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Show Theatres AT THE ALHAMBRA. The four-act melo-drama "An Old Sweetheart of Mine," presented at the Alhambra theater last night by the Hallett-Stanhope players, held the interest in-terest of a good-sized audience. Being a story of life on the Texas border of Mexico, interest in the play is particularly particu-larly justified at this time. It tells ot a scion of a wealthy eastern family, whose sweetheart, not realizing the depth of her own affection for him, re-' fuses his proposal of marriage and he goes Into the southwestern cattle ranges to bear his burden of disap pointment as best he may. Here, his splendid manhood wins him the deep friendship of a rich cattle owner, by whom he is employed as a foreman, and also that of his cowboys. He makes the mistake, however, of mar rying a Mexican woman who later becomes be-comes addicted to drink and makes his burden of wedlock heavy to bear. His situation becomes acute, when his former sweetheart comes to the ranch to visit the rancher's wife, her dearest friend. They meet again, as do his Mexican wife and a former lover of her own race. The Mexican woman finally kills her" countryman who, in the final denouement is proven to have been her first and legal husband, hus-band, and the American sweethearts are reunited. There are a number of excellent dramatic situations In the play and they are handled effectively. Comedy is also given a place now and then, being by tho cowboys, a type always liked on the stage. The stage settings and light effects conform well to the spirit of the play and the country coun-try to which it has reference. As Dick Scott, though condemnation of his mes-alllancc with the Mexican woman, Wenona, is a bit hard to overcome, Stanley De Wolfe handles the leading role admirably. Demonstrating Demon-strating n fine knowledge of dramatio values, he dominates tho scenes in which ho has a part, and wins the sympathy of the audience as ho does that of his friends In the action. Antoinette An-toinette Crawford, as Margaret Lee, the leading female role, does fine work in a part considerably largor than the one she essayed In the first play presented by the company. She wns a big favorite with the audience last night. Aside from using nt times English too puro to expect from a woman of the type, Ethel Howe, as Wenona, was a big part of the play. Her acting was satisfactory in every scene. Avis Manor, Ma-nor, In the minor role of Juanita, a Mexican girl, also did some excellent acting. Al H. Hallett sustained the character of the Mexican lover and husband of Wenona, In an unusually acceptable manner, his dialect and acting act-ing both being good. Barring mannerism manner-ism a bit overdone, Edwin Carlie enacted en-acted the role of Tom Cragen, the ranch owner, in a manner that won favor with the audience, and Jean Klr-by, Klr-by, as his wife, tightened her hold on the local play-goers. Charles Elch-man Elch-man as "Slim," gave a pleasing impersonation im-personation of an admirable character and also shared honors with Paul A. Stanhope in the humorous episodes of the play. Stanhope enacted the role of "Shorty," a cowboy, and again proved his aptitude for comedy character char-acter parts. Norbert Gills, as Nat iMartin, a Texas sheriff, added strength to scenes in tho last two acts. |