The Detroit times., 1910-06-23
il. = LOCAL
Tns j LAYHOUSES'
oARRIck.

II Edward sheldon's The Niger
is a foretaste OF what the New Inca
ter aud the New Theater company
will do for the American stage. II VIII
not he many years before the Amerr
can drama will be able to stand com
parison with the drama OF German!
and France The Niger" Is real
American play dealing with hving
American problem but-more lm'
portant and unusual-it is written IN
a thoroughly artistic fashion.
As might be inferred from It's
name. the play deals with the Negro
QUE stion. with a phase of II that is
I somewhat ugly 10 be sure. but Win
phase that must be considered. Pti'p
Morrow, OF a proud old Southern Am
I lily. is sheriff OF Westbury county ala
iust as he has agreed 90 accept the
nomination for the governorship no Is
called upon 10 face a mob bent on
Nnching one of the Negroes upon mis-
plantation. Regardless OF the effect
on his chances in the convention, lie
determines 10 do his duty and prot sct
his prisoner. who has given himself
up He is prevented, however, by lis
friend. Clifton Moves. who has tenLcf'
ed the nomination. and who not only
as a tribute to Morrow's ability. DIT
also. as president of the Moves DIS
tilIerv works, because he is the NOS
liliefy candidate 10 beat the prohloi-
ton nominee. The howl of the mot
as IL takes the Negro from the depu-
ties effectively closes the first act
The second act is laid in the e'v'
ernor's study~.~A. race riot Is raging
In the capital and Morrow Is doing
every ihine in his power TO queu4 me
disturbances. De becomes convlAceo
that TOO much whisky is the real
cause OF nest of the outbreaks anu
DECIDES to sIgn the prohibition Din
which Is before him. instead NJ eto
in, Il as he was expected u. re an
nnunces rs intention 10 Moves. waC
attempts 10 hissuade him by Appeals
~ his COMMON sense. his t'atlt'ue
end Iii ambition. but is as;oaishei IL
fhd .llat Morrow is firm AZ 'asi
Moves produces a letter which shows
that there is Negro blood in the gov
ernor's veins. that h has no right 10
rs estates, his position or ATS name
Morrow 'rfused 10 believe tho story
hut his old Negro NANNY sdds
evidence. under the cross examina-
ton OF Ntycs. that establishes IT'S
truth. Morrow is stunned by this
revelation. ln,, despite the threats to
expose hin. he will not give up his
resolution 10 lass the prohibition Dill.
He does. however. sea that he must
break his engagement with .re1rgiaaa
Byrd and Tho scene Nhicn follows IS
perhaps the most intense In the play
The third act opens with discus
sion of the race problem between the
governor and old Senator Long the
father of the prohibition bill While
his has a dramatic purpose, as
contrast with the interviews that FOL
low, IL could be considerably shorten
ed and attain the same enect. Fol-
I lowing him into the governors Of
| fee comes Moves with last appeal
+, to Morrow to veto the prohibition Dill
He heaps insults upon the governor,
| insults that finally ring them TO blows
| Moves leaves with the promise TO
print the whole story OF the family
/ in his paper. Then follows a strong
scene between Morrow and Georgiana.
| Her love has-proven strong enough
! TO withstand the shock and she comes
back TO him willing to become his
wife. but he succeeds in convincing
The play ends as Morrow goes out TO
tell the cheering throng that has
gathered TO pay him tribute for quell-
ing the riots. that he. himself. belongs
TO the Negro race and that he intends
to devote his future 10 uplifting the
black man.
The acting was entirely adequate.
Every role was we'll taken. The work
- Gu Morrow
left no room for Improvement, while
that of Ben Johnson as Clifton Noyes,
and Miss Annie Russell as Georgiana,
was almost in the same class. Lee
Baker as Senator Long. and Mrs. n.
Otis Dellenbaugh as Mrs. Byrd, also
PLAYED their parts well. The charac-
ter work of Miss Beverly Sitgreaves
aud Reginald Barlow as old family
servants. was excellent. All the other
minor parts were capably handled.