The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-12

notable evenings Of tnteiiectuat onyoy- nent of the season was The Professors ; Love Story's" first appearances. That the sNdience of last night was twice as large IS that which witnessed the flrst pre- entation of the dainty comedy Is in itself compliment to Arr. Bsrestord and the intelligent players who assist him. fThs Professors Love Story" has made Bsres- lord famous on the Southern circuit. The style and fashion of the vehicle in which he may come next season matters not. The name of Beresford will call up memories of clean. artistic comedy wholesome laughter and joyous fresh- ness and tho people will flock to sec him. It is something remarkable. the success of this unknown young man, for he was unknown and he is young He started out on the Southern circuit with no claim to merit, but that he had been considered artist enough to interpret comedy of Barrie's. And now after one season he is considered good enough to be mentioned in the same breath and In the same terms of praise as Nat Good
 win, Willie Collier and others of first degree fame We are to hear more of Bereford Players like Mr. Bereford are too rare to remain unacuuasnted with national fame.
 He waa fortunate--dulte fortHhAte-in T Love Story" His temperament har- monixes and acccrds with the role of the Professor better perhaps than if Barrie had constructed the comedy for him. Somehow one gets tho impression that mentally and physically the iovabie Pro- lessor could not possibly be otherwise than Beresford shows him. Ills inno- cence. his absentmindedness. and his de- lightful density appear to be the natural characteristics of Beresford as much as of Professor Goodwillle The comedy of Barrie Is the comedy of BeEesford Barrie Is said to have written The l Professors Love Story" for Henry Irving. Irving never apeared in it IL | was produced in New York by Willard | the great English comedian. While fortune was smiling It's iandest upon | Bereaford he fell Into The Professors | Love Story"
 1t is a great comedy, great tn It's slun- l plicity and naturalness. Barrie, as per
 haps no other play right can drops the l plumb line Into the huiAnn soul and l measuras the depths and shadows of | human motives and impulse. This little | scotchman Is the Dickens of the stage. | His humor Is so subtle and % fresh, l his pathos Is so simple, his appeal te the ' humanity Of his hearers is 90 direct that l of the wholesome and cleans plays of the
 modern stage he Is the pre-eminent \ artlfcer. sf sg@s.s ..ti
 But with, all his dainteness with ali his l wholesomeness the best that Barrie has l done could be made ridiculous with an in | different star mouting his brilliant lines l great possibilities of his comedy. BAress
 ford owes much to Barrie, but Barrie in | England owes much to Beresford. | In "The Professors Love Story" with l Harry Beresford in the main role the 1 man and the play have met. They l coincide and are equal In all their parts. 1 The delight which the audience drew from last nights performance is q hope | full sign. It means that a clever, natural l and human comedy can at least meet on equal grounds with a successful musical comedy in the contest for the favor and | applause of the public. A musical come dy compared to Barrie's comedy Is as champagne supper under the garlsh electric lights compared to an invigo- rating walk through country lanes bor- dered with hawthorn hedges and wheat | fields.
 Beresford is finished actor. one who has not been content with moderate suc- cess from natural talents, but who in the development of his talents. has toiled | upward in the night while his coEl- panions slept. The players art has been described as sending a message across the footIights and receiving one in rs- turn from the audience. In this test
 Beresford showed his excellence. Ills
 every word on the stage was enjoyed and many a laugh was stihed for fear some thing would be lost
 The star is as fortunate in his com pany as he is his play. It is a splendid
 collection of character players, thls sup
 porting company of Mfr. Beresford. If
 there are any flaws or weak spots in
 the cast they were not to be seen last
 night.
 For instance, the young woman role oi the secretary with whom the Professor IS in love could hardly have been bet
 ter played than Miss Julia Bacheldcr
 portrayed 1t. Moreover she was dain,y
 enough, feminine enough to give the
 Professor ample reason for falling m
 love with her.
 No better character work has bee.i
 seen on the local stage than the Hendets
 cone by Harry Mack and the Pete cf
 John R. Cenpson was almost equally as
 good The pr. Cosens of A. Burt Wcs-
 ner was a fine bit.
 Miss Edith Ward showed herself
 clever an excellent little actress in the
 role of the Dowager.
 But then the role of merit, those en-
 tiled to praiseworIhy mention would in-
 cIude the whole cast.
 | One of the cleverest brightest and beef
 entertainments of the season has coma
 and gone.