The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-01-23
ADJUSTMENTS.
Last Nights Play.

A large audience witnessed the pre-
sentation Of 'Kindling' asst night when
the distinguished actress, Miss Mar
garet Ellington, appeared for the first
time at the Pensacola opera house.
''Kindling' stands in a class by itself.
just as Miss Ellington, as an emotional
actress, has achieved place all her
own in the high art that she has
reached.
The play, based on the tragedy OF
tenement life, and the modern condi-
lions which make this life possible, is
a vehicle for the wonderful histrionic
ability which has made Miss Ellington
one of the greatest actresses on the
American stage today.
But it is more than this. 1t is q
gospel of truth-a message of the Dr.
vine Right of every woman to give to
her child that birthright intended by
the Creator when He crowned her with
motherhood-the birthright of fresh air.
clean living, food for the body and the
soul.
"Kindling'' is not a pleasant play,
The man or woman who went to laugh.
stayed to learn. To learn something
of the tragedy of life that turks in the
blind alleys of city ways. where there
is not room enough for little children
to be born into the world, where
mother hearts ache with longing for
the little lives they know must be borne
In the filth and sin of the city
No, it is not a pleasant subject. But
it is a vital one. And that is the
reason the play and the great actress,
as Maggie Schultz, took New York BY
storm-shook the great city from its
lethargy with her woman hands. shook
it wide awake to one of the greatest
evils that is faced in modern life to-
day-the menace of ill-horn children.
Miss Ellington stands alone. No
words can make her less OF more. She
has already won her laurel wreath,
but she added one leaf TO its crown in
her wonderful rendition Of "Kindling''
at the opera house last night
But the play is not all tragedy. 1t
has its lighter phases and it's love
story.
In addition to the gripping, heart
compelling story, there is a, vast GUAM
tity of comedy, and the characterize
tons are intelligent and complete to
the last detail. Miss Ellington, as Mag
gle Schultz, the young, ignorant wife
of the tenements, who steals in order
to secure the money to go into a new
land where there are trees and flowers,
and fresh air, that her expected child
may be born amid surroundings that
will give 1t a fair chance IN life, does
not only the best work of her career.
but has created a character that will
live in the history of the stage, so
complete is 1t in every detail. Unlike
great many stars, Miss Ellington be-
lieves in surrounding herself with the
best obtainable conpauV
Mr.. Duncan in the part Of Steve
Pates was not portraying a role-he
was the role. The young man of the
streets, the tenement tough, with his
native Irish wit, heritage of a witty
nother-played admirably by Miss
Lewis. Miss Lewis, as Mrs. Bates, or
Batesy, and Mr.. Duncan as Steve re-
lieved the tension and gave to It that
touch of comedy without which every
play is lacking.
There is a pretty romance running
like golden thread through the fabric
Of the drama, and Sydney Martineau,
as Alice. was very lovable, and Robert
Taber, as DR.. Taylor, very much the
lover.
Rafferty,, the plain clothes man,
played by Frank e. Camp, was one of
the finest portrayals of such a part
ever seen on the stage The part,
never over-acted, was we'll sustained
throughout the two acts in which he
takes so prominent part.
In presenting Miss Ellington and her
excellent company, Mr.. Edward Bowes
has given to Pensacola an opportunity
to witness one of the greatest plays on
the American stage today, and in Mag
gle Schultz, as played by Miss Hing
ton, character whose message rings
out to the world like a clarion call to
arms.