The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-17
;"Davy crockett",s at the Lyceun

= :
''Davy Crockett which has been re-
vived by the&Ferris company at the Ly-
ceun1 theater this week, is an excellent
example of the border melOdrama. Crock
ett's frontier was the. middle west, while
the scenes of Across the Pacific which
may be accepted as an eXemplar Of the
current border melodrama, are in the
Philippines. Betweengthe two comes a
long list of plays indicative of the coun-
try's growth and of the constantly chan
gng conditions confronting the pioneer
who is the advance courier of the course
iof empire.
The character of Crockett is still a not
unfamiliar type. Illiterate but honest "a
sure shot and absolutely fearless, the
trapper scout, who carried the spirit of
Americanis1n into the backwoods, was but
the forerunner Of the American pioneer of
to-day, who, though he began hiss con
quest Of the orient Mauser in hand, has
now laid aside the implements of warfare
for those Of peace, and who is Droving to
the world that the little. red schoolhouse
follows the flag. A.; III e..
added interest at this time from the fact
that its leading role has been entrusted to
w. H. Murdoch, brother of the man who
wrote the drama for Frank Mayo. Mr..
Murdoch, the p1ayer,.Was once a member
Of the elder Mayo's company, but he was
not, as has been stated. Mayo's under
study. in the part of, Crockett nor did he
ever appear with him in the play. His
Interpretation of the role, therefore, is not
| to be regarded as copy. He never saw
Mayo in the part, and, though he has him
Iself played it elsewhere; his conception so1
Crockett is his own.
Moreover, his Davy Crockett is an excel
| lent piece Of acting. The character is
we'll rounded out and consistently pre-
! M.
merous little bits of "stage business
1 original with Mr.. Murdoch. for which he
] deserves much credit. He Is player who
I seldom eXaggerates, and his Crockett is
kept well within bounds. In short, it is
an admirable characterization and prove:
that Mr.. Murdoch, though he may "smile
and smile and be q villain still" is fitteG
for more gracious roles than usually fall
! to his share in Ferris productions.
Miss Grace Hayward returns to the cas-
this week in the part of Eleanor Vaughn
a character which she assumes easily ant
plays effectively. Miss Hayward's worl
| in the third act is admirable. Here sh,
displays clearly the tenderness Of the CIR
and her gradual realization Of her Low,
for Crockett. The reading from Sir Wal
1 ter Scott is managed with delightful
roguery; and her final confession to Dav!
! is excellently done.
The other parts are we'll played also
Ben johnson is good in the small role o
champion, and Herbert .Brennon is eff
\ fective as his nephew. Miss Laurett
Allen, a newcomer, makes a good Dam,
Crockett; and little Harry Cove does wei
with Bob Crockett. Robert Folsom dou
bles the characters Of the parson an,
Yunkers and handles BOTH nicely. In fact
4 the cast, as a whole, is satisfactory; an,
the production one Of the best things tn
/ Ferris company has done. There will b
Inc performance tonight, as the Lyceun
stage has been given up to the Apoll
Club. y. S. Lawrence.