The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-02-16
THEATRICAL.

The Arthur Mackley Stock Com
pany, of Memphis, favored the pat
rons of Reynolds Opera House las
week with two dramatic perform
ances and a curtain raiser oil
Friday night. The little sketch, a
is often the case, proved to be tn,
most attractive card of the lot. Ii
this the principals, Mr.. Mackle.
and Miss Ross, had a chance to APP
pear at their best. The character
were Mr.. and Mrs. Timothy Tate
in How to Tame a Wife, and they
were indeed creditably sustained
Mr.. Mackley is a stock actor o.
about sixteen years experience in
ST. Louis, New Orleans and Mem
Phis. His dehneations are very fine
He is polished and his characters
are tull of spirit, at the same time
he succeeds admirably in the con.
ception of his parts. Miss Ross is
a clever actress and her companion
part was equally pleasing. 1.-THE
Masked Ball, or A Brace of LIARS, -
alias The Pink Dominoes, might
as we'll have been forgotten or lost
before they came to UnionCity as far
as its drawing power and merits as
play are concerned. 1t certainly
did not prove good advertisement
for Saturday nights bill. The play
is a very suggestive frothy farce
with a very weak plot and no re-
deeming qualities in dialogue. The
company did not consult Manager
Reynolds or the tastes of our peo-
pie, otherwise it would have been
laid aside for something like a
Bachelors Romance" which APP
peared in their repertoire 1t is a
mistake to presume that the taste
of Union City theatre goers runs
after such things as those which
frolic in the eccentricities of the
Dutch comedian or the fortunes of
the social pervert. We believe that
matter was forcibly tested during
the recent performances here. Mr..
Mackley, a good actor, supported
by very good company, played to
very meagre house in 1.-THE
Masked Ball" while Lovett's Bos-
ton Stars, simply concert CON-
pany, appeared before a packed
house.
The second performance of the
Mackley company was H azel
Kirke." This attraction should
have Jared better, but Saturday
night makes a very poor theatrical
date in Union City. Hazel Kirke"
is one of the old-time histrionlc
successes. 1t was the pl y in which
the veteran Couldock established
his reputation, and very strong
vehicle it was for the exhibition of
genuine ability. 1t was built much
upon the same lines as the Bonnie
Brier Bush" by Ian Maclaren, the
Scotch preacher, Rev. John Wat
son, and the two leading charac-
tiers, Dunston Klrke and Lachlan
Campbell in the tfnestive plays
are much the same in environment
and inclination. Each had daugh-
ter and she was driven from home
by stern and unyielding sire.
Thus far the plays are very similar,
but they differ in the closing scenes.
Kirke never relents until Hazel is
reported drowned, while the strong
old heart of Campbell sottens and
he places lighted candle IN the
cottage window at Drumtochty as
a signal for Flora to come home.
]. H. Stoddart, one Of the strong
est in the line of character actors
and pure bred Scotchman, depict
ed the part of Lachlan Campbell.
The Mackley company, with one
exception, gave us a very accept
able presentation of Hazel Kirke,
and with a good man to displace
Harry Race it would have been one
IT the most excellent performances
seen here since Manager Reynolds
opened his house. Race was not
only outclassed, but he was care
ess enough to forget his lines, and
he company suffered by his mex
disable stupidity. IN the famous
oitticus Green Mr.. Kelly scored a
success. 1t is rare old play, and
will always draw in the hands of
rood talent.
We were entertained by three
alented ladies Monday night at
he opera house. They were Low