The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-12-02
IA Messaqe From Mars"

With play that Is unique In concep- tion, brilliant in execution and ably pre- scented, Charles Hawtrey, the talehted English actor. appeared last night at the Jefferson theatre as Horace Parker in "A Message from Mars" MT. Hawtrey has undoubtedly achieved an artistic triumph in this play. It matters not how many times he had presented 1t both in this country or in England or how many times one may be a spectator, the subtle skill of the dramatist and the finished por- trayal of the actor will not lose interest
 As Horace" MT Hawtrey has a role that, in awkward parance, fits him like glove. To say that his conception and interpretation of the part is finished would do but scant justice to the player as well as to the play. As the selfish, slothful egoist, who Is so lost in contemplation of his own comfort that the joys and sor- rows of other people merely annoy him, MT. Hawtrey is most amusing. and with al so true to life that he accomplishes a rare bit of acting. Then when he begins to learn the lesson of human charity and kindliness to those who are less fortunate than himself and endures the bangs that he could not appreciate in others until his cloak of selhshness falls from him and his heart grows great with surging im- pulses for good, his ability Is conspicu- ous,
 Horace Parker Is young fellow who Is blessed with this worlds goods and the love of true girl but is so absorbed in his scientific researches, his egotistical retrospection and his collosal self-conceit that he cannot waste a moment for the pleasure of others and drives a broken old tramp from his house to wander out into the snows of winter night Be- cause he does not feel like it. Horace refuses to accompany his aunt and the girl whom he expects to marry to dance. He remains at home to read of Mars and while seated In his easy chair in the glow of his red-shaded lamp he falls asleep. Does he really dream and is the lesson taught in reality by mes sage from a more lofty source than Mars, or is the striking visitant a real messen- ger from the other world who is dep utized to show Horace the error of his way? We are lead to believe that after all. 1t was only dream but. yet a mar vicious dream.
 When Horace falls to sleep with the suitable accompaniment of muffled thun- Martian, myst erious visitor from another Martian, mysterious visitor from aonther world, is ushered into his presence. The Martian points out the besetting sins of Horace but the young egotist and self made philosopher merely laughs at the warning until. the Martian asserts his power and takes Horace out into the snow. Then the young man is shown the opinions the world holds of his char acter, the judgment even of his affianced wife. he is confronted by hunger and suffering, the cold poverties of life and the tragedies of the street but he is callous until he is himself reduced to a tramp by the Martian. Then his cold heart softens, he becomes for the first time susceptible so human sympathy he overflows with kinGness and after he awalxes again in his comfortable cham Der, in the same chair and beneath the glow of the same lamp. he goes out Into the midnight snow, brings in some unfor- tunate people, who have just escaped from a lodging hohse fire and throws open his house to them. He realizes the worth of the girl. whom he has treated so light