The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-10-15
Cbe Cbcatres
MT. James fin Two Roles.

Two Of the most cuitufeu @uu.SuS
 that ever entered the historic old Mont gomerv Theatre on a single day saw the veteran tragedian Louis James pre- sent sIngomar" at matinee yesterday and Sheridan Knowles's masterrui tragedy 'virginius." last night.
 TO the credit of Montgomery let 1t be said that these audiences were Dy no means meagre from numerical view point, The cry that annually goes up from Broadway that manager can no longer afford to be financial martyr by putting out the classics was disproyed by the Montgomery theatre going public. Small wonder Is 1t that at the final curtain of "Virginius last night. there was not ripple or ap- nlause. Not a soul stirred. The drop curtain struck the floor Of the stage with a untitled thud entirely in keep ing with the occasion and the audience paradoxical as the expression may seem. To have engaged in the inane method of expressing applause py clan of the hands or stamp or thc feet. such as one Is wont to express pleasure over the efforts or Roger Brothers or Mcintyre and Heath. would have seemed unholy following the mag nificent portrayal by MT. James ana tne artistic exhibition by his exceptionail% well balanced company presenting the soulstirring old classic. The sign was an expression of the release of pent up fesIinrs. feelings that had been raised to the boiling point by the great ines and thir able conception. It was the sound of the call of the twentieth cen. tury back from the brave old days or Rome. ~
 senseIess. it would be to go into a discussion of "Virginius." The people who composed the audience last night knew the story of the centurion as well as they knew the story of Romuius and Remus They were equally Iamliiar with the brilliant, inspiring play that sheridan Knowles weaved around the incident in the history of the Roman Republic; in human interest secohu lo none with the possible exception or the hanishment of the younger Tarduin.
 Each generation is blessed with an actor capable of doing justice to "Vir- einIus" Our forefathers had MT. For Feat our fathers had John Mccullough, We of today have Louis James ana the writer is one of those optimistic per sons who believes that the actors or 1aO5 have advanced in keeping with ths Advancement in the age. "Vir- g,nius" is too strong character to carry itself through. Many parts are considered good enough to bring them success without artistic handling. But there are also these parts that VIII hear the touch of none but the most artistic hands: that will bear the sneach of none but the most skiilful ,fpice. that will bear the feeling of ,one hut the most sincere heart "Vir- gInius'' is one of those parts. When one essays "Virginius," he should allow no one to recognize or consider hia nersonality from his entrance to his last exit. He must be- in physique and hearing, the stern centurion ana devoted father, as well as Delng apie to express the sentiments that enerls dan knowles put into the mouth or the old Roman.
 Mr James was all these. From the .,rne he entered the stage until the hnal act the audience forgot that there was a,,er sheridan Knowles. an Edwin Forrest. a John Mccullough or even 1onis James. They were In the Ho- man forum. They laughed and suffered ,,,tth "Virginius" And he died before sneir @ ayes The curtain dropped and srsduaIly the feeling came to the au- Hence that there existed person oaIisS Louis James and that the days = .eviroinius" were so far agone that tn this busy day and time we don't havs opportunity to figure how far hack it was. Then came the sign NO actor could ask for higher tribute.
 'sVirRiniuS' could Hot HaEO OCSA PtN .orted last night as it was by MT. Ianoes alone. He could have been 'Vir- ani,,. " If Is true. but he could not sn,,a caused the members of the audi Ilaeo o to he thrilled and sorrowed unless .ne ,,embers of his supporting com nanv had been almost equally convinc- pany ,r the parts assigned to them. Miss ashia James full measured up to yir- pi ApnI' che was the sweet and duthul sIh+or the ardent lover. the perse- a5 child and the strong woman. 1Iar 1tgbter scenes moved her audience to rapturous delight ...-. l., ,,
 Tbree more finished actors Tn sup
 rorting company are rarely seen man
 tha poa briIliant trio surrounding MT. Iiie Ins James A. Young as Appius SIa',di,s Norman Hackett as Icilius | I.s Ghar,os stedman as Dentatus threw aho,osaIves aio so completely into their | nrta tbat they bade fair to outrival Mr James from an artistic viewpoint
 To these three men. much or the sue cess of the production was que
 The smaller parts and the stage set tings were adequate ,.- ..,,
 roo much praise cannot be accorded Ntr Tames's production of "Ingomar." This Nne old romantic drama is one which appeals especially to women. hence it came long ago 10 pc regarded as an excellent matinee bill:
 Women are not so demonstrative as