The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-05-16
Music and Drama
At the Crawford.

ne OE-s-ss winch was presented at
the Crawford last night BIZ James X
| Hackett's superb company OF stars. was
witnessed by the largest house of the
season, with the possible exception of
Way Down East" and those who saw
this admirable dramatization OF
Churchill's widely read novel will agree
in saying that it was equal to any play
ever presented 10 Wichita theater-goers-
It is very often the case with the drama
t.zation Of popular novel that the read
er's ideals are destroyed when the play
is witnessed because of the omission OF
minor details that the writer has thrown
! around the characters. but not so with
The Crisis" Every character stands out
palmer in the minds OF those who wit
messed the play last night than before
The Crisis is a good. all-'round piece
of dramatic work. and although the love
story only and it's attendant circum-
! stances OF private nature has been used
for the play. All the historical per-
sonages and events are kept so cleverly IN
the near background that the auditor is
constantly experiencing their influence. 1t
is not war play, as such works are
generally constructed Its action is in the
time OF the civil war, but il is rather its
effect upon private life than anything
national or military which is used 10
make the play attractive. II is the love
theme of the play.
The first act occurs in the law office of
Judge Whipple. in 1857. and shows how
Stephen Brice incurs the enmity OF Nir-
ginia Carvel when he purchase, u set
free, the negro girl whom Virginia desired
for a maid. The sale takes place from
the window OF Judge Whipple's room.
The second act is at Colonel Carvels
country place on the eve Of the election
of Abraham Lincoln. Virginia is giving
a party that night. and in the garden
she mistakes Brice for her cousin, Clar-
ence COifax, to whom she is engaged.
The announcement OF Iincoln's election
causes the southern element to declare
their intention TO Immediately secede
from the union.
The third act is in the city residence
of Colonel Carvel on the day the state
militia at Camp Jackson has planned to
seize the government arsenal. and are
prevented by General Lyon and his vol
unteers The arrested state troops march
past the house where Virginia and her
girl friends are gathered, and here Brice
has the opportunity TO save Coifaxs lie
when he madly shoots at the passing
troops. CoIfax resents this service and
wounds Brice in the struggle which en-
sues The fourth act is once more AT
Judge Whipple's office. The judge Is
living at the point of death. and Colonel
,'arvel has returned from the Confeder-
ate army 10 see his daughter and BID
farewell TO his old friend. Hopper strives
to arrest the colonel as a spy. but Brice
interferes and saves him. Virginia then
discovers she loves Brice and allows him
TO know il.
Mr.. Hackett fills perfectly the readers
ideal of Stephen Brice the young Bosto-
Man who alternately shocks Miss carver,
the charming heroine OF the play. with ms
Ma he
his quiet. unobtrusive gallantry. He
has the true manly bearing of the char
acter he represents and his every action
on the stage is so natural to the part
that the interested audience almost loses
sight OF the fact that he is merely play
i.g the part Of Stephen Brice. The role
of Virginia Carvel. the wilful, tender
hearted heroine. is carried by MISS Char-
lotte Walker. who truly portrayed the lie
of a typical southern girl at the, time OF
the civil war. Colonel Carvel as repre-
scented by Thomas \. Hall. was the same
courteous southern gentleman so greatly
admired in the novel. The part or Judge
Whipple. the colonels best friend, ana
the staunchest of abclitionists, was car
ried in the best OF style by Joseph Bren-
nan Clarence ColfaX. the cousin ana
the devoted lover Of Miss Carvel. as rep
resented by Brigham Royce, was the same
GOOD haarted bat impetuous southern
gentleman who appears I'm the novel Inc
only character in the play in which there
is a viIlainous element is that Of Ehphalet
Homer. whose only God is money. AND
who trims his sails 20 catch the wind
whether IL blows north or south. George
I.esoir works in this role and carries the
mart we'll The other members -: the Ga :
representing the Young E")p-e II the
Catherwood. Russell. Brlnsnnie anu he-
nault families were actors v thont an *
ception. and with their CXceilenI support
The Crisis is prese1.7d as strong
well-balanced production.
The character of Mrs. Avling IN Iben
Ghosts Is said TO afford Mary Shaw
an excellent opportunity for the splay
Of her versatility MIS-. Avling IS the
central figure in the domestic Tragedy
The display of emotion she is called upon
10 exhibit increases In Intensity unul inc
tremendous climax Of the last act, wnen
Mrs. Awnings only son Oswald. who IS
tottering on the verge OF insanity. urges
her 10 give him poison with which 10 END
his unfortunate life. In this trying scene
Miss Shaw works 20 effectively that II Is
an invaria bic custom FOR the audience 20
remain I'm their seats after the final fan
Of the curtain and call the actress 20 the
<ootliehts again and again. Local theatre
,oers who desire 70 see Ghosts" on &C
count Of the sensation the play caused IN
New York city. viii have an opportunity
OF witnessing II when Il Is presented here
at the Crawford on Saturday MAJ 20. by
nfarv shaw and the original New York
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