The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-09-12
Ar THE rHzArRE.
Artistic Triumph of Miss Gertrude
 coghlan in Thackaray's Vanity

As Becky Sharp, Mss Gertrude Cogh- lan at the matinee yesterday and again last night; delighted two trenendo1s mend. San an is if anything. repulsive, and in the dram atizaticn of Vanity Fair would he odi- ous and disgusting If put Tn the hands of any but an extremely artistic actress. Miss Coghlan is not only a finished ar tist in every sense of the word, but has that spark of genius which makes golden arches on the horizon of her future. It is safe to assert that Thackaray never had the remotest idea that this creature of his brain could be transformed into the fascinating woman Miss Coghlan made of her last night. The dramatized version used by Miss Coghlan is not the same as that of Mrs Fiske, yet the story Is adhered to closely throughout. In last nights version, Becky. Is the same fn- scrutable. paradoXical, charming, unlov- able and altogether contradictory char acter which has put more than one critic in water too deep for him. Besides being an unusually pretty young woman, Miss Coghlan has that faculty of making her acting sem not acting at all. She moveh through her part with the ease, freedom and grace that is seldom acquired by much older artists after the best part or their lives have been given to the stage and Miss Coghlan is barely H years ola. For the past few. years she has been in her distinguished fathers company. and was first seen in Montgomery in an im-i when MT. Charles Coghlan rendered The Royal Box" in Montgomery two years ago. Last year she was again in Mont her father dying. about two weeks after Galveston but since the terrific storm Ali All the ' theatrical heat lea world knows % what an artist Charles Coghlan was and 1t was in such school that his talented daugh- er om her fahes ss is nesn b her completeness of the work that she is doing.
 The company that she carries Is one of the largest travelling, there being about thirty-five speaking parts in the piece. The close attention paid to the most triiiing details was distinctly im- ,presslve. and the delightful quantness Of the men and women whom Thackekray created in his immortal novel lived and breathed again last night. It was com pliment not only to Miss Coghlan and Thackeray but to the faith in the tudg- ment of the Messrs. Hirscher paid by the two large houses. Though 1t is very early in the season. there was one or the largest matinee houses ever in the Theater and last night another large an- dience greeted the young star. At both performances the already long hll was extended by curtain calls, and Miss Coghlan has carved lasting name for herself in Montgomery.
 May Donahue, as Mrs. Major O'Douu, gave an unctuous and artistic perform ance. Her dialect was perfect, and ev- cry movement revealed the thoroughly trained actress. Charles Bertram was handsome Rawden Crawley and played a rather thankless part with dignity and reserve. The company boasts of several fine chacarter actors. among them James Allen. As Sir Pitt Crawley. he gave fine portrayal of the authors conceptio:. Js mes 1ccper, as Lcrd Styre, gave
 careful and well balanced performance and at all times was convincing m rest of the cast was in capable hands. while the gowns worn by the ladies were beautiful. The scenery was appropriate and effective and the stage management all that could be desired