The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-03-24
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Otis Skinner in "The Harvester"

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 Before the fifth and last act of The Harvester" at Montgomery Theatre last night. Otis Skinner. in one of his inimitably ingenious curtain talks said that there is to him something peculiarly inspiring in the manner in which Montgomery audiences receive his efforts-the close attention an" corded. sympathetic and flattering; the ap- plause. oft repeated and so evidently sincere.
 Mir. Skinner should not be surprised. al- belt he is as modest as talented. The ap- plause of which he speaks. and of which he received so much last night. is but the spon- taneous expression of the audiences trih- ute to a master in his art.
 Like wine. Mir. Skinner grows better as time goes by. Nor does the comparison cease there. for those who and hear him are intoxicated with the superb quail ity of his work.
 The title role in The Harvester is one surprisingly difficult to essay and at times one less actor than Otis Skinner would find himself struggling with situations greater than he Such a crisis was the love scene in the first act between the harvester. the debonaire gypsy portrayed by Mir. Skinner and Lizzie Hudson Collier as Toinette. long to be remembered by those present the most beautiful delineation of one true hearts communion with an other presented on a stage in Mont
 
 fact, one did in many others of the play. that things were being enacted. so real were the emotions disclosed, vivid the human interest wrapped up in the story of pastoral life in French Canada, so true to nature the scenery employed, even to the village pump, which gave forth water at the touch of the handle. and the limb of the tree from which the adventurous young harvester swung himself to earth from off high brick wall.
 In profound silence the great audience packed into the theatre heard the har- vester's soliloquy. just preceding the third acts dramatic close. where he discovered. after eighteen years absence that Toinette. his sweetheart of harvest days of yore, welded to another man during his absence. had borne son of whom he was the father. and then applauded with heart and soul, the curtain going up time and tins again in response to the continuous round.
 This son of his. Tony. loved Aline. daughter of the misery signeur in whose fields the gypsy had labored aforetime. but his suit was indignantly rejected by the signeur, who pronounced him a notorious mongrel. The manner in which the har- vester straightened out the tangled love affair of his and his sons sweet heart. finally forcing the naughty father of the girl to consent to the wedding by throwing around his expectations. cringing disposition the potent fear of a gypsy spell. held the crowd in breathless silence and ad- uiration.
 Others made happy, the harvester was not to go unrewarded. for in the closing act Toinette's husband. Francois, upon whose brow death had long before set the impress of It's coming. passes peacefully away from earthly woes and machinations. and a new field of happiness is opened to the gaze of the hero. The work presented by J. M. Colville as Francois. George Clarke as the Signeur. Walter Lewis as Toney and Paula Gloy Aline was all of the high est order-just such would be expected from those whom Otis Skinner gathers round him in support.
 An actress of unquestionable ability is Marion Abbott who takes the part o' Catherine. wife of the inn-keeper. and she did not SC without her share of com mandatory applause.
 "The Harvester" is produced under the personal stage direction of Mir. Skinnet himself. and 1t is apparent that his won derfui talent Is not confined to histrionic ability alone.
 Otis Skinner may in days to come take up some other play and carry it forward to success but he will never have 8 more well-pleased audience than that which greeted him last night in Montgomery Theatre