The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-03-16
ADJUSTMENTS


Theatregoers have grown accustomed
to the success of Miss Viola Allen in
Shakespearlan reviyals. The announce
ment of her appearance is enough to
awaken antieipations which are never ais
appointed. This season in her n1gnitl-
cent production of 1.-THE Winters Tale"
Miss Allen has equalled, II she haE not
surpassed, her previous effsrts Beauti-
fully staged, with a lavishnas IS Of scenery
unusual, and graced by Viola Aliens arr,
the performance at the Jefferson asst
right was one that will he pleasantly re-
membered.
Miss Allen showed her versatility by
playing the two roles of Hermions and
Perdita with equal finish. As the w1onged
queen. quivering beneath The unnerited
accusations of her lord and at last
brought to public trial, she was at all
times thoroughly womanly, admirable for
her graces of mind and heafi and I'M
hued with the purity and innocence which
she defended so earnestly When the ar
rival of the oracle proclaiming Hermlone
guiltless was read, Miss Allen rose TO a
high pitch of emotional acting that ended
in tragic climax when the news of The
death of her son was announced She
crashed to the floor in a sWoon that was
rendered all the more effective by the way
in which she managed a fall that could
easily prove disastrous.
Although most loveable as Hermoine,
1t was as Perdta that Miss Allen won
most favorable notice. She seemed every
bit as sprightly, as full of life and love
and as free from care as the maiden
whom Florizel woos so prettily in the
story. In this part of the play Miss Allen
was given admirable support by James
Young as Florizel. 1t Is seldom that a
more pleasing stage picture Is presented
than that of the shepherd reyels and the
flower eourtships of Perdita and Florizel.
Miss Allen skipped about with grace
and ease that did credit to her years
and the lovemaking was most happily
done.
From Bohemia back to Stella, and
Miss Allen became Hermoine again. The
scene in which Hermoine Is supposed to
come back to life from marble and the
statue lives was not only most effective
bit of acting but appealed to every sense
of the beautiful The proper climax of
the play, this scene was superb.
In addition to the pervasIve talent of
Miss Allen which shone all through The
Winters Tale" the most striking feature
of the production was its scenic beauty
There were eleven scenes. all of them
adequate and most of them stage pic
lures that delighted the eye. Miss Allen s
plays are always conspicuous for elab-
crate scenery, but this season has been
doubly fortunate In having 1.-THE Win
ter's Tale produced under the direction
OF Frank Vernon, an Englishman who
has achieved fame in such work.
The supporting company, while rot
evenly balanced, was satisfactory. James
Young as Florizel was at his best. This
young actor has done nothing better.
Zeffie Tilbury as Paulna, wife of An
tis5nus, made stout champion OF her
queen and succeeded in imparting the
necessary life and spirit to the role,
withal keeping her Indignation under the
proper restraint and cherishing always
devoted affection for Hermione, Boyd
Putnam as Polixenes was satisfactory G.
Leslie Allen as the old shepherd and Sid
ney Bracy as his son were both good
character studies. while Frank Currier
made a most entertaining rogue.