.
The sale of seats for the "Burgo-
master" will begin this morning.
When one considers that The Burgo-
MASTER has always been famed for
its pretty girls, it can be seen that this
claim means a great deal. Half a
dozen new songs have been introduced
into the piece this season, and one of
lIlellIs GIllIlICQ NcW 10TH, Is
said to be a hit. In the company are
as many of the famous original cast
as could be procured. including Ruth
White as willie" Oscar l.. Figman
as the Burgomaster, Thomas Ricketts,,
William Riley Hatch. Charles Sharp,
r. ]. Moye, George McKissock, Helen
Dexter, Harriet Sheldon, Louise
Bracket and Josephine Dit.
"a Chinese Honeymoon" which is
the attraction Friday night, comes
fresh from long runs in New York,
Philadelphia, Boston and Chicago. The
company is headed by John E. Hen
shaw, who was last here with Stuart
Robson. and the role of Mr. Samuel
Pineapple seems to fit that comedian
better than any part he has yet as
sumed. The leading opposite charac-
ter, Mrs. Pineapple, is being played
by Miss Stella Tracey, the clever prima
donna from the New York Casino. A
notable person with "A Chinese Hon
eymoon'' is Miss Toby Claude, who is
said to be irresistibly funny as Fiji.
There is not much of her regarding
size, but her impersonation of the
London slavey girl and the song of
Idly" and There's a Street in Heaven
Called Broadway" are said to be some
of the hits Of the performance. Other
well known people in the cast, are w.
H. Clarke, Charles II. Prince, Cieor-
mund Lawrence. Helen Morrison,
Frances Knight, May Ten Brock and
an ensemble of nearly 100 voices.