The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-14
A. tl1e nliou.

The Bliou Musical Comedy company
viii complete its engagement fer The
frs trip at the BBou This season this
week, presenting "A stranger IN a
STRANGE Land q three act farce COM
e1y, that is declared to be the best ef-
fort of tie organization. It Is expected
that with this production the best hts
to the esodit If the company will he
eclipsed. It will allow the real favoFi;e
members q The organization the best
change they have ever had, and the
muslcal numbers will ring fresh n Tie
cars Of the theatfegoeGs unta the re-
turn of the organisation. in about six
weeks, when another great success Will
be offered.
The company scored a great hit last
week, AID established a new attend
anee record, ana enc that win hardly he
beaten Ills season. 1t drew people 10
the Biiou who had not been inside C
the house since Mr.. Wells took hold.
and transformed the Auditorium into the
beautiful cosy and modern theatre the
Bljou is. The matiHees We're packed With
ladies' and children who were entertain
cd in a manner that made them feel
comfortable, and more representative
gatherings have not attended a theatii
cal performance in birmingham. The
company 10 the equal OF the best musical
comedy organization seen here at any
price, ard it Is simply a sample of what
Jake Wells Is doing for the people at
popular prices When one considers the
price OF admission 1t seems as IL 1t Is
bargain day always at the I3iiou.
"A Stranger I'm a Strange Land" tells
an interesting story. Jack ThGrndyEe,
wild cat of a nephew Of a rich English
matron goes to America to make his
mark. lie has a bully coed time and is
continually drawing on his rich aunt for
money to keep his ranch at Buffalo, N.
Y. going. He tells the old lady that he
has to get up at day break and drive
his cattle over to Omaha to GRACE and
returns them to the barns at Buffalo
every night. She knows very little If
America and is proud Of the efforts ~
her pet relative. Finally the youngstor
returns home and before he starts writes
a letter Of daring fight with rcd
skins" and gives the information that
he Is going to bring an Indian chief back
with him as his guest. Jack gets to
celebrating and forgets his Indian and
upon his arrival his uncle tells him that
the Indian must be produced or the aunt
will be disappointed. A swell English
nobleman is deelled ont in Indian toys to
play the part, but meanwhile a butler
finds an American patent medicine fakir
with a real Indian and rents the red
skin. Meanwhile a detective who is lock-
ing for lost man, DISCUSSES himself as
an indian and the three meet frequently
and each of the principals think there is
but one Indian, his own, and the compli-
cations arefunnier than can he described.
Otis Harlan, as Jack ThorndylSe" has
a part that suits him as IL It had been
written for him. It is a folly rollieking
sort of a chap bent on having a good
time, and with the ability to always
square" himself with some sort of a
story thought CT at the moment. Many
critics who have seen Harlan frequently
for the past five or six seasons declare
that this part is his best effort since
Goodrich Mudd" In "a Black Sheen"
and theatregoers know that Hoyt wrote
the character for Harlan. As stage man.
ager, Mr.. Harlan has put the show on in
a manner that best suits the company
and the selection Of cast Is finely drawn,
and the characters sustain themselves
all through the three acts. Little Chip
will play the American patent medicine
fakr. Chip has made the doctor up
in manner that shows his fine sense Of
humor and delivers his lines Ia a man
ner that makes anyone laugh. 1t is a
good part for the littlo comedian and he
has received much praise all over the
circuit. Tony Hart. whose clever work
in character parts has made lin a gen.
uine favorite viii be seen as Jacks uncle
and Hart has made 1t very prominent
There are few young men in the pro-
fession who have been as successful as
Tony Hart in cid men characters, and
in this particular old man he has won
the admiration Of his associates and
good words from the critics, Andrew
Bode will do a great piece of heavy char
acter work as the real Indian. 1t is a
quaint comedy part. and Bode has sue
ceeded admirably in it, David Andrad
whose good work has won friends here
and in the other cities, Will also demon
strate cleverness in the art of makeup
for he will be one of the Indians, as will