The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-04
THE CLEVER COHANS
TALENTED FAMILY ENTERTAIN.
 ED LARGE AUDIENCE.
Young George Cohan's Pleasing Musical Comedy, "The Gov ernor's Son." Presented by
 Large Company at
 the Theatre.

The Four Cohans in ''The Governor s | Son. drew to the Montgomery Theatre on rainy night one of the largest audi l ences that the walls of the old building ever held.
 It is doubtful if better pleased or l more enthusiastic audience ever before filed out of tlle Theatre doors at the con clusion of a play.
 The great audience in it's two and a half hours of entertainment was insistent in l its approval. A train of applause mark ed the progress of the performance. The 1 audience wanted more and wanted it bad 1 ly. It resented the going down of the 1 curtain and the stage manager was able | to keep the curtain down only after re- peated efforts.
 There was more that was unique about the performance than it's excellence. ''The 1 Governors Son. is remarkable in that 1 the leading role Is filled by an actor who l is hardly more than a youth. It is unique that this star is supported by his mother, his father and his wife, and it is still | further remarkable that the bright and | lively farce with all it's fun and music vas written by this youthful star, George | M. Cohan
 The play belongs to that distinct class Of entertainment not we'll described by | the term musical comedy. Its component I and music. There is a suspicion of a plot in it, but not enough to worry. It Was made for amusement and a defined plot might weary the audience by mak- | irE it think
 The fun of the piece hangs upon an in- l trfcate tangle of mistaken identity. It is studded with jokes and jests, some too lively. If a fault had to be found with | ''The Governors Son." it might be said | io tra spiced.
 It is divided into three parts and through each and every one gyrates | George Conan, the dancing Dervish of the American stage, with his sver-present walking cane.
 Thers might be some subtle affinity be- 1 tween young George and his flexible walk ing can. And it cannot be denied that he gives lively and most directing perform snce. His dancing is sensational It is pyrotechnical. In quickness. in agility, in grace, interspersed and entrusted | with intended awakwardness, he is a re- freshing novelty. Moreover. he is an &C., tor of merit and he speaks his witty lines | with distinction and crispness.
 When 1t is said that he sang we'll and effectively, 1t fs small wonder that the lions share of the applause went his vay.
 In an entirely different field his father, l Jerry Conan scored an equal success.
 The family. as is well known. rose from | the ranks of vaudeville to the highest reward that awaits the good vaudeville artist.
 With the intelligent artistic, portrayal of Benjamin Curtis, by Jerry Conan. it Is not to be denied that the success that tho Conan family has achieved is their just due. Jerry Conan may have learned his art in vaudeville. but in its expression he Is as legitimate as Joe Jefferson.
 In the appreciation of its possibilities and in the repressed. but always effective portrayal of a role the elder Conan Is an actor of distinction.
 Helen Conan, the wife and mother, gave 1 a most praiseworthy performance as the
 newly married woman fond of Irritation.
 She was not below the other members of
 the talented family in ability and intel llgence.
 It was a source of regret that Josephine
 Conan, the pretty sister of George Conan,
 was not in the bill. Her demure style. her grace and her sensational dancing
 are well remembered by those who saw
 the performance last year.
 Her place was filled by Miss Ethel ! woodson handsome young woman who ! measured up to her role and who was excelled by Josephine Conan only in
 dancing, for in truth Miss Woodson Is not a dancer.
 The special merit of '"The Governor s
 Son." the feature in which 1t excels other productions of its class, Is its dancing : and In this feature Miss Ethel Levey
 stood out prominently above the feminine contingent in the company.
 Miss Levey is 1.-the and graceful The
 vim and enthusiasm of her dancing is
 something notable. In her dancing she
 is a 1t stage companion for her young husband, for 1t is worthy of note that she is George Cohan's wife. The supporting company was altogether ) good. Grace Rutledge, a statuesque young woman deserves credit and praise