The Savannah morning news., 1903-01-30
AT THE THEATER

llme-lne Present. tlaCe-BarlS.
Thus closes the synopsis of AN Eye
for an Eye" In which Miss Kathryn
Kidder appeared yesterday, and this
latter sentence may perhaps explain
the raison d'etre of the play. The.
place was unmistakably Paris. as one
has come to know it through a GER
tain Objectionable class of literature.
and it cannot be said that, upon closer
acquaintance. 1t proved to be a very
attractive spot.
The play was undeniably dull. AS
a moving drama Of modern social life
and manner" 1t was a distinct failure,
for there was hardly point where 1t
touched the emotions. and, If it be
true that modern social life and man
ners are so corrupt, there is left the
hope that, at least, they may not be
so tiresome. 1t is possible that the
book may be good reading. but the
play is so lacking in action, with no
change of scene, and little that is in
tereSting in situation, that it amounts
to hardly more than a narrative.
What's sauce for the goose is sauce
for the gander is its moral, but such
it takes to point it that one signs for
fresh air and wishes the tale had been
left untold. This is one of those
things, 1t appears, that they do not
manage better in France.
The play is full of epigrams that
somehow do not sparkle and are
mostly false cynicism, rising only once
or twice to the point of wit.
Miss kidder as the Jealous wife, sus-
ripfnt1S of har III
footsteps, full of reproaches. and max
ing everybody wretched, did all she
could with an unpleasant part. and
her art was never more evident, but
even her natural dignity could not re-
deem the part from its littleness. One
likes better to remember her as the
noble, wronged wife in "A Winters
Tale"
AS Lucien, her husband, careless of
his wifes love and bit of a sake,
Monroe Salisbury was not very inter-
esting. and somewhat lacking in va
riety of gesture.
The other members of the cast were
only fairly good. William Webb APP
peared as Lucien's father, and, though
his part was small, handled 1t we'll.
relieving the monotony of things by
being really wholesome and saying a
few clever things. Notably, when Luz
gence-but there are so many imbeciles
in the world" True, my dear son."
replied his father, land always one
more than one thinks"
The audience at the matinee was
large. but at night somewhat smaller,
and in neither case very responsive.
Tonight Fife Ellsler will be seen in
when Knighthood Was in Flower"
1t will be the first presentation of the
play in Savannah, and by an actress as
popular as Miss Ellsler it is of more
than ordinary interest. There was a
steady demand for seats all of yester-
day, and full house is assured.
1t is the opinion of Charles Major,
author of when Knighthood Was in
Flower" from which Effie Ellsler's new
play of the same name was made that
the actress has succeeded in preserving
and even enforcing the attributes of
Mary's character which made her be-
loved when she was solely a book he
roine. From her first entrance to the
little epilogue spoken SO quantity by
her at the final curtain drop she is
Mary Tudor in the flesh" says Mr..
Major.
The character which Miss Ellsler
portrays is absolutely historical, though
there has been statement to the con-
trary since Miss Ellsler appeared in
the dramatization of Mr.. Majors ro-
nance of chivalry. Nearly four CEN
turtles ago Mary Tudor was a very real
and decidedly live young
woman whose beauty and tenn
per were common objects of
alteration and awe on the part
of Englishmen of high and low de-
gree. Miss Ellsler is said to have vivi-
fed this long dead and almost forgot
ten parsonage in a convincing fashion.
What promises to be a dramatic
treat will be the appearance of Miss
Eleanor Robson as Audrey, the heroine
of Mary JohnSton's novel, Audrey"
Monday night, as seen in New York,
meaning, of course, that Liebler & Co.
Will give the play with it's wealth of
scenery and costumes, as well as with
the same company. Miss Robson who
will impersonate Audrey, has made a
great success in the role. This is not
surprising. considering that before taxi
ing the character Miss Robson had
scored six great successes in New York
city in two seasons. First, as Bonita
in Arizona" then as Constance with
Mrs. LeMoyne and Otis Skinner in
Brownings "In a Balcony" followed
by Flossie Williams in "Unleavened
Bread" then followed her great sue
cess as Juliet to Kyrle Bellows Romeo
III the DdlcOny scene Oh fkOIueO anu
Juliet" and finally as Mile. de la Wire
in "A Gentleman of France" Theater-
goers who have not made the acquaint-
ance, professionally, of this charming
actress, are very certain to be delight
ed with her performance. Miss John
ston's novel has been drsmatized by
Miss Harriet Ford and E. F. Bedding
ton. and they have been able. it APP
pears, to embbdy in dramatic form the
salient incidents and stirring situations
of the story.
Hermann, who appears next Tues
day night, is the most remarkable ex-
pert of legerdemain the country has
ever seen. He is proclaimed the mas
ter wizard of the day. In the art of
palming or sleight of hand his dexter
ity being commented upon as marvel
Gus. Seats go on sale tomorrow morn
ing.
Next week Thursday, matinee and
night, Richards & Pringle's Georgia
Minstrels will be the attraction.
JONES NOT GUILTY.