The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-05

GN s the theatrical season draws to W1 close in Birmingham 1t is inter
 esting to look back over the
 plays that have pleased and that have
 disappointed thatregoers this year. In some respects the season has been fair ly good one. although quite a number of
 the great actors did not yist us. Julia Marlowe, Maude Adams, Maxine Elliott, and several other we'll known stars, in cluding both men and women. have not come, but those who were greater have favored us with visit and the public is glad. Musical comedy has predominated all through the season. Never before in the history of the stage has this style of dramatic entertainment been so popu- lar Scores of companies have been tour ing the country since the season began and of these Birmingham got a good share. Some were good, some were most without exception all drew large houses and demonstrated again that what the people want Is amusement more than instruction Everything from Happy Hooligan to the Storks has been to Bir- mingham. Each has provoked a laugh or two. and few songs, for which the public has gladly paid s15O for good seats But in all this array of musical pro- duction 1t is noticeable that very few tunes are remembered and no one ever hears the newsboys whistling the airs on the streets. Much attention has been paid 10 spectacular effects this season and some very clever staging has been the re- suit. This is especially noticeable in the case of many songs that would have fal- len hat if they not had the advantage of magnificent stage settings
 Among the musical comedies that have appeared here this season, the Four Cohans in Running for Office" were perhaps, the most successful. At least they were accorded an unusually enthusi- astic welcome and the people seemed well pleased. The old favorites, "FIorodora.' "Hoity Toity," "The Burgomaster, and several others, were decidedly disap- pointment. Perhaps they have grown too old 'The Silver Slipper" was pleasing as spectacle. while "The Storks" was very good of it's kind, but after all "A Chinese Honeymoon" although far from being new, was, perhaps, the most pleas Ing musical comedy strictly speaking, that has been here this season. Both the eye and the ear were satisfied and that is asking much. Of the comic operas ''The Red Feather" which was presented at the Jefferson last Thursday night, is by far the finest that has appeared in Birmingham this season, although it must be remembered that what is known technically as comic operas have been few and far between.
 In the legitimate drama Birmingham has enjoyed a number of treats Robert Mitchell in "The Light of Other Days" was the best romantic actor who has ap- peared here this season. His own per formance and the support given him by beautiful Marie Booth Russell were in themselves enough to satisfy the most exacting, while the play itself was very strong one and was handsomely staged In a spectacular way nothing finer than the Ward and James "Alexan- der the Great" was produced. During all five acts of this most imposing drama a succession of magnificent stage pictures was presented and both of the great stars was eminently successful in the part he essayed. There was only one flaw in Alexander the Great" There were not enough people in the ensemble. Robert Edeson was pleasing in Soldiers of For tune" but there are better plays Mary Mannering was pretty and fascinating in handsomely staged production a wretched play entitled "The Stubborness of Geraldine" Then there were the two great stars, Otis Skinner and Ada Rehan in "The Tanning of Shrew." This was