The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-01-12
Cbe Cbeatres
.erhe Millionaire Detective"

Theatregoers must not be misled by its title. The Millionaire Detective duced at the Bfjou Theatre this seq son or any other season for that mat ter. aire Detective" It Is novel because 1t departs from stage traditions and gives us new things. From start to finish it holds interest. It is an in- novation in the amusement line and novelty must doff his hat to its pro- motors. For one thing 1t served to introduce Howard Hall to Montgom- cry Audience and for this much Mont gomery should be grateful. He Is an able young actor and he is supported by capable company.
 It was a beastly bad night. The rain poured. The temperature was low. The wind swept the streets. The reputation of Howard Hall had travel ed ahead of him. Despite the bad night, despite the rain, despite the bit- ing cold, the audience which filled every seat in Jake Wells's cosy play house gave Howard Hall a reception to Montgomery which must have tain call after curtain call and the play progressed throughout the great est enthusiasm. It was just such a reception as Howard Hall and his ad- mirable company deserved because 1t remained for MT. Hall and his admir- able company to give Bijou patrons the best entertainment that they have
 The show bills do not do The Mil 1ionaire Detective' justice. The title does not do the play Justice. one reads the title and looks at the bills. Then he reaches the natural conclusion that the play Is a thriller-an impossible, ten, twenty and thirty hair-raiser. Not so. "The Millionaire Detective" is legitimate comedy-drama and not melo-drama. It unfoldS an intensely interesting story, a story so well told that 1t may be called a literary produc- tion and as acted by MT. Hall and ms associates, it is made so conVincin g, so lifelike, so natural that the most in- telllgent person fin the audience Is neiu until the final curtain, when loglcaI, coherent and artistic denouement IS
 The identity of the millionaire detec- tive" Is not disclosed until the very last line in the play. Then, ana hot until then, is it disclosed tpat Howar9 Hall. in whom interest has centersd throughout the play, Is the detectlyse about whom all interest has centered With clever foresight, the management has put the Millionaire Detectlve
 down on the bills as man without a Robert Rose. the Wall Street broker. and Sir Robert Bancroft. an English ciubman, are one and the same, and that both of them in ono are the Mil iionaire Detectlve." It Is a tribute to the artistic genius of MT Hall and his versatility as an actor that many per sons in the audience ulu not Tedilne that he was playing a dual role until the denouement came
 Mir. Hall wrote "The Millionaire De- tective," and 1t must warm his heart to witness the manner in which 1t was received at the Bijou last night. The story is coherent and interesting and the lines sparkle. It is fine thing to be a capable actor like Mir. Hall, but 1t is a greater achievement to be able to write a play as good. as new and unconventional as "The Millionaire De- tectlve." One wonders that such clever man had not conceived title moro fitting, a title less sensational, title that would not give the dime novel impression.
 The play Is up-to-date in every re- spect. There is a suggestion of a re- cent exponent of "frenzied finance" and here and there is a reference to Tom Lawson. Frequent use Is made of the telephone. and more recent inventions arc drought Into service There is a peep into future scientific development, such as the "eIectro-phinetoseop