The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-04-14
Che CbeatreS
,,. u.,,ord and Mics Drofnah.

The version of Don Caesar de Bazan pre- sented at the Montgomery Theatre last night differed materially from the stage , form of the story used by James K. Hack ett. on the same stage some years ago. The Don Caesar of Mir. Hanford and the Don Caesar of Mir. Hackett differed no less than the two stage versions of the same story.
 It does not necessarily follow that MT. Hanford's portrayal of the brave and spend' thrift nobleman was bad because H on fered from the swashbuckler of the 1.-the Hackett. That the public has been taught to look for a sort of slender Don Caesar A graceful sword fighter. is unfortunate Tor Mir Hanford, who Is inclined to stoutness and impressiveness, rather than to 1the- ness and youthful deviltry. MT. Hanford 8 legitimate and intelligent work soon over came this handicap. He has all and more force than the part requires He threw into the role every spark of fire and spirit the lovable adventurer demanded.
 MT. Hanford, the experienced and faith full actor that he is. never failed in the exacting situations and not once did ne fall short of showing, now foreefuliy aud now subtIety. the grace and spirit of the careless nobieman, who had squandered a fortune without thought and who could face death with as little care and consider alton as he had devoted to state of ruin and poverty MT. Hanford made the dAvil-may care Don a live and vital being. even though, it might be hinted he made him a little to sinister in his sarcastic mo- ments.
 When Mir Hanford got well into the more agreeable stages of his work he stirred the interest of the heroic scenes of the closing curtains up to the highest pitch. It was no trouble for the audience to appre- ciate tho fact that the hero was doing great things on the stage. And when he oOoH ha Efn0 making lOye n his wife, the audience recognized the real thing in acting and Mir. HanforJ was given a hearty and enthusiastic hand by his audi ence
 All this. too, with MT. Hanford weighing according to the audiences pre-formed es- innate, some forty pounds more than the part required He did this by reason of a mobile and expressive countenance as well as a rich and resonant voice that could ring out the sounding periods of the heroic lines. From all of which 1t may be judged that MT. Hanford's picture of the ragged Don Caesar was quite satisfactory.
 No less worthy was Miss Marie Drofnah playing the Gypsy beauty, Mariana. The part in most of its feature is distinctly suitable to Miss Drofnah. Her talent is oi the emotional order. Misery, tears and unhappiness form her element. Her re- markable voice has every note of unhap. pIness from alarmed concern to abjecl
 
 preciating this, Miss Drofnah, if one Is in. clined to be hypercritical, might say that she was over-fond of exercising her emo. tional gifts This could hardly be said but for the first act of Don Caesar, ir which a lighter touch Is required, and 1T which Miss Drofnah did not excel so much as in the other acts
 But when the machinations of the vii. famous Don Jose had separated her from the brave and mysterious husband whom she had married on his way to the gallows she had only to loose the reins on her emo tionallsm and the audience gave quick re- sponse. It is fine voice that she has for showing a passion, a fear or a misery.
 Both Miss Drofnah and Mir Hanford were given warm, almost enthusiastic applause by the audience.
 Mir. Hanford has no special reason to feel proud of his company. The support could have been much better, with room stilll to spare for improvement The best in the list was Fred Flight, who did a very agree able character sketch as the Marquis de Rotondo. The Don Jose of Frank HanniR was more than passable.
 The corrupt King of Spain was played bv Edward D'Oize. No wonder Mariana shuddered when the King made love to her. The audience shuddered too, he was that bad.
 The play was finely staged The scener, was both costly and handsome.