Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1908-02-22
ADJUSTMENTS.
BY Meyer Solmson.

Probably the most characteristic
American thing is politics, and it
is scarcely to be expected that a
play dealing with this theme would
not prove to be interesting and
more or less popular. There is no
term more familiar just now than
'the octopus. "The Lion at the
Mouse" the first appearance of
which was given at the ElKs theater
last night, brought before the eyes
| Il those e. fseI. a concrete .Ti:..1a-
t'un Of IS t. peal American i't &
And when this naturally. interesting
subject was further embellished -
INTERVENING threads of beautiful
romance and other abstract qualities
associated with humanity, all of
which were permeated with heart
interest, it may be understood how
! this play, from the pen of Charles
Klein, was built to please.
The fact, however, that it was a
cross-section view of ideally arrang-
ed politics, and that it, in many
other ways, made strong bid for
popular approval, was not the only
claim "The Lion and the Mouse"
had upon the good will of those who
witnessed it. Much of the charac-
ter drawing was extremely true to
the prevailing conception of indi-
vidual characters thought of when
politics and love are mentioned and
the people in the cast who inter-
preted these parts aided in many
instances in vitalizing the sketches.
<'The Lion and the Mouse" Is a
great play. It was most magnifi
Gently presented by the Harris Com
pany last night. l am not liberal
when l say that the company was
we'll balanced in every particular.
There is hardly flaw to be found In
the work of the actresses and actors
as a whole. The company could not
have been better picked" The
repartee in each act is of that fasci-
mating kind that attracts continu-
| ously and there is just enough hum
or, at times, to make it enjoyed.
Miss Marie Shotwell was until
last night an unknown star to Pine
Bluffians. She has established her.
self easily in this supposedly seclud-
ed theaterical spot and the audience
was singing praises for the talented
woman after each curtain fall last
night. The repeated curtain calls
she received were only slight testi-
monials OF the admiration local per.
sons have for her. 1t would havo
done her good to hear the many
compliments that went from
mouth to mouth in that delighte1
audience. Miss Shotwell is well
schooled. Her dramatic ability was
displayed in each act and especially
did it assert itself in the scene at
the end of the third act, where she
denounces THE Lion" and forces
him to reconsider his revengefu.
disposition and eventually consent
to yield and save her fathers hon
or. No better actress has ever been
seen in Pine Bluff in a play of thi
character.
AS John Burkett Ryder" Oliver
Doud Byron was even more than
was expected OF him. He is an &C
tor of excellent methods. He alb
serbs the sparkle of his own lines
and they scintillate with his reading.
He has face susceptible of almost
any phase of emotion, and he al
ows himself to enter fully into the
playing of the part. He is one O.
those healthy characters who are
not only convincing in their power.
but who create desire to be seen
again. 1T requires the audac'ty OF
f, genius to create several of the eli
makes which he is compelled to car
ry, and which epitomize every es-
sence of humor and exceptional act
ing when cleverly presented as they
are in his performance.
Henry B. Harris in presentin o
The Lion and the Mouse" ha,
grown into the confidence of tho
Pine Bluh peop'e because he has
| ahidAfi with all honoc&.. 4, III. -.>.a