Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1907-01-27
PLAYS AND PLAYERS
By BERNARD CONAN

New York, Jan 26.-Ths week brought forth two important new pro- auctions and the revival of several old ones with new and varied inter- pretations.
 At the Liberty theater we have had for the first nighters still another play of western life, "Salomy Jane" based on Bret Harte's novel, "Salomy Jane's Kiss The play was as well received as has been the other west ern successes. The adaptation was especially prepared for Miss Eleanor Robson by Paul Armstrong. The ef- feet of the play was heightened by several features which proved nov city to New Workers. A background of novel scenic effect is made by the famous "redwoods" of the region and the four acts and five scenes of the play take place wholly within the boundaries of Calaveras county, Cal- ifornia. The characters of the play, lOufIecu III dll, Wcle lahOH lloli IiAS life that surrounds the district. The action is confined to a period of only sixteen hours extending from the af ternoon to the following dawn. Much difficulty was experienced in securing the cast because of the odd western types" in the new play, which aside from Miss Robson includes H. R. War
 ner, Reuben Fax, Ralph Delmore, Holbrook Blnn, Earle Browne, Hen ry Harmon, Stephen Wright, James Seeley, Ada Dwyer, Frances Golden Fuller and Ruth Abbott Wells.
 SOthern and MarlOwe.
 At the Lyric theater MT. E. H. Soth- ern and Julia Marlowe began their first engagement under the manage ment of Lee Schubert. They selected for their first week John the Bap- tist,' by Herman Sudermann. The time of the play is 29 A. D., and it is performed in five acts with a prelude. The prelude shows the wild and rocky country near Jerusalem at night time The people are eagerly the announcement of the marriage of Herodias to her broth er-in-law, Herod Antipas, tetrach of Herodas having left her hus- band, Philip, the brother of Herod, and ed to Herod' spalace, carrying with her her daughter, Salome. When John learns of the intentions of Herodas he declares his purpose of going to Jerusalem to prevent the marriage. The first meeting between John the Baptist, Herodias, Herod and Salome takes place during the first act in an open square before Ierod's palace. The second act shows ! hall in Herod's palace and the liv- ing room of Herodias and Salome. Ierodias has sent for John to remon- 'trate with him for having reproach- d her in public in the market places )f Jerusalem. She tries to win him % her side and to overcome his op- position to her marriage to Herod. She offers him power and the king loms of the world, even going so far IS to point to Salome and to suggest that she might be offered as the price of his silence. In majestic lines and with great show of piety John indig- nantly reufses. The third act is di- vided into two scenes, the first taking place in room in the house of Jeho- saphat and the second showing stony open space in front of the east ern gate of the temple, called the Gate of Shushan. The people are assembled at the temple awaiting the arrival of Tetrach, when Herod, Herodias and their train of followers enter. John goes up the steps to the temple to bar his way. The people await in anxious expectation, most of them having picked up stones, ready to hurl them at the approaching pro- cession. The servants of Herod ap- proach John, seize him, push him from the steps of the temple and lead him off in chains
 Johns prison in the city of Cali lee is shown in the fourth act Two of his disciples call upon him there and tell him of the coming of Jesus, who is reported to be on the road near the city. John gives them message to Him, expressing his belief that he cannot die before he hears the an- swer. In the early part of this act there is another meeting between Sa- lome and John, when the daughter of Herodias offers herself to the Baptist, but is thrown aside indignantly.