The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-02-21
CHARMED BIG AUDIENCE
MR.. GOODWIN AND MISS
ELLIOTT AT THE THEATRE.
Henry v. Esmond's Pretty English
Comedy "Whsn We Were TWEEN
ty-one," Produced in Careful
Manner Last Night.

Notwithstanding hte Lenten season and
adverse weather conditions. large and
cultured audience paid tribute to the art
of Nat Goodwin and his radiantly beau
tiful wife. known to the stage as Miss
Maxine Elliott. at the Montgomery The
atrs last night.
whether the large audience gathered to
nous players or whether 1t was the dis
tinctive merit and lasting quality OF
Henry v. Esmond's delightful comedy
when We Were Twenty-one." Is a
standing the play has been seen here
once before this season and was wit
messed here by a splendid company last
season, one OF the largest and most crit
ical audiences of this season gathered at
the theatre last night and paid advanced
prices to witness the production by Mr..
Goodwin and Miss Elliott who returned
here after an absence of several years.
Having been three times seen In Mont
tho beautiful sentiment and heart-reach-
ing story told by When We Were TWEEN
ty-one Z. 1t only remains to point to the
artistic production of Mr.. Goodwin and
his support as compared with his pre-
decessors. r.
In passing, two noteworthy observa-
tions are to be made upon the reappear-
ance here of Mr.. Goodwin and Miss Ell
lott who have recently returned from a
Is that Mr.. Goodwin has aged visibly
since he vas last here. The second ID that
Miss Elliott has made remarkable i'm
provement as an actress. Heretofore she
has be,n regarded in this section as
most beautiful woman who looked well
In the picture and as such added to the
beauty of production. 1t must be said
of he now that she 10 as beautiful as
ever ami deserves to rank with her tai
enteh husband because she Is finished
actress.
The DC: Carew Of Mr.. Goodwin as
presented last night was faultless. As
few equals on the American stage. His
ability to blend fine comedy with more
seri rus shades of emotion won him re-
nova years ago and 1t IL this accomplish
ment which has made his Dick Carew
one OF his best stage achievements. AS
perfect ss was his portrayal Of the noble-
hearted English bachelor. it is doubtful
IL his work was more acceptable than
that o. George Clark, who played the
part here last season. or even Of Nestor
Lennon, q Practically unknown actor,
who played the part with splendid ease
and perfect poise at the Montgomery
Theatre rot more than three months
agona.
Miss Elliott brought beauty and grace
to tho par of Phyllis Ericsson. She was
tho, oughly sympathetic and charmed the
auditsice although one was constantly re-
mllocL If the girlish yivacity and In
wao vas with Mr.. Lennon. invested the
part. Miss Elliott might have been just
"A Bit more re n antic but then Miss Elliott
Is 80 rnarvclously beautiful that her
small faults arc easily forgiven.
1t is great pity that Mr.. Tiden should
have been selected to play The Imp In
a. cast that is otherwise so near perfec-
ton. he iacis the boyish buoyancy so
ess 1tlai to the part. His inadequacy
narred Tie beauty of the play and in
eld CT making 1t one of the chief at
actions of the comedy, as is intended
his presence on the stage provoked the
opposite effect. Mr.. Goodwin is present.
ing another play but he should not per-
NIT that fact Il mar the pleasure of his
patrons 10y putting an important role
in the hands of an incapable actor and
thereby destroying one Of our cherished
ideals.
With this single exception the support
ing company was excellent The special
scenery was greatly admired and the
stage details were cared for with the
same accuracy and attention that has
long characterized the productions Of Mr..
Goodwin.
NILS Elliott and Mr.. Goodwin were
several times called before the curtain,
the audience being especially enthusiast
tic at the close of the second act.
Joshua Simpkins' comes to the the
atre SATURDAY. matinee and night.