The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-09-30
~THE PLAYA
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There was just as much fun at OBrien's
last night as there was not fun the night
previous. That is expressive. Nothing
was funny Thursday night. There was
nothing but fun last night. The attraction
was 1.-THE Purple Lady" by Sidney Rosen-
field. 1t was breezy, brim full of good,
wholesome merriment One Of those fresh,
exhilaratlng comedies which one can grow
fat watching. The play introduces an
erratic young artist who desires to we'd
The wedding is scheduled and the guests
are arriving at the prospective father-in-
laws house. 1t is here that Resented
drops into something old, but he makes the
most of it and his scheme is funny, so let it
go at that. One of the young artists
models appears, as the police court re-
porter would say, on the scene. She must
have her "cheeld' or something to that
effect She will remain in the house until
she gets satisfaction, or its equivalent s1O,-
900. She is known as 1.-The Purple Lady"
a painting made famous by the young ar
list. AT this juncture Professor Archibald
Gilworthy, a staid pedagogue and chum
of the artists father, arrives as a guest
and is pressed into service He is made to
pay tHe HuSDanu OF ''Ine Purple Lady,
Then the professors real wife appears, is
made waiting maid for sake of conyen-
fence and any number of absurd situations
follow, which are explained in the end.
The wedding did not take place, but this
was left as a matter of supposition and
everybody was happy.
Frank B. Hatch was good as the nrofes-
sor. To find a flaw in his acting would he
a hard proposition. Olive Porter as his
wife was excellent. They bore the brunt
of the fun-making, ably assisted by well
balanced cast.
The appearance in this city of Frederick
Wardc and his company of artists in Henry
Guy Carletons masterpiece 1.-THE Lions
Mouth will undoubtedly be one of the
events of the year in theatrical affairs. Mr.
Warde stars this season under auspices and
conditions never before attained by this
distinguished actor. Mr.. Wardes manager
has surrounded him with not only the fore
most company of legitimate actors from
the American stage but has given his pro-
auctions an environment which for pictor-
ial and historic illustrate has never been
equaled by anything ever done before by
this actor. Mr.. Warde's ability as a star Is
too we'll known and appreciated in this
city to require any explanation, while the
play of 1.-THE Lions Mouth" on account of
its interest and beauty of scenery, will al
ways be highly entertaining. Although the
expenditure on MIR. Wardes productions
have been enormous the management Of
the local house will allow of no elevation
in the price of seats. Mr.. Warde's date at
O'Brien's opera house is next Monday
night.
Mile. Fiji" which thrived wonderfully I'M
der the stimulus of fiourishing patronage
for nearly two hundred nights in New
York comes to o'Brien's opera house on
next Tuesday evening. This purely French
farce with its ingenious plot and cumula-
tive interest is played to the accompanl-
ment of constant merriment. 1t is acted
by little company of most admirable ar
lists Miss Maud Granger never had part
which better revealed her personal magne-
tism and artistic methods Mamie Gilroy,
slender and sweet faced, has suddenly
come into prominence by her delightful,
natural and winsome charm. The entire
company is said to be an unusually capa-
Bile one.