The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-11-26
Cbe CbeatreS
s9IIer Lord and Master,

'kAeR L0E0 ana Master"
 Weight and strength are not essen tia1 attributes of histrionic ability. It is something more subtle, more delicate than mere avoirdupois which quaIifies player for stardom, otherwise Miss Helen Grantly would not be qualified to star in Her Lord and Master" which was produced at the MOntgom- cry Theatre last night
 Miss Grantly doesn't go in for tear ing a person to tatters. Nature hasn't qualified her for such a thing even though she were inclined to it. Her talents are of the spirituelle order. When she says in the second act, in satire of her new life to her old friends, T have gotten so good, I feel like an angel" one expects her to float of In the air. She's just that ethereal.
 Mss Grantly's epirituel1e and ether cal style, at first, does not chime with the generally accepted idea of a fem mine star. The public has a hasy idea that the feminine star should be like Ada Rehan, vigorous and frenEied, or like Adelaide Thurston, beautiful but substantial.
 Of course there is Maude Adams, spirituelle in beauty and ethereal in methods. or at least that's what the nAper says about her. As for us--Well we don't get 9 chance to see her down here. more's the pity. But Miss Ad- ams's act Is sufficiently finished and ef- fectlve to have made her way of reach ing the hearts of her audience a dis tinet school of acting in which there are few--extremely few-proficient players.
 These comparisons are not to detract from Miss Grantly's art. Indeed, they are intended as a high compliment. Fs... ~s.r- .s.-.. K..E Saltwater of Miss Grantly that she has an honorable place in this anti-ranting school of acting. As we do not have the opportunity of seeing Maude Ad- ams, we willingly accept Miss Grantly for that which is spirituelle, that which is delicate and that which Is ethereal. Truth to tell. her delicate methods are gratifying and refreshing, in contrast with the tense, strained emotional work of some of the stars that have preceded her.
 Not that Miss Grantly could not in- terpret @ passion, for that she could do with force and spirit. That scene in the third act. when as the spolIt child wife she is brought sharp up against the implacable. immutable will of her husband, lifted her audience from the chairs--the chairs in the fashionable section of the playhouse, at that. It was vivid, spirited piece of work and one that her audience very appropri- ately rewarded with two curtain calls.
 In an ethereal way and without ef- f0rt, Miss GPantly lightly but respon- sively touched the chords of her au- dienee's sympathy. Her work was as if gifted player with sure touch had sat at an instrument and picked out, almost carelessly, a sweet and sooth- ing strain, interspersed here and there with spirited runs and notes of indefin- ite longing.
 The artistic portrayal was so origi- nal in It's character, so wide 8 depart ure from some old conventions that one would necessarily receive the im- precision that there were some discords. an impression that would come of his unfamiliarity with Miss Grantley's spirituelle style. All honor to her for her originality, and if there was an in- harmonious break in it. which Is not certain Miss GTantiy Is to be praised for her success and to be encouraged along her way,
 Why hasn't somebody discovered that the little actress has rare talents in comedyG She Is a gifted eomedienne. tf that word may be used without sug- gestipg something in the musical com. eay line. Her audience last night was