The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-09-23
MISS BINGHAM'S VISIT
ACTREss-MANAGER AT THE MONrGOM-
 FRY THEATRE.
Triumvirate of stars Supported by Good Company In Clyde Fitch's The Frisky Mrs. Johnson"
 Big Audience.

The curtain had gone down on tho sec onj act of "The Frisky Mrs. Johnson" al the Montgomery Theatre. but the audienc, refused to let 1t stay down. Miss Amelis Bingham. Charles Richman and Franl worthing came forward. lowing theil thanks for the enthusiastic applause. At one and the same time a trio of such play artists had never been seen at one time upon the ancient stage of the Mont gomery Theatre, except in the remote pas, of which the present generation of theatre goers know only by tradition The audience had been slow in realizing the worth of the performance which they were witness ing It's strength, its grace and its art were sent home to them in full at the fall of the second curtain. And then they poured out their need of appreciation to the triumvfrate of stars, and to the able, forceful company which had rendered them the support which was in keeping with their merits.
 It a players triumph. not the tri- umph of a playwright. The program in formed the audience-what the we'll in- formed audience knew--that the play was by Clyde Fitch, and that he had taken 1t from the French. The French did not sus- tain 8 very serious loss when they were separated from "The Frisky Mrs. Johnson
 The explanatory note that it was a French play was unnecessary. No one suspected that 1t was of any other nationality In the first place 1t was built around marital troubles. In the second place all the Eng lishmen were cads and donkeys Thus does French genius get back at perfidious AL bion for Waterloo and Fashoda.
 The delft sun strokes which are the hail marks of Clyde Fitchs handiwork are missing from the transpianted play. It is talking sort of play with more con versation than action. There is a beautiful character in 1t. woman against whom appearances are bad, and a woman who modesty and unostentatiously rises to the greatest sacrifice shield an erring sister. If one character alone, a character which should live with other fine dramatic crea- tions, could make a great play. "The Frisky Mrs. Johnson" would be great play.
 The splendid performance in view of the defects of the play. and the triumph which followed 1t were all the more remarkable. It was achieved not on account of the play but in spite of 1t.
 The leading role was richer in opportuni- ties for Miss Bingham than the parts which fell to her gifted associates, but their suc- cess was none the less emphatic Miss Bingham is gifted with a speaking voice of great range. It runs the gamut of the emotions. When it hardens into contempt one can almost fancy he sees the object of her dislike visiby shrivel before him There were times when 1t was as tender as q caress. and other times when it was coldly and sneeringly cynical.
 She is finished, experienced actress, one who knows the value of a sudden contrast, a step, gesturs. the opening of a book the dr opping of a handkerchief There were times when the hypecritical might say that she was the least bit stagey. However that might be, there was never a moment when she was not subtle and effective
 Charles Richman If he cared to do SO might be merely beautiful. He might wear finely tailored clothes, walk stiffly and stagily, roll his handsome eyes and display his magnificent physical proportions to an admiring populace. But MT. Richman is above this. He is an actor, with all the best that this term indicates. He was cast In the manly role of James Morley the big true-hearted lover of the misunderstood heroine. Tn reality he was as handsome and as well dressed as the imaginary figures the fthographers turn out to advertise the new fall styles in clothes, but one forgot that in the excellence of MT. Richman's work. He has an excellent voice. rich and deep, and he masterful and forcefuI to the last degree.
 Frank Worthing was not whit less worthy than his associates. His character work as Lord Bertie Heathcote was not to be excelled. It was definite, eean-cut and artistic MT. Worthing will be remembered as feature of the Montgomery season when most of the ambitious performances have been forgotten.
 The play was finely and tastefully. bu. not stump .ously staged.
 large and fashionable audience saw it.