The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-05
"Pierre of the Plains. /"

"Pierre OF the Palms..
Cast of characters:
The characters are named in order in
which they first appear.
Matt Brady-Harry Holman.
Cowankatchie-Rober Bromwell.
Miomi, his squaw,-Agnes M. ST. George.
Jap Durkin, a guide,-Thomas E. B..
Henry.
Val Galbraith-John A. Lorenz.
Jen Galbraith-Mabelle Estelle.
Father Coraine-John Ravold.
Peter Galbraith, owner of road house,
John Fenton.
Pierre of the Plains-Severin de Deyn.
Sergeant Tom Redding-Hal Clarendon.
Inspector Whitby-Stuart Holmes.
Corporal Tom Kearney-Frank Burns.
Callahan-Fred Bentley.
pierre of the Plains' is a melodrama
as any of those productions that shun
the popular priced theatres for the more
pretentious houses with higher charge
for seats. 1t is undoubtedly one of the
best, if not the best, of attractions that
have ever been seen at the Bijou or
at any popular priced theatre In the
south. No conscientious theatregoer can
say that such praise is extravagant if
he has witnessed the play and given it
careful consideration. To be sure, there
are weak points. but few modern plays
are free from SUCH The production might
be materially improved with certain ad-
ditions and eliminations, but taking the
play as it stands it we'll merits praise.
SEVERN de Deyn, who essays the diff
ficult role of Pierre, the outcast, and
suspected gambler is an actor of much
ability who handles his lines in an ad-
mirable fashion. His support. on the
whole, is excellent no single member
of the cast falling short of his require
ments. AS Jen Galbraith, the only fe-
male character in the play who Is given
lines, Miss Mabelle Estelle is satisfying,
but not brilliant. With a little less
theatrical fervor in her rendition of the
excellent lines entrusted to her, and a.
little more left to the Imagination of
the audience Miss Estelle's work would
show a decided Improvement She is
entirely pleasing to the average person,
however, and deserves much credit Rank
ing next In merit is Harry Holman,
whose comedy work in the role of Matt
Brady. the American hired man is of
high order. John Fenton, John Ravold
Hal Clarendon and Thomas f. p. Henry
are other members of an excellent cast
who deserve special notice. The remainder
of the company, as seen above, contrib
uted much to harmonious whole
The most striking trait Of the play
is its obvious imitativeness. With due
consideration to the honesty of purpose
of Edgar Sewyn. to whom Is given credit
for the Naturalization of the play from
the novel of Sir Gilbert Parker. Pierre
and His People, 1t must be said that
Eugene Walters ideas as set forth in
THE Wolf are used with much free
dom. The setting of the two plays Is
the same, the action of both transporting
in the Canadian wilderness with slight
changes of detail. The leading charac-
ters are Identical both being French In
dams, the idea of the gambler being orig
inal with Selwyn. The herones of both
are goden-haired Scotch lasses. both of
whom conceive a love for another char
acter than the hero Even to detail the
plays are strikingly similar, death strug-
gle between the hero and the villain
occurring under conditions much the
same. 1t would not be fair. therefore,
! to consider the plays as distinct rivals
Both plays have so much in common that
a comparison would be unfair, "The
Wolf, being the first before the pub
lie. deserving the greatest credit.
Be that as 1t may. Pierre of the
Plains" is a powerful melodrama, well
acted, well staged, well produced AS
such it deserves the hearty patronage of
| the public.
The gratest merit of the piece con-
sists in its absolute purity and freedom
| from suggestion, something that can be
said of few modern plays. 1.-THE Wolf
not excepted. The central problem is
not the same as in Walters play, the
| unpleasant idea of villainy and seduc-
| tion being happily omitted from the love
plot. Again. the villain is not the rival
of Pierre in his seemingly hopeless love
| for the heroine, but on the contrary
the rival is man of many good traits
who caters much to the admiration of
| the gallery gods. The theme is selfsac-
Tif1ce, the heroine, the rival and finally
| the hero offering to resign much for the
sake of others. The setting is an ideal
one for strong melodrama, the vastness
Of the Canadian plains suggesting much
| to the mind of the spectator. With such
theme and such setting. what pos
sbilities are there not for 'Perre of the
Plains?"