The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-05
Cbe CbedtreS
Revival of seDiplomacy.s

Sardou's Diplomacy" said to be the masterpiece of the prolific French play wright, and which has been termed by some critics a model of modern drama. In its revival after a lapse of many years, was witnessed by large audi ences yesterday afternoon and night at the Montgomery Theatre.
 When Diplomacy" is termed model of the modern drama no great compliment is paid the drama of the age. This is not to reflect on the brilliance of the lines of Sardou, nor to cast any discredit on the analytical mind of the playwright who conceived the situations that make interest in the action almost oppressive. But there is little of the uplifting charac- ter to be discovered in the play. As those acquainted with the literature of the stage knew. Diplomacy" teaches the fallacy of revenge, but one cannot fail to sympathize with the foiled avenger. It teaches the difference be- tween the love of good woman and the love of woman who is familiar with shame and degradation. The two are arrayed one against the other and the audience leaves the play house feeling that the love of the evil wo- man was greater than that of the good one.
 The foregoing paragraphs might lead one to believe that the presentation of "DiplomAcy" by Rose Coghlan and Howard Kyle. supported by a very ex- cellent company, was not pleasing to the writer or to the audience. The in- terest of the play was intense and the presentation was faultless.
 The audience was not readily respon- sive and for time it seemed that the skiIlful work of the company was to go for naught. Toward the close of the second act. when the better motives of the Countess Zicka, Miss Coghlan are overcome by a desire for revenge and the papers of her beloved are stolen to throw suspicion on his wife, and in the scene between husband and wife in the third act, the audience was aroused from its lethargy, and its en- thusiasm was boundless.
 Miss Coghlan, as the Countess Zicka, had many opportunities. Playing, as she does. a woman who has suffered since childhood and who has suffered mainly through the wrongs of men, and whose love Is repulsed by the one man she had ever loved, she received a full measure of sympathy. Miss Coghlan plays the part with singular ability. Her voice. her mannerisms, are those of the hardened woman of the world, and yet she succeeds in leaving the in-
  dition not by her own making.
 There are few women on the Amer ican stage who can portray this char acter of'woman with more flnesse than Miss Coghlan. Countess Zicka is said to be her favorite role and she brings to it a resourcefulness that makes it a reality.
 MT. Kyle is perhaps as we'll or better known in Montgomery than Miss Cogh- lou. He N,t. T-rp and Rosemary" have made this young actor a great favorite here. He play ed Henry Beauclerc with intelligence and polish, his every movement was graceful and not a word from his lips was lost.
 The program led one to believe that Mir. Kyle was cast for the star male part. And yet Captain Beauclerc is the best male part in Diplomacy" It fell to Lynon Pratt. young actor. In al emotional play only the emotional parts hold the centre of the stage and last night when Mir. Kyle and MT. Pratt were on the stage at the same time, one involuntarily regarded MT. Pratt as the principal: This young man has great talent in these roles. His presence is attractive, his voice Is good. and he Is we'll grounded in stage business"
 Decidedly a fine bit of acting was done by George E. Lindeman as Count Or1oh.
 Miss Suzanne Santje made an atrac- tive Dora, but it required more than a pretty woman to play the part as Miss SantJe played 1t. Her work fully measured up to that of Miss Coghlan. Mir. Kyle and MT. Pratt. z
 The small parts were done by people of ability. including Miss Starr. 9 hand some young woman happily remem- bered in Montgomery for other clever presentations of the past.
 Diplomacy" was produced in q manner that would no doubt have pleased SardOu himself.
 @The Great Bank Robbery"
 Again melodrama. this time '"Fhe Great Bank Robbery" held sway at the Biiou Theatre last night before a house