The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-10-01
ADJUSTMENTS.

That Mr.. Hughes has placed Keo.
kuk above all other cities in this sec
ton In the high standard Of theatrical
attractions shown was proved again
last evening at the Grand Opera house
The Man of the Hour" was presented
In manner to which Keokuk has not
been accustomed for years. The news
that really the very best things of the
stage are to be. Keokuk's for this sea.
son was verified again.
The play is one of the best, as well
as one Of the. most successful of this
twentieth century, but any play is
really worth exactly what the actors
make Of 1t. Last evening the stage
people made out of the play all there
is in it. 1t was the company which
New York, Chicago and st. Louis sees
in the same play, and the perform
ance last evening was up to the Broad
way standard OF excellent company, it
was more than satisfactory. This time
IT practically disarmed any adverse
criticism. The audience takes most
interest in the boss and his alderman
&c enemy, as rule, and sometimes
the title role is not lifted to it's prop.
er place above these parts. But Ar
thur Maitland succeeds in doing that
rising In intensity, deepening in pow.
er, and becoming more brilliant of fin
ish, as the character of Alvin Bennett
grows from the weakness of the rich
young man to the strength Of the real
manhood Of high ideals and ability to
accomplish them. Mr.. Maitland makes
of the part a study of the masculine
human mind that tempts one to impos-
sible columns of analysis and praise
The actor who takes the part OF
Charles Wainwright will never attain
his need Of popular praise. because the
populace will not understand how
painstaking and exact a characteristics
ton T. S. Guise makes of the high
financier who is known in real life to
few OF us. Some people will want to
see more swashbuckling in the presen,
tation OF the boss, Richard Horrigan,
and more Mysteries in the portrait OF
the woman in the case, Dallas Vain.
wright but these people ask the false
and unartistic. The real political boss
is exactly as John Moore depicted
him; and Madeline Winthrop acted as
real girl who would do those things
would act. In fact, with single ex-
ceptfon. the players held the mirror
up to nature and gave perfect ref1ec-
ton of real life-and this is the ulti.
mate perfection of acting and the top
most height of the dramatic art. It Is
pity that the young man who repre-
sented newspaper man did not spend
as many hours studying live city
nall reporter, as the others spent
studying their own models. A reporter
capable of such an assignment and
such beats conducts himself, as mat
ter of fact, exactly in converse way
to that which was shown the audience
last night-but then one never saw
any colorado imitation OF reporter
on any stage.
keokuk never had better presenta-
ton of the dramatic art than last
evening. She never had a theatrical
manager to equal Mr.. Hughes. 1t is
devoutlly to be hoped that she will
show enough appreciation Of the won
derful attractions Mr.. Hughes is Civ
ing her to encourage him to keep up
the same tactics he has been pursu-
ing In giving Keokuk much better
things at the theatre than any of the
surrounding cities are getting.