The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-01-19
Cbc Cbeatres
..rhe school Girl"

Like all English comedies, especially English musical comedies, there was little comedy in '"rhe School Girl" and, contrary to all expectations, there was little music.
 The visit of "The School Girly to Montgomery had been looked forward to eagerly, as attested by the big au- diences that saw the piece yesterday at matinee and last night.
 "The School Girl" fs far from being al poor entertainment, for there are many spots in 1t that appeal to the ear and ones sense of fun. But the music and the fun come in spots ana there are intervals in which yawns are allowed in the audience. No entertain ment is an unqualified success when there is a single dull spot.
 No great fault may be found with the presenting company. Ray Com- stock has provided the piece with clever combination of actors. Few better comedians have been seen on q MontEomery stage than Arthur Wool ley, and Miss Carrie Reynolds was as magnetic, vivacious and graceful It, tie bunch of muslin as one wants to see in a daYs journey.
 Then the failure of "rhe School GirI' to please Montgomery must be charged to Leslie Stuart, who wrote the music, and Charles H. Taylor who is respon- sible for the lyrics. It is always un- fortuante for a man like Stuart to come back too quickly after putting out a sensational success like 'Floro- dora" The people expect to see some thing just as good as "Florodora' and A writer don't write "Florodoras" once a year. There was music and tuneful music in ~The School Girl" It did not. however, reach the "Florodora" standard and the company is responsi- ble for the failure of some of the songs. .1
 But "The School Girl" is weak in that there is an absence of that whirl- wino sort of comedy that hits you when the curtain rises and keeps you going, and going until the curtain falls' the kind of comedy go dear to every Anne Iican playgoer. That was Flo- rodora's" one fault The fault IS there with The SchSol Girl.
 No star Is advertised by Mir. Com stock. But he has a star in his com many and the Montgomery audience re- coRnized him the moment he put ms foot on the stage. His name Is Wool lev and he play sd Hubby, character part, not so rich in opportunities, but which Arthur Woolley made scream ingly funny. He was the prime favor- ite with both of the Montgomery au- dIenceS ana ne was AHASSSu --~ Ieft the stage. His Needle in the Hay Stack" song and his Robinson Cru soe's Island' will be remembered for many months.
 The other male comedians, Robert Whyte and Barry Maxwell. were both fairly good, especially MT. Whyte. Their we want to Be Simpler" and aero battle buriesque with MT. Woolley were both very enjoyable.
 Gus Varney, who essayed the male lead, had fair voice and bad stage apearance. If he had known what to do with his hands and feet, his work | would have been much more effective No harder worker has been seen tnls year than Miss Reynolds. She IS not nrettv but she is the personifieation of grace. has a pleasing singing voice and. above all that which sergeant | Barker describes as magnetism. She grew on the audience and will be pleas antly remembered
 Harriet Davis was qulte breezy Norma Rochester. while Mrs. Francis as Cecily Marchmont had things her own way as far as looks figure and voice are concerned. Al, The play was furnished with we'll used scenery and some of the costumes i were bit musty "Robin Hood" comes tonight.