The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-09-01
HOUSE IS PACKED
CROWDS BRAVE HEAT ON OPENING
 NIGHT.
Montgomery Theatre Is FiIled At Ftr.t Attraction of Winter, David proc- ter, In "A Message From
 ssNars.

The largest opening crowd in its history gathered last night in the Montgomery Theatre to see David "A Message From Mars" Notwith- standing it was in all probability the has been given on which performance has ben given at the treatre, the build ing was packed from parquette to gal 1ery, from stage to lobby. and from door to door.
 The performance was a splendid au- gury. It promised what well inform ed theatre goers who have looked over the list of attractions already booked have said, the coming season will show perhaps the finest line of attractions made good last night In their claim that with David Proctor in "A Mes sage from Mars" their best initial per formance in recent years would be
 There is a promise that "A Message From Mars will become stage clas- sic tp run od for years with in sHGh plsss Wrinkle" and to finally descend to the perennial popularity q standard attrac- tion at popular prices such as East I Lynne" and Hazel Kirke."
 The crowd was drawn to the theatre last night out of the desire to see the great stage sermon played out but more by the wish to see the young nous part. For whatever Mir. Proc tors merits are. he Is comparatively unknown. "A Message From Mars has in 1t that indescribable element of hu- man nature. that indefinable appeal to the heart that has made the charm of the plays of the people--those plays which live on In perenniai populax1ty. y lines are distinguished by no partieu- 1 lar cleverness.
 The idea of messenger from an- other world teaching lesson of moral ity, is not of startling originality. It has been known to the stage for many years. In A Message From Mars, II is told in sentences that are sometimes commonplace and in scenes that are sometimes trite. But 1t Is human and vital, and that is what the people de- mand in a legitimate play, no mat ter what they are willing to taKe m
 Outside of it's value as stage at traction, the piece is fne preacnment Theer was not man or woman m tAss audience who dlu uoL Aeei INS AOtSS VI '" "A Message From Mars" is perhaps the strongest plea against selflshness The story Is one of the generation of Horace Parker, young Enghshmah M oi culture, whose good fortune mas hao no greater influence upon hlm than .o l He is saved to himself and to humanity by a messenger from Mars. who con | demned for a single instance or SCH ishness a mortal sin on Mars. eApldt- | ed mai sin by regenerating that mortal gu s..ho ona os all others. was most selfish The story of the play is the story 9l 4d
 how Horace Paresr o1,,c;sv Sss S,s pride. DFUukA "
 Mr' Proctor did 1t splendidly. but nol perfectly. MT. Proctor is q youhs | actor, a younger star. It Woula pe ens ns
 vn,in9 were letter perfect in every de rartment of his art. ana MT Frvc.iNdI F,"rid is not the eighth wonder of the W1riu W'b '.
 Before the ed Of praise ss,at anf
 ,ustIv his is awarded. 1t is just ane proper that his one fault, a markee eS Sisnoaition to bite off his words toe
 shsrply. His fault was Tn enuncid1Ss.o, 1S,,e, | and in elocutlon. some or his xo,
 little attention to the words thenseIVe'
 and to his audience's understanoihs V
 them. ~x x.o.+o-,s Iadge,
 is much larger. To begin with, ne ha'
 an Interesting personality. His perso nal anpearance invests the role, ne as sun,es with an individual interest Fl
 has the indefinable quality or persons .s magnetism, which no successAui aSsV
 can be without. 4 Mir Proctor is good looking, ne qrarefuI and absorbed in his work. II
 inc comedy moments of his role ne Wa splendid. He played his role with nn derstanding, intelligence ana wllh Tar , Az fine a character sketch as any
 body would care to see was contrlpute
 by Charles Eldridge. It was pieas , uTe to watch his perfect work as tn Miss Elizabeth Valentine played wei l inc role of Minnie Templar, hand } some and willowy blonde. She has fine stage presence, but the role seem l ed new to her.
 The Messenger from Mars was don excellently by John E. Mackin. He ha , all the solemnityi and all the force tn 1 role demanded. The supporting com paoy. was not of unusual brillianee, bu tha nerfornance was meritoriou
 enough to convince all who braved tn heat that 1t was worth while.
 The next attraction will be Tn
 Coutnry Fair" Thursday night