The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-10-26
"sINs Of The FATHER"
READY FOR ITS OPENING.
The Play and the Company Have Been
Perfected, and a Delightful Perform
anee Of Thomas Dixon's New Drama is
Anticipated by Our T~heatresoers.

A telegram from New York states that
everything is in readiness for the impor-
tant occasion at the Grand Opera House,
Z October 9th, when Thomas Dixon's new
est. drama, 1.-THE Sins Of the Father" will
be seen for the first time. The play is in
fine shape, the actors have been well drill
ed, and the production has been construct
ed with the same artistic care as marked
1.-The Clansman." 1t Is said that 1.-The Sins
Of the Father" will prove an even more en-
joyable treat to u playgoers than THE
.Clansman,," for its characters, scenes and
incidents deal with the life of the South to-
day. An announcement Of special interest
Is that Mr.. Dixon, the celebrated author OF
the play. has arranged to be present and
address the audience between the acts.
Among the excellent actors in the COM
pany are Mrs. Charles G. Craig, famed for
her Southern nanny" representations;
Arthur j. PickeDs, a North Carolina Pick
ems by the way, equally well-known in
"black-face"; Miss Ethel Wright, a beauti-
full young ingenue; Robert Barton, a Bal
Hmpre boy who has already made his
mark, and Miss Lydia Knott, another IA
vorite Of Southern audiences. The stage
Is directed by BARLEY Gushing, a producer
noted for his artistry In putting on the
most successful Of Mrs. Fiske's plays.
"The Sins Of the Father offers the most
thrilling and novel Of plots yet attempted
by an American playwright. In boldly at
lacking o vital domestic problem, it chal-
ienges comparison with the works Of Sir
A.W. Pinero and Henry Arthur Jones.
The story deals with the household Of
Major Daniel Norton, a Confederate vete-
ran and q leader In State politics. The Ma
jor is q widower, and his household con-
Germs are looked after by Cleo, an octoroon.
Through a trick in defiance Of the Majors
I wishes, his ward Helen Winslow, a girl ed
ucated up North, Is introduced into the
home. She and young Tom Norton meet
and promptly fall in love.
The discovery OF the lovers Is a terrible
blow to the old man. A still more terrible
blow falls on. Helen when the Major in
forms her that one of her parents Is an oc-
toroon. Young TomSefuses to believe the
horrible story. A conflict between father
and Son ensues over the girl. Tragedy
seems the only possible solution Of the baf-
fling problem. But, in the end, a way out
Is found and the stain upon the family
honor is cleared away.
interviewer with the passion and the SEN
timent Of the serious plot Ia the comic bat
tie betwixt Minerva, a great, jovial, coal
black negreSs, and Andy the butler, de-
scribed as q "gem'man in brown" The
scenes show a typical Southern mansion,
the abode Of wealth and refinement, with
views OF the park and the State capitol
building in the near distance. In brief,
1The Sins of the Father" is richly mount
ed, superbly cast, and with the play
wright's boldly expressed ideas on the ra-
cial problem, his command of laughter and
tears, and his easy mastery Of dramatic
art, it cannot fail to be interesting.