The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-11-03
Cbe Cbeatres
.srhe sultan of suIu.''

.a.oo ycuch is enough" is the only | way the audience that saw '@The Sultan | os s,,lu :. George Ade's' brilliant tribute ! "a musical comedy, could express their | idea of the excellence of authors and managers genius in giving the public | such a theatrical treat that was afr forded at the Montgomery Theatre last | night.
 is fortunate in having his work dis plaved to the public In the style and | manner that was shown by the com | nanv of last, night. Without using all | the good adjestives In describing the merits of the performance and to ex- | press if tersely, 1t was just this: Clever comedians, with clever lines, pretty 1 girls with trained voices, elaborate scenery and elaborate costumes and a musical score that was par excellence. Though everyone that went to the l theatre expected to see something worth while. the audience did not ex- pect the most dazzling exhibition of 1 fun. frolic and music that has been of- l fered on the Montgomery Theatre stage this season With all the wit that Mir. 1 Ade has written for the cocktailed Sul- | tan and with the tuneful music that has | been provided by Alfred c. Walthall, 1 the '.Sultan of Sulu' would not have thrown representative audience of Montgomery.s intelligence into paro- xysms of inexpressible merriment had ] not the company been composed of artists in their line. The humor of | George Ade is never questioned as to originality and freshness and in the | Sultan of Sulu," his first musical comedy. he put the best in hls inimita- ble stock.
 The reading public knows that the original Ade comedy Is a burlesque on American Government in the Philip pines. This explanatory note is pub lished on the program:
 ''Sulu, or Jolo. is the largest of the Southerly Islands in the Philippine group. The chief ruler of the island is Hanji Mohammed Jamalulu Ki Ram, Sultan of Sulu. and Brother of the Sun in his own estimation. His rule has been disputed by certain dattos or chiefs, with whom he has kept up a running warfare, One of the charac- | teristic features of this warfare has been the abduction ~ women. The | natives of Sulu are Mohammedans, polygamists and shareholders. The American troops landed at Sulu in 1899, | and after some parleying came to a peaceable agreement with the Malay | ruler. He renounced his title as Sui- | tah DcCdIHe GOVefnOE at nXe0 | salary. The Sultan of Sulu' is not an attempt to show what subsequently, happened, but merely what might have | happened"
 Thomas Whiffen, Ki Ram, the Sul- | tan. had the big end of the fun making. | MT. Whiffen Is very much on the style of Raymond Hitchcock, the comedian who originated King Dodo." He is funny in a quaint and quiet way that defies analysis. The opening ofs~his mouth was the signal for the audience to giggle. then chuckle. then laugh outright, for his work never failed to funniize the listening ears
 His co-partner in jocosity was Fred Frear. who. as Hadji Tanteng, the Pri- vate Secretary of the Sultan, made ! openings for much of the fun. Formed like barrel and with a face that ex- cites laughter without contortion Of any kind, this actor accomplishes great success in his comedy work. His fa- etal gyrations. while naturally exag- | gerated. were executed at critical times for the person who did not want to laugh and the audience never tired of his appearance on the stage. MT, | Frear is known here, and he did not disappoint his admirers
 While speaking of comedy work Mill Helen Tomlinson should not be overlooked. As Galula, the antiauated but unwelcome wife of Ki Ram, she
 was one of the delightful hits of the
 performance.
 The female contingent was a delight
 It was joyful array of personal pull.
 ohritude with Miss Maude Williams
 the primma donna, the Henrietta Budd
 of the cast slightly the favorite. Be.
 sides being handsome, Miss William,
 sang several numbers in a finely modu.
 lated soprano. Miss willlams's beaut,
 of face and figure was enhanced b,
 some of the most gorgeous creations oi
 the modiste's art that have ever beer
 seen in Montgomery. Her solo, Car
 mena." was one of the most artistic
 musical numbers of the score and call
 ed forth applause from the lovers O,
 fine music
 Miss Flo Irwin. as Pamela France; Jackson, showed her well known abil
 ity in a clever way. She brought on
 the comedy lines written for the part She ts'one of the few funny women or the stage.
 vivaclous little Nellie Nichols cam, In for full share of credit for tho success of the production by the en. livening influence of her singing an6 dancing. She is valuable addition to the cast or to any cast that needs ! brightening spirit of graceful activ. itY.
 George O'Donnell both looked ana acted the part of Col. Jefferson Budd of the United States Volunteers In a most commendable manner and sang fin excellent voice The Old Jay Rirdi backed up in fine style by the chorus
 The best male voice of the compan, is that of William Hardy who workeI overtime in his efforts to sing the mum, bers of the score. He possesses ( strong tenor voice of great range anC
 sweetness and all of his numbers wer,
 well received.
 Willard Curtiss made a decidedl,
 favorable impression in his work as ]
 hustling American salesman and SCOT
 ed a success in the~song "RosabeIlt
 Clancy"
 John F. Fogarty and John T. o'pav
 as Nubian slaves to the Sultan created
 much amusement by their dancing am
 general stage appearance which was tt
 say the least ludicrous.
 The chorus was large and was mag
 nificently costumed. The members ot
 1t could sing and dance and the en. sembles contributed to tho enjoyment of the entertainment.
 The two stage pictures, especiall, the setting for the last act, the Hang. ing Gardens of the Sultan's palace weT, magnificent in design and execution Splendid electrical effects added to tb. beauty of the scene.
 The best of the musical nurnbars were My Sulu Lulu Loo," "SInce i First Met You" Always Late" "Come Back to Manistee," "Carmena ond