Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-08-22
AN EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE.


1t is a pleasure to write about the
Handler Stock company, because their
first performance last night was such
creditable affair. The local paper
owes 1t to those who were not there
to tell them about it. 1t is also but
justice to the company that an un-
biased opinion of their merits be
given.
The play was "In Old Virginia.
1t is what might be called ''stren-
Gus play being full of events which
keep the audience in intense sust
pense In this particular we believe
he like has never yet been witnessed
in Durango.
AS an instance of what is meant
by this let us relate that there was a
william in the play-Oh. such Va
lain!- and whenever he showed his
miserly and wicked countenance.
groans went up all over the house.
They were the real thing, too. for
the audience saw trouble ahead for
the poor blind girl whenever he came
upon the scene, and the audience
| was so wrapped mp In the story that
the expressions of despair could not
he repressed. Once when the blind
girl, beautiful character filled to
perfection by Miss Alice McCorkle,
raised her hand toward heaven and
| said to the miser: I'VE are not
alone; God is here and will protect
| mel one woman was heard to ex-
claim "Goody!" and the house went
into an uproar Of applause.
Miss McCorkle as Roanoke, slowly
| making her way along the mountain
trail, presented a pretty picture as she
stood at the edge of the bridge which
| the villain had removed In order that
she might fall to her death. The au'
| dience held its breath, and many held
onto their chairs in the awful sus
pense, which was relieved when she
stopped to listen to the notes Of a
mocking bird and finally turned back
Once when the william intended
numbering the blind girl. a lady in
the audience was carried away with
the delusion that 1t was real and she
screamed and had to be taken out
1t was with great difficulty that she
was convinced 1t was only In the
play
Many old theater goers declare they
never saw so good an impersonation
of villain. The part was filled by
Walter Howe.
Miss Marion Tracy Whiting, as
Aunt Dinah was whole show by her
self. Combining the lobable traits OF
the good old indulgent nanny" and
the extremely comical features OF the
southern darkey, she would at one
minute draw the sympathy and ad
miration of the audience, and In the
next instant compel deafening ap
plause over some comical action. A
remarkable thing about Miss Whiting
is the range of her voice. No one
would have thought from her deep
toned, coarse dialect that she could
sing. But when she sang once she
had to come back and sing again and
again, and her hearers would not let
her go until she had responded the
third time, singing four songs. SUCH
| applause as she received has not been
heard in the opera house within the
recollection OF the writer. Further
comment is unnecessary.
The Selfish, hard-hearted" girl in
the play, or in other words, the girl
villain" was acted by Miss Rose King
as Annabelle Peyton. Miss King is
too pretty to make much of villain.
Her actions proclaimed the villain, but
her face belied her actions. But that
is all right. Plays could never be
successfully presented without pretty
women, and the wise theatrical man
ager knows 1t and governs himself
accordingly
John II. Allen as Capt. VIII Forest;
James A Nesbitt as Col Tom Bailey,
John r. Allen as General Peyton, and
| C.. A. Comstock as Joe Peyton all
| filled their parts creditably.
If the opera house holds all who go
tonight lot of people will miss their
guess.
Miss Hursey of Jersey" is billed for
tonight.