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Show "ALIAS JIMMY VALENTINE." The influence on impressionable minds which com&3 of the stage portrayal of clever conviclB in or out of jail, has always been a much mooted question, with probably the balance of the argument argu-ment in favor of those who contend that It is a bad one, but good or bad, from a strictly moral standpoint, there can bo no denial that tholr lives, real or fanciful, have often been responsible responsi-ble for more virility on the melodramatic stage than any other subject the playwright in that Held has to deal with. In "Alias Jimmy Valentine" suggested to Paul Armstrong by O. Henry's story, that author has constructed a real thriller, and we here had tho good fortune to see it just as it was put on in New York, with the identical company except for one or two minor exceptions. It is hard to get away with a melodrama, without including at least a sprinkling of blood and a rumble of thunder, and such situations as must bo obvious to the old playgoer long before they occur, but in "Alias Jimmy Valentine" Armstrong Arm-strong has done it, and every member of the company com-pany plays his or her part so intelligently that the interest is not allowed to drag for a second. Craftily and with a keen dramatic sense Armstrong Arm-strong has put his play together, and so skilfully skilful-ly is the realism woven in the action that the result re-sult Is well nigh perfect melodrama, and yet Armstrong's more recent success, "The Deep Purple" Pur-ple" is better. The work of H. B. Warner is uniquely charming, charm-ing, his smile and manner and unusual method together with his finish proving him all that has been claimed for him. Frank Monroe's Detective De-tective Doyle is one of the gems on the stage today, to-day, and tho "Dick the Rat" of Charles B. Graham is a bit that leaves a lasting Impression. Phyllis Sherwood played opposite Mr. Warner in a way so winsome and natural that her audience audi-ence instantly responded, and she won them from tho start. There is no member of the company com-pany with whom any fault may be found, and the Lieblers are to be complimented on the production pro-duction they se"t to the Colonial. 'Alias Jimmy Valentine" is a fascinating play, and will be most welcome again. |