The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-22
1.-THE WIZARD OF OF"
LARGE AUDIENCE ENJOYED STUPENDoUS EXTRAVAGANZA
Big Company, Gorgeous Scenery, God Music and Pretty Women. One of the Good Things
 this Season.

The expectations of a large and cul. tured audience which filled every seat in the Montgomery Theatre last night to witness a production of The Wizard of Oz," were realized.
 Many in that audience had heard of the furore created by the Wizard at the handsome Majestic Theatre, New York. of the funny tin woodman the scare crow, dainty Dorothy. the brilliant poppy field, the realistic Kansas cyclone. the cowardly lion, the obstreperous COW Imo- gene, and other novelties of 'The Wiz ard" And they were not disappointed. Others there were in that audience who had seen the production in New York and they recognized a few-a very few-of the original company. These fortunate ones who had seen the entertainment in New York. picked some flaws in last nights production. But like a certain juggler of his Queens English-that's another story.
 "The Wizard of oz'' is a stupendous production, executed with consummate skill by one of the largest companies which ever appeared in Montgomery. Viewed scenically, sartorially, unsteady, and showgirlery, 1t was a success. In>its class. it is distinctly satisfying. There Is no use to compare 1t with the metropol- itan production. The entertainment on the Montgomery stage last night was worth the money.
 Fred Hamlin who is responsible for "The Wizard of Oz,'' has taken all that was good in such entertainments as The Black Crook" added a touch of comic opera. injected some farce comedy, with just bit of pantomime, and backed 1t all in a modern musical comedy oven. The result is a lavish novelty that will go on winning applause and money when other so-called successes are stranded on the coral reefs of time.
 There Is small need for a rehearsal of the story of The Wizard of Oz.' It has to do with the unreal. any way. It does not appeal to the mind. The entertain ment proposes to delight the eye and to play harmonies on the ear. And it does 1t effectively.
 There are three acts, and at least a half dozen scenes. The scenes are gor- geous stage pictures. Nothing more en- trancing than that Doppy field has ever been seen here.
 The man who blended the colors used in ''The Wizard Is a master. Think. for example, of a score or more of beautiful young women in screaming red dancing before a background of dazzling green!
 Every ten minutes, as the performance progressed, the audience was treated to 6OiilC NCW SuIpIlSC. 1UCtC WdS IO uOuB- ing the novelties of the show-thats the term that best fits the entertainment. One did not have time to become bored. Bizarre persons may have tired of some of the idiocies of the comedians, bat the optimistic thought comes that others en- joy that sort of thing.
 Few shows" of this character present persons on the stage. who are artists. Here was another surprise. If little Miss Isabel D'Armond is not an artist, a rare- ly clever actress, then the word ought never to be used in the vocabulary of the stage. Miss D'Armond would be an ac- tress If she was not pretty. Being pretty she accentuates the pleasure derived from her intellect. She is one of those fiuffy little female persons whom men | designate as cute and women call "a lit- tie dear" She was the Dorothy of the cast and "The Wizard never had a more bewitching, graceful nimble, or pretty Dorothy, nor Dorothy who could sing her songs better.
 l May Taylor, as the eccentric Cynthia Cynch, the lady lunatic, was clever. If a trihe too pretty for the role, and her solo "Niccola's Piccolo," dashing march song was the key to all of the music. Miss Carolyn Heustis, a vivaciouS young woman, had a cold. but her | Sammy" song caught on with its bold | ness.
 Miss Mildred Elaine as Dashemon Dali ly filled several pairs of tights beautiful | lily, and sang in good voice, but she was | suited and i'll at ease.
 Bert Swor and John Swor, as the
 Scarecrow and Tin Woodman. respective ly, led the comedians, of which there
 were about Ahalf dozen, and Bert Swor
 was the popular favorite. If Montgom-
 cry and Stone played these parts with
 more zest and intelligence than these
 Swor brothers, they deserve to be pro- noted.
 The chorus. men and women, sang well,
 and changed their clothes-which were
 new looking and tasteful-every few min
 utes. The girls were a handsome lot and
 well trained.
 The audience frequently expressed its approval in outbursts of applause. and many of the musical numbers were re- peated.
 As an entertainment, pure and simple, ''The Wizard of Oz' is one of the rarely good things of this season. Tim Murphy in "A Bachelors Ro- mance' Wednesday evening.