The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1906-10-19
WAS A DELIGHTFUL PLAY.
WALKER WHlTEslDE MADE NEW
FRIENDS IN NORFOLK.
HIS SUPPORT WAS SPLENDID

THE Magic Melody" a Play Built out
Wholesome Love for Art and
Pleasing Bit Of Romance, Made a
Hit in This City.
Supported by the best company of
players that have yet clustered about
him. Walker Whiteside, who has al
ways laid claim to u warm spot In the
heart of Norfolk because he played
the opening engagement in the play
house here some years ago, came back
to town last night and more than de
lighted an audience which taxed the
capacity of the Auditorium. The star
appeared last night in his delightful
new play, The Magic Melody" pref.
ty, romantic story portraying "A whole
some chain of events that at once at
tracted the intense interest and SYM
pathy of the listeners. Such IA marked
Improvement was shown In his sup
port this year over previous occasions,
that Mr. Whiteside was very nearly,
though not quite, outstarred by "A
couple of his fellow actors. Mr.. Her
bert Sears, in the role of the Wall
street financier, was simply immense
and Richard Sherman as the Italian
and Mrs. Martha George as the quaint
old German woman were delightfully."-
clever
The story was one of young violin
list alone in America who had genius
but no way of bringing it before the
public. He enlisted the aid of the
Wall street magnate and won the love
of the tinancier's god-daughter. This
turned the tinancier against the violin.
list and he was about to be turned
down in the hope of satisfying his am.
bition, when it developed that the fl
nancial king was the father of the
violinist, the boys mother, once a
singer, having been deserted by the
moneyed man and left, blind and i'll,
20 die. With this lever the boy was
able to swing the rich mans support
and won his fame.
Mr.. Whiteside looked every bit the
part of the young German violinist
and played the part with stirring art.
His clever acting, coupled with APP
peals to popular prejudice against the
rich and unfeeling moneyed king, won
for him deserved applause. His clev-
erness in turning points wittily and
artistically is that of old.
The most difficult part in the play
was that of Mr.. Sears in Jordan Raw
ker, because the sympathy of the au-
n1a Dat
he did his acting so splendidly that he
was heartily cheered in spite of the
handicap that the villain always works
under. Tall and erect, with a manner
that showed he knew the way of the
world, his voice Clean-cut and decisive,
he was at once genuine financial
king and could have been mistaken
for the real thing in any crowd.
The role of Pietro Giant, the Italian,
was also a difficult one but it was
completely handled by Mr. Sherman.
Mrs. George, as the quaint old fash
Toned German woman in her home,
was so gentle and sweet hammered and
real that the audience loved her from
the rising of the curtain to the plays
end. Motherly, good natured and per-
fectly genuine, she early became and
remained throughout one of the favo-
rites of the stage.
Mr.. Carter, as the English lord,
filed well his part and is entitled to
credit.
Miss Leila Wolston hardly filled the
role of romantic young girl, and was
something of disappointment as COM
pared with the balance of the COM
pany. Miss Shaw, as the daughter of
a senator, was quite clever though a
bit affected.
The play itself was one such as Nor
folk people love to see and the enthu-
siasm aroused was enough to Indicate
that other first class. attractions will
be patronized generously when they
are booked. .' ..' go
!" 1t was a noticeable fact that the
words of the actors could be distinctly
heard by the audience last night. This
way have been due to the fact that
the house was filled.
Among those attending were Miss
Lillian Anderson of Neigh and her
party of five friends, who occupied box
&C." Her guests were: Clyde Ander-
son, Miss Margaret Wynn, Miss Daisy
Maybury, Miss Nellie Mulvin and Miss
Rachel Anderson.
A number of other out of town PEG
pie enjoyed the play.
TUESDAY TiDINGS