The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-10-18
A DAINTY PRINCESS
MISS PERCY HAswELL STONE
 IN ROYAL ROBES.
Her Support Was Not However, Remarkable for Artistic Ex- cellence-"A Royal Family
 on the Whole Pleased.

Since Rudolf Rossendyll fought and wooed in the mythical Kingdom of Ruri- tonia, fancy realms have offered, an invit- ing field to novelists and playwrights, Royal personages who live in kingdoms built and bounded by fancy have become familiar stage friends.
 Captain Marshall, who wrote "A Royal Family" presented at the Montgomery Theatre last night, found in his excursion into the ina ginary the mythical. mystical, Kingdom of Arcocia and set therein, d royal family to rule.
 The play has to do with the state mar riage of the wilful and beautiful Princess Augela. The Princess sees fit to oppose an alliance. to the neighboring Prince Victor dictated by politics rather than by her heart. The Cardinal Archbishop of Aicocia conceives the shrewd idea of introducing the young and handsome prince in disguise and let events take their course. The results are happy and agreeable to all parties concerned and the final curtain falls on a charming love scene .y~
 Miss Percy Hasweil made . beautiful and bewitching Princess Augela. The character was improbable but she Invest ed 1t with a reality and a charm that carried instant conviction. She made the Princess thoroughly human, as dainty and as attractive stage heroine as one would care to see. In yivacity, in ex- tolerance of girlish spirits in the elation of new found love, Miss Haswell was de- lightfuL In the love scenes the girlish Princess of Miss Haswell was unap- proachable.
 Miss Haswell may be without the com- manding presence of her sister stars who essay royal roles. but in grace she is the Nf Poa tz ctr ing but above all else in her playing is the indescaibale grace of her stage charac- terization. The graceful vivacious and loving little Princess Angela will finger long in the memory of some of the oldest play goers.
 She wore some stunning costumes. In the last scene she appeared in a magni- ficent satin gown.
 Miss HaswelPs support was not all that could be desired, nor was 1t in keeping with the act of the star. If a critical indictment had to be drawn against the company 1t might be charged that 1t was not convincing The criticism could be applied. however, only to a portion of the presenting company.
 Harry Burkhardt essayed the role of Victor. the disguised lover and prince. Physically. MT Burkhardt was well equipped for the part His face and figure were princely enough, but his his tronic ability failed to measure up to his physical gifts. As lover he was disap- pointing. It did seem with so pleasant a subject as last nights Princess Angela he might have made love sincerely and convencingy, but didn't.
 Frank Roberts made the Cardinal a most pleasing figure. The Cardinal, in fact, became a favorite with the audi ence. He was really an extremely clever bit of character portrayal.
 Another gem of character playing of the purest ray serene was the Queen Ferdi- nand of Maud Granger. She humanized the part and made it thoroughly enjoya- ble.
 The remainder of the company was above the average, but not remarkable The good far outweighed the mediocu. The play was spendidly staged. Sumptu- ous is the term to describe the costumes. Taken all in all, the audience was well pleased with the entertainment.