The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-02-13
SUCCESS OF ARIZONA"
PERFECT PLAY AND A PERFECT
 COMPANY.
Second Production in Montgomery of Augustus Thomas's Western Drama Witnessed by an Ap-
 preciative Audience.

When Augustus Thomas gave his great drama Alabama to the world he was hailed as dramatist who had caught the true spirit of Americanism and its
 virility and whoiesomeness brought II unbounded popularity. Arizona" fol- lowed Alabama" and although pictur- ing an entirely different phase of Amer ican life it must be regarded as still est, the scenes are more intense and there is more thrilling action without strainng for effec-.
 Two things prevented large audience from witnessing the production of "Ari- zona'' at the Montgomery Theatre last night. Firstly. yesterday marked the be- ginning of the Lenten season, and, sec ondly. the play was witnessed last sea- son by an immense Montgomery audi ence. The theatre was comfortably filled last night however, and it is mere jus tice to the company of players to say that a more thoroughly appreciative au- dience and a more enthusiastic and sat- tsfied audience has not gathered in the theatre this season.
 Kirk La Shelle, under whose direction Arizona" Is being presented throughout the country by three companies, is an astute manager who has comprehensive idea of the merit in a play and he has been liberal in providing suitable envir- onment for this poem of the Western plains from the pen of MT. Thomas. The scenery used in the four acts was paint  in Arizona" written about by the play wright.
 The persons who live in the play fill what is known to the stage world as Character parts No one is the star. Each person has live active. intelligent part to portray and the success of the production depends upfy each of the in- dividual players. Realizing this fact MT. La Shelle has provided perfect com pany. Each player is an artist and the iS a artistic. OrndnCti0n.
 The story Of Arizona" has been told here before. The audiepce is simply borne away tC the alkali plains and for three hours moves in and out of the at Fort Grant There are numerous ofti- cers of the 11th United States Cavalry and pistols are fired more than once. but when the play is over and the action of the play Is reviewed in a calmer light one Is reminded that the thing is done i1 such a natural way and the officers play their respective parts with so much real ism that for not one moment Is 1t offen- sive.
 Discrimination Is a task when one wit nesses such clever portrayal of human character by sixteen persons. The heroic. chivalric and handsome Lieutenant Dem ton is of course the object Hf sympathy It Is a part that might caCse many young actor to leap int, the pitfalls of exuberance, but not go with Sidney Aims worth His interpretatlon Is character ized by reservation. perfect boise and lofty intelliSence He has fine voice. athletic figure and romantic features. IT" Is a part of the picture and he beara this fact in mind throughout the per formnnce.
 Miss Elsie Esmond was the Bonita of the play. Her conception of the soldiers sweetheart Is so good that she fairly tugged at the heart strings of the audi ence and her vivacitv and winsomeness added much to the play. The bluff, can did but coarse character Of Henry Can by, the ranchmau. as presented by Har- rison Armstrong was splendid and was better appreciated by those who have come into touch with the Western cattle men. Miss Gertrude Perry as Estrella Bonham. was sympathetic and womanly. and Miss Beatrice Ray made the part of Lena Kellar most effective. Nell Flor ence was so convincing as Captain Hodg- man that he received the cordial hatred of the audience. John Drury invests the part of Toney the Mexican vaouero with much originality.
 Perhaps 1t is just as we'll to say In con clusion that if one person in the com pany is better than the other it is tho marvellous presentation by Charles E Mitchell of Sergeant Kellar. father o Lena. MT. Mitchell played Sergeant Kel- | the veteran soldier was commended Ht seems to lose his entire identity and suf- | fer the emotions of the father whose child has been injured It is remarka- | ble performance and 1t Is doubttuLtf any
 other actor could make It quite as i'm l portant to the play as does MT. Mitchell l It is not customary to devote quite sC much space to the second production oi | a play but Arizona" is such thorough l ly delightful entertainment that it is de 1 serving of the attention of thoughtful | persons.