The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-12-10
ADJUSTMENTS.

| Time was turned back fifty years
last evening at the Grand and for two
hours the audience lived in the home
like atmosphere Of the four March
girls, Meg, 10, Beth and Amy, made
famous by Louisa M. Alcott's book,
Little Women" They laughed at
harum-skarum, tom-boyisn 10, yet
who, as Aunt March, the venerable
scold of the March family said was
the only practical one Of the family.
They eagerly watched the happy love
affair of Meg and John Brooke, and
the heart ache of Laurie and 10 was
not shared on the stage alone. Laur-
ie's subsequent happiness with his
little Amy and JOS love for the queer,
rough, gruff German professor made a
happy ending. Beth's death left part
of the audience at least not dry-eyed,
and no more sincere compliment could
have been paid the actors than the
absolute stiffness which prevailed az
the curtain fell on the broken hearted
family, which few hours before had
been in fever of happiness over the
avent Of the twins, which the ire
pressible Laurie had declared should
be named Demi-John and Daisy.
| And there was sweet faced, dear
kind Mrs. March, and lovable quiet
Mr.. March, philosopher, stormy
Aunt March, who some times had
soft heart under rough exterior, big
good John Brooke, and Laurie bub-
bling over with jokes and fun. And
Mr. Laurence, courtly old gentleman
| of the COS, was there, and Professor
Bhaer, the stout old German scholar.
and Hannah Mullet who saved the dag
and situation more than once with
her remarks.
| Little Women, possibly the most IA
nous Of Louisa Alcott's stories, is a
story Of her life and her family In
10 we see Miss Alcott who tried to
win success as writer, and who sue
ceeded in abundant measure. Mr..
March is Bronson Alcott, and the girls
are Miss Alcott's sisters. Beth's death
in the book had its counterpart in real
life, and this nearly broke the authors
heart.
/ The sitting room of the Alcott home
is the setting for the stage for three
acts, and the old garden at Plumfield
is real New England garden
1t would be hard to pick out an
Individual star In last nigh.s produc.
ton. AS for the interest of the aud
fence Miss Catherine Vincent as Meg,
sweet, pretty, smiling, eyen-tempered
and loving shared with impetuous, am
bilious, matter-o f-fact 10, played by
Miss Mary Rehan. JOS sacrifice OF
her hair, her one vanity, that her
mother might have money to go to
her sick father proved the girls good
heart. Amy portrayed By Mildred
Barrett, with her penchant for big
words, and her entire lack Of respons-
Utility touched responsive chord
when she grew up into beautiful
Igirl who captured the heart of Laurie
who is Harold Matthews in real life.
The scene in which 10 refuses Laurie,
telling him it is for the best for both
OF them, displayed well done bit of
acting. John Brooke, as Meg's lover,
her husband and father of the twins
was well carried out by w. J. Skavgan.
H Miss Adele Clark as Aunt March was
extremely good in her character work.
Miss Sylvia Thorn played Hannah
to perfection, and Mrs. March done by
Miss Josephine Fox, could not have
been improved upon. The entire cast
was well balanced.
The costumes of the cos were in
vogue and the stage settings were of
the same period. The sitting room OF
the old home was comfortable old
room, though the carpet was faded
and the furniture plain. And the old
orchard in the last scene was in holi-
day attire.
Little Women deserved a better
: audience than last nights, but that
: the play will live as has the book
. there can be no question.
, A special matinee which was well
: attended, was played yesterday.