The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-01
g Dexter Ave. IKE OEB, .s .s Jeweer
KYLE SCORES A HIT
NATHAN HALE" AT MoNTGoM FRY THEATRE YESTERDAY.
Clyde Fitch's Romantic Drama as Presented at the Theatre Drew Tears from the Entire House
 at Two Performances.

The romantic Revolutionary drama Nathan Hale was produced yesterday in Montgomery for the first time with Mir. Howard Kyle in the title role. Large and cultured audiences gathered at the Montgomery Theatre at matinee and last night to pay tribute to the art of the talented young actor.
 York and other Eastern cities are famil- jar with the story of the play. It is one of the best of the many successful plays written by Clyde Fitch. The playwright has taken the Revolutionary hero who regretted that he had but one life to give for his country and written around hin a play of the most intense patriotic in tereet. Nathan Hale" has been invest ed with so much romantic color that the story appeals to all classes. There is pathos deep and genuine. written in Fitch's best style, and the situations are deftly drawn. There is touch of com edy to the playa condiment that is so necessary to the success of the romantic school of the drama.
 No higher tribute could have been paid Mir. Kyle and his excellent company than was paid by the large matinee audience yesterday. Hundreds of women were
 Hys s sna sfars RS es rss'S smyS wGrk S winsome young leading woman of the
 The "Nathan Hdle' of Mir. Kyle was all that could have been expected. His elocutionary power was a revelation. He proved that he is a romantic actor of ex- cept1onal ability and yet there was a something lacking about his portrayal of 1T he possesses the versatility which Clyde Fitch has given to the part There are shades of fine comedy, notably in the nrst act. which seemed unsuited to MT. Kyle and he brushed over them as though it was not to his liking. The fact is MT Kyle, as compared with Mir. Goodwin, brings success to that pa,s' of Hale which Is found lacking in the work O. MT Goodwin. The comedian found his greatest success in presenting Hale as the lovelorn school teacher of the first cessful Kyle failed where Goodwin is successful: All in all, MT. Kyle filled the part satisfactorily.
 Miss Florence Smyth was a surprise She gave a finished performance as Alice Adams and she completely won her au- dience. She is a demure and pretty young woman who possesses intelligence and sweet little voice. She has grasped the Inspiration of the part and she plays II with maidenly sweetness that is m ore than convincing. She lives through the scenes that wrung the heart of the little revolutionary heroine and she simp- ly took the people in the audience along with her.
 Mir. Kyle and Miss Smyth were given numerous curtain calls and they were several times forced to bow their ac- Acknowledgements
 It is rare thing that an all-around capable road company comes to Mont gomery supporting stars of reputatio This is literally the case with the com. pany supporting Mir. Kyle. There is moi mediocre player in the cast. The fine comedy work of MT. Haight as Ebenezer Lebanon was particularly effective and the character sketch of Mir Booker as Jasper. the aged negro servant of Col Qnel Knowlton. excited admiration. Mir Webber gave an exceptionally clever rem oiuon or the difficult part of Guy Fitz- roy and the Angelica Knowlton of Miss Nancy Rice was a fine bit of character work.
 The play was splendidly staged, the apple orchard on the farm of Colonel Rutgers in the last act being an exquisite scenic display.
 The cast was as folws:
 Nathan Hale, Yale. 17T3)%. Howard Kyle Ebenezer Lebanon. Charles Haight Guy FitzrOy*............ Frederick Webber LeutenantColonel Knowlton .......
 ...:"................G Geo. A. D Johnson Captain Adams. Henry L. Barker Tom Adams. Howard Russell William Hull, tYale 1773) 73)............
 ..........,..,..........W William B. Wood