"UNCLE TOM'S CABIN."

Press, Volume L, Issue 14983, 2 June 1914, Page 8

"UNCLE TOM'S CABIN."

Thero was a time when no home was complete without a copy of "Uncle Tom's Cabin," and every well-brought-up child wept over the ihvith of Eva. But the present generation does not know the book as well as its mothers did. Children have a wider rhoice of reading, and in many cases they prefer a different stylo of book. Similarly, while our mothers' idea of a happy evening was to cry over -the story at tho theatre, sophisticated daughters of to-day perhaps preftr the pantomime or ''The Girls of Giddyburg." Yet tho book Trill remain a minor classic, and tho play will continue to be almost as safe a card as "East Lynne." It has something in common -vith that immortal i-tn<iv in sentimentality, with the advantage over it that with all its crude-ne.-s and injustice as an indictment of a people, ft has some foundations :n reality. Thc ill-treatment of slaves, the flight of the fugitives, the extreme I.iety oi Kva, the pathos of Uncle Tom—such themes need not fear that the repertory theatre movement will reduce them to beggary. The version of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" given by one of the \\ iiioughby companies at the Theatre Koyal last night differs a good deal from the story m detail, and there arc not a few jerks in its movement. But. of course, it makes little or no difference to the appeal of a play like this, whether one or two characters are transferred irom their original positions or whetfier the action is disjointed in places. Legree remains villainous and Dents Uncle Tom: Eva dies with tho limo"i«,.r on her, and slaves singing round her bed:. Torv-y is still Totxsv; the old. familiar plantation songs are sung ; and . the fact that Eliza crosses the river on blocks of ice which are apparently anchored to the bottom, probacy" does not matter—the essential fact is that Hie gets .away. To some people the death of Eva is a beautiful and touching thing; in others —not neeessaril** le.;s rein-ions—it produces an intolerable embarrassment. It is a question of taste. The acting last night does not call for very much notice. Mr Cyril .M-ickay was a forceful, manly George Harris, while Mr Herbert Leigh, who has been seen here so often wearing th» pr.ljshcd boots and smoking the cigarette of a villain, was a satisfactory Uncle Tom. Miss Nell Holroyd worked most vigorously as Topsy. and caused much laughter. Mr Vivian Edwards plavvl Simon Legree on ono loud note. The Eva of Miss Vera Hugget reminded one of a version of the familiar linos about tho little girl with . tho littio curl.

'When she was good she was very very good, But when she was bad, she was moro

__ companionable. ( Eva is always very very good and we fear that in real life she would not be popular. . There did not seem to be any doubt, however, that MLw Jlinrget impressed tho house. The most striking feature of the production was the singins. of the no.ro male quartette. These performers, who include a tenor with an unusually rich and expressive voice, gave some plantation songs very harmoniously, and with a very pleasant ease of stylo., and sang some rag-tiroo items cleverly. Possessing excellent voices.- and singing and acting in a way that shows they aro quite at home, in their items and thoroughly enjoy them, they are .well worth hearing. Two children, described as the National Ihio, sang, danced, and tumbled. Some of their acrobatic feats wero neat; and clever. It only remains to bo added that the audience was large and happy.

"Uncle Tom's Cabin" will be presented again this and threo following evenings. A special holiday matinee :s announced for 2 o'clock ' to-morrow (King's Birthday), on which,occasion children will ho admitted half-price to all parts. The box plan will be open all day, at tho Theatre, and early door, tickets may be obtained at the Toy Arcade. .