The sun., 1908-04-14
7REDRAMAHIZTDNOVT
SOME ONE HAS MADE A PLAY OUT
or UNCLE TOMS CABIN"

the Elements Of Rndur,ng success
-Nen Acted, and LaViahly staged.
Once again We have the dramatiEed novel
charles Edison Blaney. the producer Of
toe latest stage version Of best seller,
evidently has so much faith in his play
that he was the only manager with nerve
enough TO brave the theatrical terrors Of
Holy Week last night by presenting . pre-
miAre He had faith In bis play and con-
fdence in his star, Miss Edna May Spooner,
perhaps the greatest emotional actress
ever born in Bergen street, Brooklyn.
And 40 he went ahead last night ct the
IincoIn square Theatre and put forth
production that knew no stint as TO lavish
ness
Uncle Toms Cabin is the name Of the
play. and it goes without saying that the
drama is a stage version Of the popular
novel Of the same name. When 10 much
time. intelligence. splendid acting and
money are wantony dispersed throughout
Q production one heatates to deory the
result But in justice TO its readers The
srN must say unhesltantly this morning that
Uncle Toms Cabin will not prevail, Per-
haps il will last out the week. II may run
even longer but unless lie producers quickly
grasp that play that has TO do solely with
. question Of political ethics that is above
the heads Of the proletariat can never be
popular the producers will learn to their
sorrow that that their time and money
have been wasted,
Who dramatized the 'best ssller' the
programme does not say. As the critics
gathered in the lobby OF the Lincoln Square
lss night between acts, thoss Of them that
remembered only the lines that we're meaty
with brute strength and power seemed
10 detect the hand OF either Eugene Walter
or Paul Armstrong in the stage version
Of the popular novel
Again, the frivolous critics from the
evening papers, their minds agloW with
the sprightly lines delivered by q char
acter named Topsy Ia negro slave girl who
contributes most of the comedy relief in
blackfacs soubrette work. all swpre that
they we're minded Of Augustus Thomas
at his very best. Others, remembering
the sweet pathos of q character named
ErdH dStC Cidi5e-popularly known through
ont the play as Ltllc EUo--were sure that
the novel had been turned into play either
by Miss Fila Wheeler Wilcox or Mrs. Helen
Green, the we'll known writer Of children 9
ohsrades and Christmas pantomimes, And
% Il went
Quite setting aside the disappointment
that the press agents advance notices
that the spectacular escape Of character
nased Elizd, a quadroon would be repro
duced in all the details described on page
$50 OF the novel--cracked ice floating IN
the Ohio River boodhounds, Eliza jump
ing bravely from cake to cake. &C.
we're not fulhlled in the Charles Edison
Blansy production. one cannot forgive
he many Gricyous errors OF ethics and
aesthetiOs that obtain throughout the -four
acts OF the drama. Ophelid land why
borrow from Lear Armstrong, Thomas
Walter, or whoever you may beD sweaTs
her love for the lone little girl named Topsy
but when il comes 10 kissing the little
black and wHywsrd child Miss Opheiid
does not como up TO our expectations,
our demands, upon the character whim-
slcal il Is true, hut ever IOvable--that the
author and dramaiist have huilded for us.
The refusal Of Miss Opisiid 20 kiss Topsy
even excited laughter among the hardened
fipt nighten that thronged the theatre.
and therein lies the doom Of the play,
Topsy herself, with all her lonesome visit
fulness (she said at one time that she had
no father, mother. sisters or brothers
but Jus growed) loses our sympathy when
she descends in the fourth act 20 stealing
the gloves and silk sash Of Miss 0pheltd
admirably played by Mrs. Spooner her
self-with no logical incentive to steal
dvulged.
4 hit Success That much may be
ssid for the benefit Of the press agent befor,
making out his Sunday advertisement; but
when oil Ia said and done. as already has
been said. Uncle Toms Cabin will moi
last. Rumors that the No. 200 company
now is being rehearsed TO cater 10 the pro.
vinCial trade are more than prepOsterous
they are ridiculous, nbsurd. In fact II may
he stated authontatively that already re,
hearsals are under way Of an emotiona
drama called Hazel Eirke.- by Clyde
Fitch. it is s1id, 10 superede Uncle Toni
Cabin in the near future.
There was tslk IT. tho .ohby os ;h5 EaOOii
Square last night TO the effect that "Cncl'
Toms Cabin had gone far toward causing
the war. SOms Of this fitted over towBrI
the corner where young Mr.. Young Corbet
were conversing,
DO you think II had anything to do with
the warl' the younger brother asked younI
Mr.. Young Corbett.
That cannot say" answered the olde
Mr.. Young Corbett. But" he went on
what's the difierence9 We licked hell Ou
Of the Spaniards anyway But be that a
II may
Uncle Toms Cabin opens in the high
l,,N af nlA
Tom. The ceiling OF the cabin IL at lens
twenty-five feet from the floor, but that
neither here nor there. Up to yet not
member Of the Spooner family has appeared
hut the audience alta quietly listening Il
the small talk OF URcle Tom and mulattt
named George Harris and bides lie time
George enters 10 applause and after hin
comee his wife, Bliia, also TO applause
minute later a cruel slave driver naIne'
Simon Legree enters TO hisses. From tha
time on Simon Legree always u taking
waop out OF the aged negro slave. Unel
Tom, and when the old and lovable slay
isn't on the stage Simon lashee the Morri
chair at right stage. The chair b by
Grand Rapids furniture company, and
physicians win leave their seat numbers q
the box Office they will be notified by tn
head usher in case they are wanted
That isn't necessary old Jdmts WtlsoF
SopthernsT, observes 10 Simon-the un
necessary part Of Si,n0n's stage businee
being the kicks that Simon bestows lavishl
upon the Stats OF Uncle Tome two children
And after Simon goes Cd stage Georg
Hdrris comes in wearing q red handkerchie
over his brow.
He tells Elisa, who 10 his wife according I
the programme. that he will 20 70 the north
land and seek work where slaves and MAJ
,ers are unknown, '0h, don't, George
DON'T My God, dont-do not 60 ava
Il Il 4. H.