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Show ' A'TESTEBN PtKY " WHICH ' . 0 ,.. 'LBGHtOR HHS BUILT BT W. J. EIOAN. "Butternut Jones" Is not the greatest play ever staged, yet Is far better than -hundreds that have won fame and for- tune for authors. In the dramatization of Tllden TUford's novel of the same name Harry Lelghton has given to the Stage a clever play, with a clever plot a drama of the great Southwest, with Its cowboys and rush Into a new country that Is so different from that class of ' plays that Is usually seen that It is positively posi-tively refreshing. There Is no killing, ho bloodshed. A revolver to In sight for a minute, and a murder la mentioned, but that Is all. The characters are In the main true to the parts which they undertake to represent. The play shows these men and women as they really are, and not as they, are generally gen-erally supposed to be. . There are strong situations In7 the play, situations that are arrived at without the usual melodramatic clap-trap so famllar to the Western play. The characters that stand out most prominently are those of Butternut Jones, a college-bred man. who has taken to the life of a cow-puncher on account of falling health, and "who haan t a streak of yellow In him;" James Jlmsey, Scotty. McCormlck, Billy White, a tenderfoot, who loses his chance for a good claim because he wants to help a woman. ..the Whlppoorwlll; Mrs. Jlmsey and Catherine Cloud. "Capt. Kitty." the girl owner of the ranch. In the character of Senator Ramsgate the author evidently evident-ly had In mind some real United States Senator, and his methods of securing land at the expense of .the poorer would-be would-be ranch-owner. At the Grand last night "Butternut Jones" was first presented to the public. It may be repeated that it is a play of strong possibilities and one that should be a success. Seldom Is a play presented for the first time that Its author does not discover that the pruning knife Is needed, and I.elghton doubtless thinks the same. At places the knife should be used; at omers ne should tako his pen and rewrite re-write and elaborate on a scene or a character. char-acter. It could, and likely will be done. It has all the elements of a great play, one that will appeal especially to the people peo-ple of the West and the Southwest. Nor is there any reason why it should not be a success In the East after it has received re-ceived a little cutting aud building. To the company which presented the play last, night it is a .little difficult to speak and do justice. It was the first night, and there were the usual first-night hitches not many, but enough to mar the pleasure at times. That the members mem-bers of the company were also nervous was evident. Not only waa It the opening open-ing night of a performance, but it was the first presentation of a new plav. There was. at times, a lack of that fire and dash that go so much toward the making of a play. These things, however, will be. remedied. First honors belong to Lelghton, author au-thor of the play; next among the men to Haddock, who played James Jlmsey. Bosworth. who played Billy White; Clarke, Chambers, Shelly. Lilley, Savage and Bloomfteld had opportunities to which they scarcely arose, but which will lively ne met in future performances. Among the women members first place should be awarded to either Miss Dodd or Miss Fernley. The latter, as the "tough girl." who had trapped Butternut Jones Into marrying her, gave that young woman an opportunity to show what she could do when she had a chance, and right well did she respond to the .call. Miss Dodd was slightly, nervous, which probably accounted for her not getting out of the part of Capt. Kitty all that she will before the end of the engagement. Miss Scott and Miss Galbert were good In what little they had to do. Special mention should be made of the scenery, all of which was painted In this city especially for the play. Tonight will be society night, and the sales Indicate a large audience. The audience au-dience last night was a large and representative repre-sentative one. ' . "Butternut Jones" is well worth seeing, and should pack the Grand the rest of the week. |