The daily sentinel., 1905-11-28
AT THE PARK LAST NIGHT.

AT THE PARK LAST NIGHT.
Those who failed to see Under
Southern Skies" last night at the
| Park opera house missed one of the
prettiest productions that has been
seen on the local stage this season.
In spite of the inclement weather
and the many counter attractions the
audience was a very large one, near
/ ly all the seats down stairs were oc-
cupied and the balcony and gallery
We're well filled.
What would the stage do for ro-
mances if it were not for the south T?
Run over the list of standard theatre
cal productions, pick out those that
are the most successful and popular,
and see if this question does not nat
urally arise. The play last night is
from the pen of Lottie Blair Parker.
the author of Way Down East" and
the play is worthy of Mrs. Parker, but
the play needed better cast than
that of last night to do it Justice
The cast which handles Under
Southern Skies, is a large one, con-
sisting of about twenty people. Miss
Laura Wall was a beautiful Leila
Crofton. In the first act we did not
think very much of her but she i'm
proved as the story was unfolded and
after the first act she was very salts
factory indeed. She was pretty
enough. vivacious enough and grace
full enough for the portrayal of the
lovely character of Leila and Miss
Wallis efforts were not wasted on the
audience. Perhaps the next strong
est character of the cast was Miss
Carlotta as Aunt Doshey" the old
black nanny She was splendid in
fu m hpr cnaATl
and her manners were truly char
acteristic of the old time darkey. Her
devotion to the Crofton family was
perfectly delineated and her comedy
lines were Just as satisfactory.
better pickinnie than "Anner Lizer,"
by Miss Minnie Evans could hardly
have been desired. She was just
the right size, her makeup was tip
top she had the necessary amount OF
white in her eyes and her manners
and talk could hardly have been i'm
proved upon.
Major Edward Crofton, Lelia's
father and the southern planter was
only fair. He could have been much
better Lelia's two lovers, Burleigh
Mavor, a noble young fellow and
Steve Daubney, a most INSCRIPTIONS
young man, were portrayed by Muir
dock McQuarrie and Griffith Gray.
They were not pleasing. Steve was
very good while Burleigh was a little
over done Stella Crofton, the re-
pentant wife of the planter was de-
cidedly the poorest member of the
cast. She was weak at all times. In
one of the very strongest situations
while she was making a plea for for
giveness she took time to see that her
hair was properly arranged. Andrew
IL ruodn a sfIInglp .IOEH-
ua." There were half dozen very
pretty girls. friends of Lelia's who
added beauty and strength to each
act The other characters made the
most of their parts.
The Halloween celebration at the
old home was one of the prettiest
portions of the play, many of the
old time tests, and games of fate were
tested by the girls. In this act the
Jubilee singers were introduced and
made a great hit. They were led by
Aunt Josie and Phiny. Down on the
Suanee River" was beautifully sung
nv Phiny who has a splendid voice
The celebration ended with the whole
company singing Dixie" while the
negroes danced a breakdown. The
stirring old air was rendered with
a will and brought forth five eneores:
The wedding scene in the third
act was well presented and Lelia's re-
fusal to marry Steve who had forced
her to concent to wed him was the
strongest situation of the drama.
The stage settings were magnfh-
cent. The exterior scene showing
the high double veranda of the great
house" and the trees and shrubs was
extremely lovely. While the interior
scene was attractive and historically
correct.
The handsome costumes worn by
the many young ladies called forth
much admiration. It seemed as II
each young lady had any number OF
lovely dresses.
.sUnder Southern Skies" is a great
pIay. a pretty story well told and
beautifully staged. One of its char
acteristiNs is that 1t is southern play
in which no soldier, Yankee, or
moonshiner is presented. Just
story dealing solely with Southern
people. The scenes are laid in
Louisiana in the year 1875.
The next attraction at the PARK
opera house will be Roselle Knott
in "When Knighthood was in Flower
naearn bpr 4tl