Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-12
MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.
Nat Goodwin in .sMizzoura. ;,


One of the greatest audiences of the
season enjoyed Nat Goodwin and his
noted I'm Mizzoura" at OBrien's opera
house last evening. It was indeed a fine
audience, one upon which . any star
should be glad to shine. Nearly every
seat in the house was occupied and not
few auditors were standing. All APP
parently were pleased and a few seemed
delighted and vociferousy called the
popular actor before the curtain. In
Mizzoura" is we'll equipped in all the
accessories of scenic display, and in that
respect lacked nothing to give a proper
holding of the mirror up to nature. Per-
haps the play does that, too; but it has
occasional disappeintments which are,
after all, not the unlikely incident of the
presence of an unnecessarily forbidding
and tragic character. Such is the role
of the express robber the villain who is
to be killed, and who, nevertheless, is
the accepted lover of the girl for whom
the hero of the story Is ready to face a
mob which he does to save the scoun-
drel for her sake. Mr.. Goodwin as Jim
Radburn, the hero, presents an interest
ing character study, very satisfactory
in its unmarried ease and naturalness.
The part of the beloved scoundrel was
well enough done by Mr.. Bergman; but,
it was an homogeneous villain at best.
Mr.. George Fawcett as 10 Vernon proves
an agreeable actor, but comes in ques-
tionable shape for a blacksmith when
he appears in one of the scenes wearing
Prince Albert coat, especially as it is
an act in which there is a mob and a
political convention to be addressed by
him.
Mr.. Arthur Hoops as Sam and Miss
Ethel Browning as Lizabeth Vernonwere
exceptionally good as country couple,
making one of the best comedy hits of
the play. Mrs. Walters as the robust
! country mother n
ing impersonati ton.
Miss Annie Russell as Kate Vernon,
who loved the man the mob were after
and whom the hero permitted to escape to
do her a favor, doubtless realizes she has
an unusual task. She appears to portray
the part with only painful effort.
To give realistic tone and color to the
scenic pretenSion in the very admira bic
presentation of a village blacksmith
shop which is really artiStically put on,
quartette of negro singers is introduced
who do a song or two they don't know
very well in voice not up to the average
of our southern colored street MINISTRIES,
who are ready to MARBLE sentimental
song for a quarter or so.
On the whole, I'm Mazzoura" is a pro-
vo<ing kind of play. 1t has so much OF
the clever and agreeable in it. and so ex-
cellent are the opportunities for guile
less comedy, that it seems a sheer blum
der to have wrought the revolving char
"Our Flat
''Our Flat a bright, sparkling farce.
which now holds one of the best records
for long runs, will be the attraction at
the close of this week. 1t will be pre-
scented Friday and Saturday and Satur-
day matinee. 1t is now being played in
London at the Strand theater with re-
markable success, where 1t is thought to
be the funniest and best of all comedies
of that class. Its previous record at the
same theater was for $50 consecutive
nights The piece had it's first production
in America by Mr.. Daniel Frohman at
the Lyceum theater, New York. where 1t
ran 100 nights, and had to be taken off I'M
order to fill engagements previously
made. 1t toured America under Mr..
Frohman's management for season, and
made an immense hit in all cities visited.
The piece has been localized more for
the coming season. New and artistic
scenery will be carried and by speciai-
permission from Mrs. Musgrave (the au-
thoress) some bright and catchy musical
numbers will be introduced. Unlike most
present day farces, Our Flat has plot
and is the happy possessor of that subtle
and finer humor which has characterized
the plays of its class previously present
ed. 1t is fast and furious in its humor,
and interesting in its story. 1t is madly
amusing, and the dialogue very bright.
1t Is a laugh prevoker from beginning to
end. e.