Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-05
National Theater.

Pictures of the sunny southland. with set
tings of southern blooms and vines myriad
frehies and quaint situations, were pre-
sented to a large audience from the stage
OF the National Theater last night when the
southern idyll, Alabama" was given by
the Carroll Institute Dramatic Club. The
cast that presented Augustus Thomas
splendid creation was a strong one and
there was noticeable absence In its rendi-
ton of the stiffness and unhealthy which Is
noticeable in some amateur performances
In fact. 1t was the opinion of many of the
auditors that the performance would have
done credit to professional company
The first act opened with the scene of Mrs
Pages cottage away down in old Ala
bama. The picture was typical Of a home
in Dixie. But the stage settings In the third
act were the most realistic of all 1t nor
trayed the capacious grounds In the rear of
Col. Preston's manor. There were clinafnp
vines. the old wall. with a grim gun of war
In the mouth of which field lark had built
Its nest. and the evening air filled with
thousands of flashing href1ies In fact. ali
the scenery of the play was Of most reaIis-
tic character. and reflected much credit on
the stage management.
The part of Col Preston, an aged
southern planter as given by Mr.. Henry
F. Dolan, was true to nature and no doubt
filled to the letter the authors convention
OF the creation. He was highly commended
OF Mr.. j. Frank Duggan as Capt Dayen-
port, northern railroad man, was also Of
the highest order, and Mrs. Howell-Smith
as Mrs Page, widow, who thinks twice.
won many encomiums from the large audi
ence. Others who deserve honorable mem
ton were: Mr.. Francis j. P. Cleary as
Col. Moberly, relic Of the confederacy;
Mr.. John j. German, who gave a splendid
portrayal of Squire Tucker, a Talladega
county justice. with the strong southern
dialect; Mr.. Denis E. Connell as Mr.. Arm
strong; Mr.. George E. Sullivan as Lathrop
Page, southern boy; Mr.. l. ]. Costigan as
Raymond Page; Mr. John c. Armstrong
who gave a splendid delineation of the
faithful old-tfme negro servant; Miss
Fannie J. Campbell as Mrs. Stockton; Miss
Edith p Luckett as Carey Preston, an
Atlanta blossom, and Miss Alma c. Wright
as Atlanta Moberly.
In fact throughout the course OF the
southern idyll the Carroll Institute Dram
attic Club maintained at top notch its repu-
tation as a public entertainer, and added
fresh laurels to the honors already gained
In former performances.
The members of the club were generously
applauded, both individually and collec-
lively, during the course of the drama, and
they were called before the curtain a num-
Der of times during the evening. The cos
tuning, as well as the stage settings. were
true to nature and received high common
dation.
The executive staff of the club Is as fol-
lows Stage director, Robert Hickman; as
sistant stage director w. C. Sullivan; bust
ness manager, George E. Sullivan; assistant
business manager, H. Ambrose Marsden.
Thesnegro melodies OF the old south as
given by the Carroll Institute Glee Club was
q feature of the evening that was highly
appreciated by the auditors. The renditions
were highly effective, as were the instru-
mental selections by the Carroll Institute
Orchestra.