The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-11-15
cl,e Cbeatres
ssBabes in roylapd. :,

| aeuichce tnat nIieu every seat In fthe Montgomery Theatre, last night passed judgment upon Hamiin Mitcheil,s stupendous production of Babes if, Toyland." production that almost stupefed New York and Chicago, by fts appeal to the eyes, to the ear and to the mind 1@
 The verdict of the critical Monteom- cry audience that saw the entertain I ment last night for the sfirst time was that 1t Just,des every bit of extraya- gant praise that mas been 'lavished upon 1t. D. -4---s----.,
 Tn every way Babes in eToyland'' was satisfying. Those of us so for turate as to have seen the entertain. ment at New York's Majestic Theatre wondered at the enterprise. the extra ordinarily successful undertaking, that inspired the managers to produce the piece in the smaller cities of the coun- try. The plain truth Is. barring the number of players in the company and temporary stage equipment. the enterprise of the managers afforded Montgomery as good an entertainment as was given in New York and Chicago with their millions of patrons of the theatre.
 Let itA be said that Montgomery sp- preciates at all times this sort of treatment, and the name of Hamlin 6 Mitchell will be hereafter respected in lAlabama's Capital City. Tn the lam lguage of old John Robinson of circus fame, they bring the show to your very door
 Babes in Toyiand" is . succession of surprises in the way of stage pic- lures, accompanied by music in the best style of Victor Herbert, scores of beautiful women arrayed in an endless chain of fanciful costumes. the whole being woven into dainty little story of sufficient sweetness of charm to grasp the Intellect and hold 1t through out the unfolding of the plot.
 F. The story has been told here before. It was the clever mind of Glen Mac dorough that conceived and executed this novel idea of dramatizins the nursery stories. The central theme is from Babes in the Wood" but Little Bopeep." ..Littie Boy Blue" Miss Muf- l fett." contrary Mary" Tom Piper and all the rest are introduced.
 l These flesh and blood little people awaken naught but the tenderest mem ories of our childhood and the genius of the manager is shown in the clean Illness, the wholesomeness of the enter talnment. No heater, purer etertain- ment was ever given on any stage. This Is a high tribute when one consid- CTS the numerous, and brilliant array of young women in tights. But there was no smirking. no suggestion of off, fense. The entertainment is above that. It was built for the women and chill dren and 1t Is a play that women and children enjoyed. '.. t
 Victor Herbert was especially happy in the. music provided for Babes in Toyland." :" With the opening number Don't Cry Bopeep.' bewitching lit- tie song led by Miss Bergere, a mite I hn vya use, the audience felt the atmosphere of the nursery stealing throughout the auditorium of the playhouse. The Herbert music was never riotous. It was of the kind that burrowed into the heart and anaesthetized the senses. This Herbert music was rendered with a dash and a harmony that even the composer himself would have ap- preciated, by an augmented orchestra and a leader who kept the singers con stantly under his baton.
 It was, however, the blending of col ors the pan -prismatic congress, that will cause Babes in Toyland" to be remembered. It was a masterful stroke, this filling the eye all the while with a harmonious fluorescence that made the brain reel In the shiftings of the chorus, whole paint pots full of indescribable blends ravaged the sight.
  ing company of theatrics has no small task to keep the run of clothes.
 Worthy of note was the freshness of the costumes and the scenic appurte- nances. Everything seemed new, beautifully new and this was apparent throughout the nine dazzling scenes of the play.
 The company of players was large. Mary Marble. cute little Mary Marble, l aF olA l with her. They are advertised as the principals and we are quite willing to | agree with the management because we have always liked Mary and Chip" Mary, we shink from proclaming 1t in the types. has (ahemD grown somewhat fat, but she Is just as charming as ever. The thin. baby voice has not forsaken her. and her intellect has been brought to bear on the work she is l required to perform. She is a funny little woman and she gave the big au- dlence a convincing Jane. She may soon outgrow the approaches of obesity. but we will let that pass since she was so radiantly joyous last night 1t was said that a woman up New York way tickled all of the Metropolis sing ing T Can't Do the Sum-" No one ever did 1t better than Mary Marble did it last night.
 
 at-ease by the comedy lines cut out for him. but there was nothing lacking fin his portrayal of Alan. His methods have been restrained by the book. [ Chip Is at his best when he Is re- quired to walk onto a stage and enter tain an audience in free lance fashion. His singing of "Floretta" and "Rock-a- bye Baby" caught the audience as the good things of an excellent entertain ment
 It is difficult to single out the excsp. tionally good voices In a comps1y that numbers so many fine singers. Pretty Grace Hazard. who has charmed us t@n- fore. won every one present with the sweetness of her numbers. Her voice is splendedly modulated. aud she brought out the beauty of the songs by a perfect understanding of the expres- l sion. She made Barney OFlynn" raV- ishingly beautiful by her splendid rem dition f+ e --'
 Helen Mayer. with voice that show cd cultivation. also sang herself Into the hearts Of the audience. She was tho | Tom-Tom Of the cast. and her singing of '"Toyland' and My Castle in Spain" were roundly applauded.
 It Is impossible to mention all of the good points of the entertainment or the painstaking efforts of the players in a hurried notice. They filled the bill.
 The big audience liked every bit of | 1t and clamored for more.
 There is no dlsputing that Hamlin X Mitchell have struck a rather hiSh plane with Babes in Toyland,% and thay daaarye to succeed with 1t.