The Morgan City daily review. (Morgan City, La.) 1916-1920, 1917-03-24
THE BIRTH OF A NATION

After more extensive and sensa-
tional publicity than has fallen to
the lot of any other theatrical enter
prise, D. w. Grifith's "The Birth
of a Nation, will open a two days
engagement next Monday April End,
at the Evangeline Theatre. The
first-class metropolitan production
is guaranteed to be the one shown
here, carrying two baggage cars OF
equipment, symphonic orchestra
of musical experts, and complete
organization Of SO people.
Many circumstances have consplr-
ed to make 1.-THE Birth Of Nation,
the most widely discussed play in the
world. Suggested by Thomas
Dixon's Southern novels, it embrac-
es a far wider scope than "The Clan
man" play. Mr.. Griffith's new art
covers $50 years of history and pic
torializes the greatest events OF the
War between the States as well as
those of the Reconstruction; Lincoln
and Lee and Grant; the early glorles
of the Confederacy; the devasta-
ton Of Gen. Sherman's march to the
sea; the awful siege of Petersburg;
the signing of peace at Appomattox;
the assassination of the President in
Ford's Theatre, and the succeeding
orgy of hate and oppression of the
South-tnese personages and incl
dents pass rapidly before the en-
thralled spectator and lead up to
the terrific climaxes of Part two,
which is devoted to what is tyled
1.-THE second struggle between the
North and South" a struggle caused
by the attempt to impose carpet
Dagger rule upon the conquered
States. The wild adventure and
achievement Of the Ku Klux Khan
dominate the final scenes, which
yields happy ending of a double
romance of Southern and Northern
sweethearts.
Mr.. Griffith's treatment of the
magnificent theme is SO much great
er and grander than the original
play that there can be no cohhpar-
ison. For example, he presents 10,
900 actors and 5000 horses instead
of the tiny "armies" of the theatric
boards. He shows 5000 scenes in
place of four or five; farflung battle
lines Of many, many miles, and Ku
Klux ''riders" right out in the. open,
which surpass in thrills any Wander
bilt Cup Race. Yet the individual
acting is as fine and artistic as in a
"short cast" drama, the work of
Henry Walthall as the Clansman
and Of Nav Marsh as Flora, in par
ticular, rising to heights of genius.
Other marvels Of the work are the
100000 faithfully accurate histori-
cal details; the musical score syn
chronized to the several thousand
distinct and individual scenes; the
wonderful reproduction Of crowded
interiors like the theatre perform
ance where Lincoln was shot, and
the South Carolina legislature ses-
sion Of 1870; the taking of battle
scenes at night by secret new pro-
cess; the use Of $4,000 yards Of
cloth for Ku Klux costumes, and
10000 yards of women's dresses;
the masters Rembrandt-like man
agement Of light and shade; the de-
piction Of the glorious beauty Of
outdoor nature; his marvellous,
quiet yet effective playing the en-
tire gamut of Romance from lightest
comedy to deepest tragedy; finally
and supremely, the union of all the
stage arts Except conversational
SPECIFY into new art-form Of
Observation-Disclosures.
"The Birth of Aviation" has been
acclaimed as the first pictorial
drama to be presented in a regular
theatrical way and at the usual first
class scale Of 'two-dollar top prices.
No advance will be made on these
prices on tour. The fact that one