The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-10-08
AT THE THEATER


AS in former years, Al Field and his
band of entertainers drew packed
houses at both matinee and evening
performances yesterday when many
new faces and old jokes were exhibit
ed for the deleetation of the never
firing admirers of burnt cork artists"
Field brought Doc Quigley, Tommy
Donnelly, Billy Clarke and John Healy
along to bolster up the young ones
he is developing for conquests in the
dark field for years to come, for AL
says he will never quit the minstrel
business.
Quigley had his same grotesque gy-
rations served up in different plat
ter; Tommy Donnelly could raise lit
tie enthusiasm with his rehash. and
Bill Clarke was out of form. John
Hesly improves with age. and in the
fun-making was the one center piece.
AIS friends have tried to approach
him in a roundabout way and advised
him that he attempts TO engage the
public attention too long in his mean
derings through the corridors Of COM
edy, but he viii have none of it, and
took up twenty precious minutes at
both performances telling Mr.. Carnes
some new stories just received from
New York at five per. AIS composer
has a grudge against him.
Anyway, 1t was pleasing show to
those who went there to be pleased,
and the genial Field lost none of his
friends, ana will draw just as we'll next
year. The usual intermission between
the first part and the olio was aban-
doned and pleasing specialties filled the
interim. In the first part Reese Pros
ser was heartily received, and sang
with particular sweetness. Albert Tint,
young tenor, was the most promis-
ing of the other youngsters in the
choir, and was much appIauded. Tom
my Donnelly and AL Fields as Reddy
Roosevelt and Fudge Jarker respee-
lively, made a hit with their skit,
''Eusopus VS.. Oyster Bay" Donnelly
was especially well made up for the
part and earicatured Strenuous Teddy
to the delight of the bottom floors and
the boots of the loft,
Max Figman, who is co-star with
Bettina Gerard in 1.-THE Marriage of
Kitty" was at one time an aspirant
for journalistic honors at the lowest
rung of the journalistic ladder. Twenty
years ago he was office boy on a Phil
adelphia newspaper. His ambitions
were diverted and he began to study
mimicry, elocutien and acting. with the
result that some years later he drifted
on to Broadway as a comic opera CO.
median. During the last decade he
has appeared in a wide range of parts,
as well as acted as stage director for
many fine productions. An idea of his
versatility Is gained from his abrupt
transition from the part of Dick Swiv-
eler in Little Nell and the Marchion-
ess' to Thorwald Helmer i'm Ibsen's
DOLLS House" Last season his char
acterization of Assessor Brock in Mrs.
Fiske's production of Ibsen's "Hedda
Gabbler" was remarkable alike for his
conception and execution of a most
complex part. Once before he has APP
peared as co-star with Sadie Martinez
in THE Passport" Among other plays
in which he has distinguished himself
are Sardou's ''Divorcons" and DO
lores." THE Voyage of Suzette," "A
Misfit Marriage" "The Club Baby"
"Gretna Green" as Passepartout in
Around the World in Eighty Days"
and Capt. Dandy in the big spectacle
of "Burmah." Mr.. Figman and Bet
Theater next Saturday. matinee and
night, in 1.-THE Marriage of Kitty"
Among the most popular comedies
OF, to-day are those which introduce
characters taken from the comic Carl
catures in the Metropolitan papers
with which one is acquainted and ia
miIiar. Such play is Happy Holli-
gam" said to be. The scenes are from
the pen sketches of Fred Opper; and
Frank Dumont has written a witty
dialogue, and several well-known COM