The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-09

This year, however, Field has undoubt-
 edly surpassed all his previous efforts It has been constantly stated in the past that minstrel shows are all alike, that they vary little from year to year, but it would be hard to improve upon the minstrel program that MT. Field gave his friends last night at the Jef- ferson Theatre. There are novelties without number, and only once or twice is the spectator reminded of something he has seen before in minstrelsy Per haps the chief characteristic of tho show is the preponderance of comedy Every act Is enlivened by wholesome fun which at times waxes hilarious even though most difficult feats of le- gerdefmain, juggiery and gymnastics are being performed. To begin at the beginning, the stage setting for the first part is sumptuous, for lack of a better word. The scenery is elaborate and the general effect a treat to the eye It represents the h. terior of great hall and so cleverly are lights, windows and drop curtains arranged that the impression of dis. tance, height and volume Is pro- nounced. The whole Is set off by an arrangement of electric lights, tinted various shades and artistically grouped that complete a picture of striking beauty. The costumes also lend en- chantment to this scene.
 There was the usual singing, all of which was enthusiastically received. Some of the ballads might be styled vocal gems. The sweetest, perhaps, was ''The Songs My Mother Used to Sing" rendered by Albert Tit and Co.,. Another was The Little Church Where You and Were Wed" by Reese Pros ser. A scenic presentation, Tn the 1oL~r nR Do lsc lao effective. Of course the end men re- ceived rounds of applause for their "coon" songs. Billy Clark sang Ma riar" as only Billy Clark can sing. Tommy Donnelly gave 'Lindy Lou" in capital style, and Dan Holt's q Wan. to be a Norman Man" was a feature Then Doc Quigley brought forth screams of laughter as The Head Waiter" This was one of the best features of the first part. The end men acquitted themselves well.
 The olio was replete with good things, chief among them Cornalla and Eddy. comedy acrobats and jugglers. | the Avolos. marvellous acrobats on perpendicular bars; Al Field and Ton, my Donnelly in humorous absurdity entitled "Esopus and Oyster Bay" In which Judge Parker and President Roosevelt play prominent part, and a | military finale that was superb. Billy Clark and his Mind Wanderings" was also prominent in the olio. Clark is l one of the best monologists on tho ! stage. The finale gave opportunity for some strikingly beautiful scenic effects.
 In fact the entire production was char acterized by careful staging and per lection in detail most commendable. | It is good show that Mir. Field is giving the public. the best he has ever had. and perhaps the best that has
 ever visited Birmingham.
 "In old Kentucky" Friday.
 When Tn Old Kentucky" was origi- nally produced in August, 1892, it was I conceded to be a first class American | play with plenty of Ego" and action in 1t. but there was no one who would
 have dared the prediction that the play would still be making big money for its owner in the year 1904. The av-
 craze life of play does not often ex- ceed live or six years, even when it is l conceded to be success. It would seem that the history of "In Old Ken | lucky is an exemplihcation of the old adage about the survival of the Attest Year after year it has gone steadily | along, drawing crowds of playgoers all over the United States, Canada England and the Antipodes, and the end of It's successful career is by no means approaching, After so many successful presentations, 1t might be | thought that the piece would exhaust | its drawing powers with theatre-goers. but more people attended performances of the play last year than in any sea- son since its original production and | the management assert that probably
 all but a very small per centage of the attendants had witnessed the drama | before. It 'is this fact that has made h'Tn Old Kentucky" one of the great | est money makers known to the stage | in fact, the American stage has foster | ed but few plays of the "live-forever' kind, and of these Tn Old Kentucky | is perhaps the most conspicuous. Its | popularity has been attributed to c variety of causes, notably its parent l age of the now celebrated band of di- minutive Ethiopians. whose music and mirth have become the signal for i'm. measurable joy from one end of the | country, to the other. The skillfullS manipulated horse race has also been | declared the element of striking merit | in the production. The best judges oi drama, however, pronounce these the ories untenable because features of ar | almost identical nature have utterly l failed to bring prosperity to a half. score or pldyS utSlBHt0 lO SuTTeptl- l tiously reap some of the golden har. vest of Tn old Kentucky" The in. tense human interest sustained throughout the story, and it's whole. some, natural tone, are the combined clements which appeal so strongly 'tC the American people. Americans have | become familiar with phases of life ir | the famous bluegrass region of Ken. l lucky through song and story, dating | back many years, and it is the fidelity | with which Kentucky life Is portrayed and the perfect dovetailing of the ex. citing incidents and thrilling features that render the play a dramatic mas. terpiece. This season. the twelfth oi this remarkable play, will be made noteworthy by a magnificent scenic equipment, the strongest cast ever se- cured for the play and the addition oi some new and novel talent in the pick aninny line.
 "In old Kentucky comes to the
 Montgomeryi Theatre Friday night.
 At The BIIOu--RepertOlre.
 Montgomery theatre goers have had
 the pleasure of witnessing several
 repertoire - companies, but beyond
 doubt thelargest that manager Neal has
 yet presented is Hoyt's Big Company
 which opens a weeks engagement at
 the Bijou Teatre tomorrow night, in
 the four act comedy drama Beyond