The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-11-01
ACTRESS MAKES NEWS.
|6Tss THuRsToN DREW RE. VARIABLE LARGE AUDIENCE.
At Matinee Ladies overflowed Mont gomery Theatre-"Polly Prim- rose" Gives Little Woman New Kind ,f Part.

The appearance of Miss Adelaide Thurs lon at the Montgomery Theatre yester- lay afternoon and last night is not the |ub5ect for a critique. It is news story.
 The dainty little actress of the golden Foice stirred two Montgomery audiences o high state of enthusiasm. Two re- narkable receptions. were accorded the winning little woman.
 Perhaps more people saw Miss Thurs Fon's new play, Polly Primrose. than nave ever witnessed a theatrical perform hnce here in recent years. The matinee trowd was record breaking. Its like has never been seen here. Scores of ladies were turned away and scores of others when 1t was offered refused to take their honey back. They just had to see Ade. aide Thurston. Men coaxed them to wait tor the night performance, but they could bot. Was not Adelaide Thurston actine light in there on the stage? Wat? Well hot much. The whole force of employees If the Theatre was put to work for the comfort of the late corners of the great trowd. Chairs were brought out and put nto every available place. And still the women came until the joke about the bargain counter paied.
 At the night performance . large audi ence, an audience that almost hlled the house, was present. notwithstanding that t was Saturday night. night that Is oroverbiai for poor theatrical business in +hese parts.
 And the warm and almost loving well tome accorded Miss Thurston was enough to warm the heart of any player. There Is not an actress on the stage who would be given the loving and cordial greeting hat went to Miss Thurston from the Montgomery people. She was given full mead of applause, and her admirers al both performances would not be quiet un- fil she stepped to the front of the stage and made pretty little speech in which she expressed the hope that our per- formance gives you the pleasure we expe- Fience fin playing for you"
 The peculiar charm, the power Mss rhurston has over her audience, especial y the feminine portion, Is not to be an' hlyzed. She is a very pretty woman, bu, actresses of greater beauty have not achieved a tenth of her popularity. She has graceful stage presence, but stage women of equal grace have never won heir way into the hearts of theatre-go- ers as has little Miss Thurston with her wInsome ways.
 The little actress surrounds herself with hn atmosphere of femininity. She Is wo- manly in every detail every gesture and every action. It Is her voice, however, which attracts above all else. liquid voice. voice which runs up and down he gamut of emotion.
 Miss Thurston came to Montgomery in new venture. She is playing a role at wide variance with the parts which have won her wide popularity. From tense emotionalism she has ventured into girl sh coquetry. She has laid aside the plays In which she was the unfortunate cre- *ature of fate, the child of misfortune, to become the impetuous. warm hearted girl #with a thousand moods. The approval of E he local theatre goefs of the little act fesss new departure was expressed in no Uncertain way.
 Polly Primrose is a war play, its ecenes being laid in Georgetown. It has b do with the daughter of Southern #amily who returns from school to find
 Federal officer who has befriended her brother. the honored guest of her fa- &hers household. She resents the presence |bf the guest because he Is a Yankee, and Because he is a mans man, but the re- entment Is finally turned to love. Pol y Primrose after she has spurned her over, on learning that he Is a spy, Is #he means of saving his life.
 The play is not a perfect drama. Il #eaves more to the exigencies of stage Rraft than to literary merit But there lre good parts to it. strong scenes and Eome very pretty lines.
 * It was Miss Thurston. however, as 'Polly Primrose" who vitalized 1t from Ltart to finish. She was girlish. coquet- fish and variable. sending the spirit of he time and place, deep into the hearts bf her audience.
 The supporting company, while fairly kood, was not strong. as the magnetic #ittle actress deserved. It Is easily con keiVable that a better company could be obtained, but the organization met all Requirements fairly well.
 Brinsley Shaw was Hugh Carlisle, the Federal captain. He has a good facial Expression. and he did the part clever y.
 4 The Jack Primrose of Franklin Jones eas altogether good. He is we'll worthy To play the boyish brother to Miss rhurston's Polly" It was very fine, an "A rtistic bit of work, this boy of Mir. # ones.
 # Charles Horn did a secret service man dmirably. He interpreted the role in- ellIgently and unostentatiously. He made his subordinate role a fine character bart As Oliver Chase, Frederick Kirby tarted out well. but he became vehe- nent and unintelhglble.
 q In merit the work of the other players anged between good and medium.