The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-03
aIHE LITTLE DUCHESS"
ANNA FIELDS NEW PLAY A
 GORGEOUS PRODUCTION.
Magnetic Little Frenchwoman Given Unstinted Applause at Theatre Last Night-Piece Was
 Sumptuously. Staged.

A stage full of pretty women arrayed In gorgeous gowns. O kaleidiscopic inter- mingling of colors, medley of sweet and inspiring airs, with bounding refrains. a judicious admixture of laughter and fun, performance of interest with the magnetic, graceful Frenchwoman as the central figure, the whole surrounded with the most elaborate scenic effects. was Montgomery Theatre last night. There was no food tor thought in the entertainment. It was not that kind of a show. Its sole purpose was to amuse, to please. to war upon dull care and dis sipate the lcankering worries of the day. This was the sole object of The Little Duchess" and the object was attained. Its production was one of the chief theatrical events of the season in Mont gomery. A great audience perhaps the largest of the present season. enjoyed the performance The whole house was taken In the advance salesof tickets and standing room only could be had when the box office opened last night. Scores of people were unable to get standing room, so gi eat was the demand for tick cts.
 There Is absolutely no plot to .The ISt- tie Duchess" bu it's absence was neither noticed nor regretted. A plot has long since been ignored in the construction of musical comedies. The accepted idea of pretty girls. handsomely gowned, corps of dancers, collection of pretty tunes, a star, comedian or two. to furnish diverson. and elaborate stage effects. comedy is based upon the excellence of it's component parts. The cordiality, not to say enthusiasm of last nights large audience was evidence of the excellence ment.
 Chief in point of interest in the per- formance was the appearance of Miss Held, one of the most unique. attractive AorrrpA h. n xiing complexion. her remarkable eyes. ner dainty figure. were in evidence but they were not all the charms of the little actress. which won her last night the cnstinted favor of her audience grace, intangible. but undeniable, a magnetism, potent. but fndescribable, contributed in no small degree to her power to sway her audience almost at will. She is essn- ually Frencn and the French adjective chic. more than any other word, describes her.
 Her costumes, and they were many and varied, were. perhaps, of the handsomest They were magnificent. The outlay for the clothes of last nights star. repre- sented a small fortune.
 But for that matter, the entire produc- ton was sumptuously staged. The gowns costly. More than once the mere sight or the chorus, and 1t was an especially good looking collection of girls, was onouSn to prHiB out round afper round of applause.
 The pallets were brilliant, commineiins of every light. color and shade. An art ist designed them. They were really feasts to the eyes.
 Miss Held is most fortunate in the se- lection of her comedians. There were some three or four who were clever enough to be featured. Joseph w. Her bert, as the bathing master was a de- light. He a an unctuous fun maker, who scatters smiles and laughter with gener- osity and prodigality. Hardly less meri- torious was the comedy work of both Edward Durand as the fencing master and Knox Wilson as the Russian baron. It was likewise pleasure to see George Marion as the Italian gambler. The'c com edy element in 'The Little Duchess'' was emphasized and the audience heartily ap- proved of the emphasis.
 A diminutive but clever actor billed as M. Lovigne made one of the hits of the performance as drum major At the close of the second act Miss Held. in re- sponse to insistent recalls, came forward and made quaint. winning little speech of thanks for the marked favor accorded her.
 Florence Zeigfeld. Jr., the manager and sponsor for the production, has in "The Little Duchess" proved that he is a mas ter In stage craft.