The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-07
"The CIansman."

Tense and powerful, horrible and repul-
 sive, at times sending the blood coursing
 through ones veins with chivalric emo
 tions, and invested with a certain grim
 humor "The Clansman at the Jefferson
 theatre last night convinced every spec
 tator that there was some foundation for
 the widespread discussion which this play
 has created. It has lines that are fire
 brands, situations that enflame the passions
 and climaxes that stir mems souls. It is
 all so ceverly contrived woven with such
 a master hand and presented so convinc-
 ingly that there Is little wonder when
 the people seem to forget that 1t is not
 General Forrest speaking; that Austin
 Webb is not the scheming, devilish Lynch
 and that the scenes before their eyes pie
 relegated to the past.
 One can not but pay a tribute to the
 skill of Thomas Dixon, who wrote the play, yet "The Clansman" should not be
 on the stage. When one part of an audi
 ence misses and the other applauds there is something dangerous in the perfor- mance-a vague element of unrest and discord that is not wholesome. The play tells a hideous story that is relieved by love passages of striking beauty and
 the chivalry of characters whose admir- able qualities are merely used for back ground against which to draw with bold strokes, the monsters of reconstruction the black brutes who dreamed of plunder and power. reaching out their hands to
 clutch the white women of the south land.
 | At times the action of the play is ap- | palling in its aspect, dark and nerve- | wracking. When it Is considered that | Silas Lynch, a cunning and powerful
 negro, the lieutenant governor of South | Carolina, is the strong figure of the | play and that the soul of this beast pants | to clasp the daughter of an abolitionist
 to his breast, sweeping all obstacles away | in his desire to make her his wife, it can | be imagined what are the feelings which
 impel an audience to alternately cheer
 and hiss.
 But why revive the horrors of recon struction? Why call out the spectres and
 parade them across the stage, aided by every clever device of playwright, stage manager and scienic artist to rekindle | old passions and revive memories that
 are better forgotten. The south seeks | no vindication of the Ku Klux Klan; | southern people do not need a play like 'The Clansman' to prove to them that they were justified in adopting extreme
 measures in the days following the war, while it Is doubtful if ''The Clansman"
 will have the effect no northern audiences | that MT. Dixon anticipates. It is a pow erful play, but it is too daring too vio- | lent and too sensational for stirring ones emotions it is successful, but whether it's l influence Is for the best and whether it's | presentation in the south will serve a | good purpose are questions open to de- | bate. Racial equality, intermarriage of whites and blacks and the battle of race servatism.
 | The company presenting "The Clans | man" is capable. The play is carefully | staged. Austin Webb gave a fine DOT | trayal of Silas Lynch, commanding and ! yet abhorrent. Franklin Ritchie as Ben l Cameron had the necessary southern | spirit and looked the part, while Charles | Avery as William Pitt Shrimp. George 1 Welles as Elsie Stoneman, Lawrence Ed | dinger as Dr. Cameron and James J. | Gardner as Dick were acceptable. MT. I Webb is easily superior to any other member of the company. The play was 1 presented in an impressive manner The | cave scene was one to be remembered for 1 it's vivdness and dreadful realism. l The audience last night did not by any l means give way to it's enthusiasm, al l though there was plenty of cheering and l missing. The negroes in the gallery at | times applauded vigorously, While the | white people kept silent For its histori- | cal value and as masterpiece of realism, ',The Clansman'' Is notable. As play | which quickens prejudice that already | causes troubles enough and suggests dan | rerous thoughts to the negroes 1t is not | to be commended. If 1t has mission that 1 mission does not justify public pressa-