AMUSEMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 October 1929, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

“ UNCLE TOM’S CABIN ” ... ; TO-NIGHT. Seventy-five years ago “Uncle Tom’s Cabin ” .first saw the light of day between the covers of Harriet Beechei

Stowe’s sensational work. A year or 4twp Howard, father of Cordelia Howard, celebrated child actress of the time, converted the 4 y nqvel into a play, the grandfather of \ all the thousands of versions / that have appeared since. Having but limited stage space and desiring the utmost in audience reaction, Howard, whose small daughter played the role of little Eva, wrote the part of Uncle Tom to fit an aged character, bent with rheumatic pains and hobbling across the stage on a. crutch. This was to create an immediate sympathy from a visual • standpoint without wasting too many lines in explanation (that might be placed to other profitable usage. Ever alter, all Uncle Toms have been played that way. However, sad though it may upset a tradition of more than seventy years standing, this conception of Uncle Tom is erroneous and far from the original description by Mis Stowe of the "celebrated character. Uncle Tom .was about 45 years old. He was tall and broad-chested as a slave overseer should, be* The price he brought at auction was £360, a large supi for a slave. Naturally, an old, useless man would bring nowhere near that figure, .. The entire drama world was combed for a suitable Uncle Tom • for the stupendous Universal production of “ Uncle Tom’s Cabin ” which comes to the Princess Theatre to-night. The intensive search was Awarded in the discovery of James B. Lowe who; created a sensation in the title role of Eugene O’Neill’s “The Emperor Jones.” Lowe, a Chicagoan by adoption, although born in Macon, Georgia, perfectly fits the specifications as set forth bv Harriet Beecher Stowe. He is an aclbr of note on the legitimate ptjige and was one,of.only four colpurji'd'l meipbets ,ofi : the Quartermaster Corps during the World War. He is an ardent theosophist and is the author bff Several theosophical and philosophical works, .now accepted as standard authorities..on.'the subject. ■ Special selections will be played by Miss Giese .and her orchestra for this special preserfjtatjqp to-night.; Trices: icjrqle 2s, stfills is 6d| children under 42,: 6d. v ' i . ‘