The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-16

AS the theatrical season draws to a
close apparently the number of attrac-
tons at local playhouses grows lesser
and lesser. Montgomery Is to have at
least half a dozen good plays by excel
lent companies. however. before the dear
old Perry Street playhouse closes its
doors until next autumn.
Joe Jefferson and Jim Hackstt are to
be here In the early days Of April The
fo.mer will produce The Rivals and
the latter will by contrast present the
Winston Churchills justly popular novel
sThe Crisis
For this week We are to have the Whit
ney and Knowles company of players In
q production of "Quo Vadis. remember
ed from last season as a most sumptuous
production of story that caused the
world to wonder. No less conspicuous a g
an amusement enterprise Is the splendid
which comes to the theatre Friday night
with a company Of New York players
that can be recommended
Rentfrow's Jolly Pathhnders go INTO NC
Donalds Theatre Monday night for the
entire week at the popular scale Oh
prices This company is not to be con-
fused with the company that was mere
some four weeks ago, although tni'
comnanv offered fairly good amusement.
Rentfrow's Pathfinders have been giving
us repertoire at popular prices many
years and the attraction ought to do
good business.
"Quo vadis" Wednesday.
The production of 'Quo Vadis" under
the direction Of F. c. Whitney and Ed
win Knowles comes to the Montgomery
Theatre Wednesday night.
Messrs. Whitney and knowles were tne
first theatrical promoters to realize the
stage possibilities in Sienkiewicz's WIDE
~ read novel, and the instantaneous sue
cess of the play paralleled only that OF
he hna Nv 0yerSlRnJ
the part of the author, the stage rights
to Quo Vadis' were never protected by
copyright laws and as result there were
dozens of limitations launched upon inc
theatrical sea upon the announcement OF
the success achieved by Messrs. whitney
and Knowles. Few of these survived,
however, and the stage version made by
whitney and Knowles IL the only one
that has received a noteworthy consider
alton. These gentlemen are also 'credlteo
with giving the play an adequate pro
duction, while all others depended solely
on the dramatic incidents OF the BOOK.
There can be no doubt that an honest
effort has been made to develop the sra
matte value Of Quo Vadfs' In an entlre-
ly adequate and dignified manner. Stan,
islaus STANCE. who is widely experienced
as an opera librettist and dramatic writ
err, prepared the play from the Original
Polish manuscript OF Sienkiewicz, ana
assurance IL given Of faithful regard
for the meaning and inspiration of the
novelist, and the work is coherent in
manner and artistic in form. F. c. Whit
ney and Edwin Knowles, experienced ana
liberal producers, are the responsipie
managers of the production, and their
faith in the work Is evidenced by the
fact that they gave carte blanche TO
scenic artists and costumers with view
of obtaining the most desirable results
More than a car load of scenery is re-
ouared to set the play. and the numerous
costumes prepared in Europe from au-
thcntic models add an element of essen
tial interest to the production.
Music Is also made feature and a
chorus Of twenty voices trained by Julia
Edwards who has prepared special
score for this play. adds Significance to
several of the scenes. Dancers are also
employed to represent the corybantes,
and as II to make the success doubly
sure the speaking parts. thirty-two In
number. are assigned to talented persons,
many of whom have won distinction In
thu dramatic field
QUO Vadis' as a play and production
IA worthy of the most thoughtful and
liberal attention. and II is assured that
Mr.. STANCE has followed the Sienkiewicz
story with the utmost fidelity.
Are You a Masonp
Are You Mason?" will be seen for
fhe first time in this city at the Mont
xomery Theatre Friday night.
It is Leo Ditrichstein's adaptation OF
comedy from the German which he has
called Are You Mason 1t was first
produced at wallack's Theatre. New
York. where In the height of a prosperous
run 1t was forced to leave on account of
a prior contract made by the mana cement
of the house. 1t was then taken to Chi
cago where it filed Powers Theatre du-
ring the summer months. Returning to
New York II opened the season at the
Garrick to the same prosperous business
enjoyed at Wallack's. Since then the
farce has been presented at the Shaftes-
bury Theatre, London, where II also scor-
ed a pronounced hit.
The engagement of this now famous
farce at the Montgomery Theatre Friday
night Is made additionally interesting by
the fact that the entire New York pro-
duction and company will be brought to
this city. The company is made up of
Mr. Ditrichstein. John c. Rice. Thomas
Charles Halton Charles J. Green. Ger
trude whitley Esther Tittel. Grace Had
sell. Hazel Chapple. Amy Muller, Sally
Cohen and Maude Travers.