The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-03-23
Cbe CbeatreS
Miss Knott as Cousin Kate."

play that depends wholly on dialogue must be steeped in cleverness so as to give mental bath Herein Cousin Kate," comedy. presented by Miss Roselle Knott at the Montgomery Theatre last night, fails.
 It was no fault of Miss Knott and her associates that the minutes were frequent ly long and that the incessant talk. talk. talk on the stage. without action, almost brought the audience to the point of yawn- ing. Miss Knott. MT. Corbett, MT. Smith. Miss Clarke. and young MT. Wilkes made the most of their material. The others were indifferent.
 One can not take a mere incident and build a play without being exceptionally clever. This is what Hubert Davies under took to do with Cousin Kate He wrote pleasant little story of human, every day interest But the unfolding of a pleasant little story on the stage is quite a diff ferent thing.
 There Is a certain Spencer family in a rural English village-mother pious prin- nipled. primitive and domestic; young uaughter ditto: precocious son, a spirited schoolboy. Heath Desmond, Irish artist of London. Is to marry Amy Spencer in two days, when he goes off in a huff because Amy thinks he is too worldly Pious mother shocked at impending scandal; pre- cocious son ready to punch Desmond's head'; young daughter disturbed in mind but secretly in love with village young eurate who is more compatible than Des- mond.
 Right here the play begins. Desmond has decided to go back to the village and make up with Amy Spencer. Going down on the train from London. he Is thrown with Cousin Kate Curtis. She is 20: author of cynical, worldly wise books and consequent ly knows thing or two about persons of the male gender. A cousin of the Spencers fA tha N.,A never seen Desmond, whose identity is not made known to her until late in the play, when they have learned to love each other
 Amy marries her clergyman. Cousin Kate" gets the real man of the play; pious mothers blessing; joy of precocious broth or: final curtain.
 There are three acts and the whole in- cident is supposed to cover five hours. The nearest approach to flesh and blood action is the close of the second act with Desmond, played by Mir. Corbett, and Kate tMiss KnotD in an empty house. a storm raging on the outside for dramatic pur- poses. The conflicting emotions of two per sons drawn to each other, without either ever knowing the name of the other was capably presented, notwithstanding it's glaring unreality.
 Miss Knott deepened the impression here tofore formed of her. She was disposed to rant in some of the scenes, but her gem eral treatment of the role was pleasing
 Ie Mir. Corbett had a more attractive face he would have been more impressive fin the love scenes. although he gave evidence of artistic skill in the lighter comedy vein
 A slip of boy bearing the honorable name Augustin Daly Wilkes did not disap- point those who struck by the name on the bills. Although but l6 years old this young chap gave a convincing DOT trayal Of the injured schoolboy brother and later the confiding youth buoyant with the happiness that had come to his family when the clouds passed by.
 Miss Clarke was altogether good as Mrs Spencer. and Mir Smith was capital as the clergyman.
 Amy Spencer was played by Miss Eliza beth King. It Is difficult role, and Miss King did not appear suited to it. Her read ing was defective and she failed to invest the young English girl with spirit It is true Amy Spencer was a spiritIess young woman, but she hardly an expression less person. Neither do we conceive that she was altogether insipid. Just a but more animation in the right place, Miss King and not so much straining for em- phasis in your reading. This achieved your mellow voice and charmings presence Will have their reward.