The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-02-04
MONTGOMERY THEATRE.
Al Wilson Pleased Two Large Audi
 Onces.


 Al Wilson, the ballad-singing young actor, proved yesterday that he IS some thing of a matinee hero in Montgomery. For the first tirisA since the passage by the Council of the ordinance prohibiting the sale of standing room in local thea tres a crowd attempted to overflow me Montgomery Theatre in It's desire to sse Mir. Wilson as Hugo von Reppgrt ,, m A Prince of TatterS," Sidney H.. EIllS rather vague, melodramatic comedy.
 This piece has been produced in Mont gomery before by MT. Wilson and it IS deCIdedly to the credit of his singing voice large audience that filled every seat in the theatre was composed almost wholly of Montgomery women.
 And these women enjoyed every bit Of the entertainment. Their enthusiastic ap- plause showed that MT. Wilson was more than a mere hero of the drama. The iI.- eistency of the women drew rom NIT. Wilson his usual matinee speech. m which. according to tradition ne soo ,a he girls' Tn the audience, which, or cour5e, seemed very funny.
 1t is noteworthy that the new city or- dinance was not violated by the managers ot the Theatre. Scores of persons were turned away from the doors, and no one was allowed to stand in any part Of She bull ling. ,,
 I've cannot admit you" said Sam Hir- scher as he turned away some Of hls in- dignant patrons who appealed Tor t1e stsnding room privilege "You would not have us violate the laws of the city.
 The audiences, men and women. Wc1t to the Theatre to hear Ali Wilson sing. The Theatre was twice filled with Mont Csomery people-there was large audi encc at night-who went there to slt un- der the spell of meiodious tenor. The play was all right as a iiller-in, a sort necessary evil. 1t might have been en- loved by many III the audience if Wilson was off the stage, but they paid but scanty attention to 1t.
 The play went well enough because tne audience, being composed of reasonablc human beings, could not expect Al Wilson to sing all the time.
 The audience became deathly stlll as the time for the handsome tenor to break into song came. Tie advance signals :3r the musical outbreaks were always rec ognizable. The stage dialogue dritt51 around to some sentiment known to tc the theme of one of Al Wilson's songs and the audience prepared to enjoy itsrlf There may have been rattIng of pro- grams stirring fin the seats and vhe echoes of subdued conversations floating around the theatre. while the audience permitted the play to go on to allow :he singer to rest between songs. But when the song signals were displayed the quiet became instantly intense.
 There Is an irresistible charm about al Wilson's singing. He seems to send forth the spirit and the sentiment of his song. He appears the natural, interpreter of the subtle beauty Of vocal music, music that falls softly and sweetly upon the popular ear. He blends the words and the md- sic into an irresistible appeal to tho fancy and sentiment of his hearers.
 1t may be that Al Wilson's tenor robus- to voice does not meet the requirements of an oparatic tenor. 1t may be that it falls short Of the cultured voice trained in high class conservatonries. Perhaps the true musical critic, who mnothing sat ties less than grand opera, would find fault with the ballad singers voice. But what mattered that to the two audiences which crowded the Theatre yesterday and gave Al Wilson recall after recall?
 And after all. is not the success of c player or singer to be measured by the delight he gives his audience?
 The song hit of the evening was Wind ing of the Yarn" The audience took an intense pleasure in it at it's first rendi- tion. and 1t was not necessary to havo the refrain over again and again to have the audience appreciate it's beauties.
 The play is well known in Montgomery having been seen here last winter. It is not strong play, but Is probably suffl- Cieut for its purpose.
 Outside of and beyond Al Wilson. the best thing in the entertainment was the handsome and appropriate scenery. Miss Jannette Farrell, in the princi- pal feminine role, had adequate histriomc