Arizona republican., 1915-11-30
AUDELL HIGGINS PLEASES IN TESS

Sraying once again from the field of comedy, in which they have proven themselves to be eminenuy success ful, the Redmond players at the Elks theater last night presented one of those vital, heart-gripping dramas of modern life which coming at inter vals among the lighter productions which it has been the policy or this company to present proved itself to be a refreshing drauGht to the soul that was weary of the hum- drum plays which give the matinee girl no cause for weeping or the more blase theater-goer an opportunity to heave an occasional sigh. and feel a slight tugging at his heart owing to the plight in which some fair maiden finds herself.
 Tess of the Storm Country" the production in which the company ap- pcared last night, is the vehicle which Mrs. Fiske successfully starred for two seasons, and is built around the character of Tess. the vagabonG daughter of fisherman in upper York state. The portrayal of this leading character was left to the versatile Auden Higgins and one might not be far from being wrong if he made the assertion that Audell was about seventy-five per cent Of | the whole show, this statement being made adviscdly, and not with the in 1 tention of detracting whit of the praise which was due the excellent supporting members of the company 1 Miss Higgins presentation of Tess | was that of a wild. uncombed, bare 1 legged daughter of the forest, who, | according to her own language, had 1 the misfortune to be put out of l jail" when she had gone to that in l stitutiOn for the purpose of holding ! conversation with her father who had been imprisoned on a false charge of murder. This wild care-free lass
 which Auden so happily introduced when she rushed onto the stage. was | greatly in contrast to the part for
 which that lady was cast in the pro- duction of last week, and a contrast | which will doubtless be welcome to | those who have seen both pOrtrayals. i Hugh Netcalf was given the chance 1 of his life in this production to put over one of those meanest- -man -alive
 roles for which he is justly famous
 on the stage, and in this particular case he played his part in his usual vigorous fashion.
 Ed Redmond as the simpletOn. pre-
 sented one of the few comedy ele- ments ir the play.
 | Roscoe Karns, affectionGtely known as "Dimples." carried out his part oi the young minister in good fashion, and proved that he could delvc into the realm of tragedy as well as get away with the George M. Cohan sort
 of stuff. such as he displayed ir Broadway Jones.
 Pretty Marvin Hammond was al her best in her Standardization of the girl of wealth who had gone wrong. and her pink satin costuming lin the third act caused many eX- clamations of delight from among the
 f. minine portion of last nights aud-
 fence.
 The work of MT Eddie Mitchell
 who for the first time this season lhad a part of considerable length
 went through with that gentleman usual easy style of delivery and tho laudience was glad to see Eddie show ling himself so generously throughout
 the piece.
 Ben Erway, Tina Craft, Eleanci
 Blevins and Maurice Penfold all de voted their best efforts to insure
 fau!tIess support to the'leading roles and the absence of Bert Chapman from the ranks was duly noted b, ! the friends of that young man. an'
 the introduction of. several new face , did not make his loss felt any tn less.
 Four elaborate stage sets wer provided as a background for tn , piece by Minor Reed. the first on' , being especially suggestive of tn 3 density of the wildwood in which tn niece was npened.