The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-03-29
Cbe CbeatreS
Florence Gale as RosaIind


 Although Miss Florence Gale is an artistic Rosalind. she does not attempt to satisfy her. audiences with her art unaided@ she does not subordinate the | other players to gratify her own ann | bition.
 In presenting shakespeares most popular comedy, Miss Gale has sur rounded herself with a company of ac- tors. who more than share the honors with her. And by sharing these hon. ors, they reflect great credit on the ability of the actress whose name ap- pears in black type on the program; they furnish the handsome casket from whose depths shines the gem.
 a"As You Like It," as played by Miss Gale at the Montgomery Theatre last night, is not what may be termed in street yernacular, "a world beater." There have been more artistic Rosa finds, and there have been. perhaps. more we'll balanced companies present. ing the comedy. But Miss Gale Is ar- tistic and her company is artistic. Her stage manager is the most artistic Of the entire company. and thereby hangs tale," the tale of modern audience receiving Shakespearean comedy with the same spontaneous laughter and tho same hearty applause as the audience would have received something from the pen of Pinero or Fitch.
 And this the audience at the Mont gomery Theatre did last night. Hats off to the Montgomery Theatre audi ence!
 Let it be said that Miss Gale and her company do not, as many Shakespereah players do, depend on their elocution- ary powers and the lines of the Bard of Avon to please audiences. Mss Gale and her stage manager have made the performance as modern as possible Everyone on the stage is working all the time and a number of bits of stage "business' are introduced, which are rarely witnessed in presentations of the plays of the Elizabethian play wright This may be the reason that Shakespeare Is not as popular in the twentieth century as he formerly was' and maybe Miss Gale and her stage manager have hit upon the solution Of making Shakespeare popular in these strenuous times.
 There are those in American audi ences who have not the education or the inclination to appreciate the poesy of the satirical speeches of Jacques, the subtle wit of TouchstoneS or the sublime utterances of Rosalind or Or lando. Mayhap there were those Of this variety In the audience last night, but if there were those, they went away from the theatre with the feel ing that they had their moneys worth, For Miss Gale and her stage manager have so provided that by breezy mod ern stage "business," the dullest per son may catch the spirit of the comedy.
 For instance, take the wrestling bout in the first act. Ordinarily this Is dis posed of by having orlando grab Charles around the waist. while Charles falls down. Not so with Miss Gales company. A trained acrobat, who can also act, was chosen for the part of Charles and when the wrestling bout was put on, the acrobat used his power and the audience imagined itself in an athletic club watching a spirited catch as-catch-can. Lovers of melodrama, who were present to try to cultivate taste for Shakespeare had chance to applaud. They were pleased and they will go to see another Shake- speafean performance. Good!
 Miss Gale is a talented woman. She is not only talented. but she is ann bilious and she is a scholar. Next sea-
 son she will tour the country in Gym
 beline" and if her "Cymbeline" Is as artistic as her "As You Like It" she
 will not play to a small audience in Montgomery
 The star of last night is not only a | fine elocutionist. but she is a fine ac- tress and Is fine to look upon. With A wealth of golden hair. sDiendidly