Arizona republican., 1909-02-03
FINE OLD MELODRAMA
 IS THOMAS ARIZONA"
IT WASN'T LIKE LOOKING IN A
 MIRROR
The Play that Ran For Whole Year
 In New York Peases Arizona Too.

IL can hardly be said that "Ar1ZOna played before an Arizona audience, was exactly like looking in a mirror Augustus Thomas play might have been named Texas, Kansas or South Dakota as far as local color in the drama is concerned. But while 1t wasn't Arizona as we know IL, there are few who will not agree that It IS one of the best military melodramas produced in recent years. Arizona was one of the best money makers in New York a few years ago, and since it has been on the road has made thousands of dollars for its author It was thoroughly enjoyed by the audi ence which filled the Elks theater last night.
 There are some minor details in the play as acted last night that the pune tilious critic could make meat of, such as Lieut.. Denton's manner of handling six shooter which was hardly in ac- cordance with gun etiquette in the ter ritory. When he draws his gun on Capt. Hodgman during his little heart to heart talk with the captain who IS about to run off with the Colonefs wife, Denton keeps tn gun pointed at the lower button of the Captains coat The best authorities on the subject in Arizona agree that it is a bit unpro- fessional and decidedly amateurish to shoot a man in the stomach, or below the belt for that matter. As the cap tain was apparently unarmed and Tn citizens dress it was hardly necessary to point the six shooter at him at all, as Denton had all the advantage. He might have folded his arms and held the gun carelessly pointing toward the floor; but to keep it pointed at the Captains stomach puts the spectator on tender hooks for fear it might go off and make one of those horrible wounds that the novice with fire arms always inflicts, a wound that leaves its victim writhing in agony for months, instead of killing him outright or just simply "winging" him as a matter ot spite.
 The construction of the play Is such that all of the situations are logical One of the best of the thrillers is the unexpected return of Col Bonham. He finds the innocent lieutenant with Mrs. Bonham, and to add to the lieu tenants apparent guilt, the jewels be- longing 10 Iilt AlplUlltA 1 Fs AAN eAAN -~Na-- on him. A situation such as this Is difficult of logical solution, yet It Is cleverly manipulated and cleverly act ed. J. j. Hyland, as Col Bonham' de- serves special mention for the eftec- tiveness of his acting in this scene, and Edward Farrell, who has the part of the lieutenant, a part that was created by Vincent Serano, certainly does it as well as that actor ever dld.
 One of the most thoroughly true to life performance in the play IS the characterizatiJ Jn of Sergeant Keller by Charles F. Graham. For one, appar- entlv not of Teutonic origin, his Gere- man dialect is delicious, yet not a blt over done. Frederic Webber, as Capt Hodglnan, is not quite so ardent suitor of the coloners wife as one ,,ouId wish. When she is about to fall into his arms in the earlier part o1 the play it is in response to a line or talk that most women would laugh at The captain delivers the lines about crushing the rose in a judicial sort of way and the audience is little surprised to see the woman, whose husband is devoted to her, 'falr' to them.
 Alma Bradley plays the dainty frol- icsome Bonita who whisks about the stage and makes faces. Bonitas ac- lions are sometimes a little exaggerat- cd hut it should be remembered that she isn't quite grown up yet Taken as a whole the cast was excellent and the representation of this clever melo- drama, adequate.