Snowbound Actors Race the Clock to Make Their Seattle Curtain

In the face of the most vexatious circumstances imaginable, the C. F. Riggs dramatic company gave a creditable performance of Bartley Campbell's "Galley Slave" at Cordray's theatre last evening. There was only a handful of people in the house, but that did not prevent every actor from doing his best and thus maintaining the excellent reputation the company has attained.

The company left Olympia for Seattle yesterday afternoon, but the heavy storm impeded travel so much that when 8 o'clock came and the audience was assembling at the theatre, the train was still an hour out from Seattle. Manager Russell waited until 8:30 o'clock, when he announced that the performance would surely be given and that the company would be ready at 9 o'clock. He said that those who desired to exchange their tickets could do so. Many took advantage of this offer, and the audience was reduced to a few people. The train with the company arrived about 9 o'clock, and the members were hurried to the theatre without even having time for supper. The scenery was hastily rigged, and at 9:10 o'clock the curtain was rung up.

During the first act the play went a trifle slow, but from that on the interest was well kept up, and the performance could not be otherwise than highly creditable. Miss Row Stillman, whose interpretation of the character of the heroine in "The Clemenceau Case" has received much favorable mention, appeared as Cecely Walten and fully sustained her reputation as an emotional actress. She was especially clever in the third scene, where she learns that she has been abandoned by her lover. In that same scene A. Henderson, who plays the part of Sydney Norcott, appeared to great advantage. Even in the face of the fact that he was playing under most depressing circumstances, he was equal to the occasion, and made the sacrifice that sent him to jail in a manner that gave no one a chance to say that he overdid or fell short of the climax.

Miss B. Foley was at home in the part of Phoebe, the gushing old woman, and Anna Leonard, the deserted wife of Barton Fell, put much feeling into the rendering of her lines. If any fault could be found with her, it would be that she allowed her breathing to become a little too loud during the recital of passionate passages.

John McGrath played the part of Franklin, the American who would marry immediately and then think of the future, with so much life and vim that one forgot entirely that he must have been very hungry. Henry Gilbert gave the part of Baron Le Wer well, save that he indulged in too much gesticulation.

The company will repeat "The Galley Slave" tonight and will play a matinee tomorrow.