The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-28

Montgomery IneaCIe.
 Thursday Matinee and Night HWhen We Were Twenty One"
 Wednesday Night-"King Dodo."
 Friday Night-Anna He'd in "the Little Duchess"
 A theatrical week of plenty follows week of famine at the Montgomery ihe- atre. The Theatre was dark all Of Cnrist- mas week but three attractions or merit this week, in a measure, make up TUT last weeks paucity of amusement
 Two comic operas and a splendid com sdy are on the bill. Music and laughter have the call for the week. The week theatrical program is one that VIII please local amusement lovers. The hill begins Tuesday matinee and night with the sterling comedy when We Were Twenty-One." It closes Fri dav night with one of the star events Of the MontRomery season, the appearance nf Anna Held in The Little Duchess. .KinR Dodo," one of the great successes of last season in New York comes we'd nesday night.
 "When We Were Twenty-One" has been seen before in Montgomery but 1t De- longs to that class of plays In whlch are combined heart interest. pathos ana beauty-subjects that never grow tlte. The naturalness, the humanity of the story that runs its way through the com edy are irresistible appeals to the great mass of theatre goers. The enduring strength of true friendship. the lnevit- able consequences of youthful folly and recklesness, the story of love faith fully given and faithfully returned are portrayed in a masterly manner. The presenting company comes highly en- dorsed.
 ''King Dodo," the admired comic opera pf last season in New York Is scheduled for Wednesday night. The play Is said 10 break away from the existing conven- lions of comic operas. The music. which has been especially admired. is not given entirely over to jlngles and rag time. The book is by Pixley and the music by I,uders both of whom are responsible for The Burgomaster" and Its attend ant success. The company which will be seen in the Montgomery production Is said to be the same which scored the New Years success. The scenery it Is said represents a vast outlay Of money and the play could not have been staged in Montgomery before the enlargement of the Theatre It will be presented here, 1t Is said. in its original magnificence. The company which has been highly praised is headed by Raymond Hitch cock.
 Anna Held, the French actress of great beauty and indescribable vivacity will be seen Friday night in t.-e title role of 'The Little Duchess" Miss Held has been to Montgomery only once before, when she appeared in her great success 'Papas Wife. The play and the act ress were enthusiastically received. The actress in that one performance became an admired favorite of local playgoers.
 "When We Were Twenty-One."
 When We Were Twenty-One. by II. V. Esmond, which has been pronounced by press and public as one of the great est plays of modern times. will be pre- sented at the Montgomery Theatre Tues day matinee and night.
 The story of When We Were Twenty One Is simple. It turns on the deter imitation of a middle-aged bachelor to save the son of his dead friend from the follies of youth. He takes the boys sins on his own shoulders and the sacrifices which he makes result eventually in his own happiness. In all the acton realism is rampant, but there Is always under lying 1t pure sentiment, wholesome and true, designed to show the engaging pie ture of hearts bound together by endur- ing ties of friendship. It shows, too