The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-01-20
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 The sudden change in Temperature played havoc with some of the singing voices in the Aberh company which presented DeKovefi's most popular opera Robin Hood at the montgomery The atre last night and notwithstanding the company labored under distressing dis advantages the presentation of the oRera was not altogether disappoint- iDs.
 With one principal out of the cast altogether and her understudy i'll, with the prima dona soprano hoafse and other members of the company notice- ably afflicted with colds it was sur prising that the opera could be pro- duced at all.
 Robin Hood is popular with thea tregoers. It's stirring music, its wholesome comedy and it's fine old English story make of it a business bringer But the fact that Miss Ethel Houston, an Alabama girl, is singing Alan a-dale this season with the Aborn company, was responsible largely for the goodly size of the audience which assembled last night to hear the opera. Miss Houston has relatives and friends in Montgomery but aside from the per- sonal interest felt in her it was known that Miss Houston possesses a con- tralto voice of extraordinary strength and sweetness.
 Upon her very first appearance it was apparent that Miss Houston was i'll. Her first song was cut and when she spoke it was with evident pain. The next time Alan-a-dale appeared in the person of little Miss Ipsczy, a chorus girl who had thrown herself into the breach to save the perform anee. The understudy of Miss Hous- ton was sick at a hotel. A physician was called to Miss Houston's dressing room and she was able to sit with Montgomery friends Yn the audience through the last two acts of the opera.
 The audience was generous to Miss Ipsczy, as generous as if they knew that she had rushed to Miss Houston room and had volunteered for the task as embarrassing as it was to be, to save the prina donna from the suffer- ing she would have undergone to con- tinue with the performance. And the audience frequently manifested its sympathy for Miss Ipsczy, dainty pretty woman, too slight in fact to play Aalah-a-dale. She was prompted throughout but the audience admired her pluck. When she held the stage alone to sing "Oh Promise Me-" she was plainly frightened and sang in a thin, little voice but when she was cheered and recalled she became bold CT and showed that under more favor able circumstances she could sing the part.
 Miss Brewster. the soprano, is a young woman of magnificent propor- tions and a beautiful face. She inc vested Marian with spirit. but she. too, suffered with cold and made one feel cordial desire to hear her under more favorable circumstances.
 Decidedly the best voice in the com pany is that of Mir Metcalf, the Will Scarlett of the cast. Ills chest notes were melodious and he responded to enthusiastic encores with every one of his numbers. MT. Blake, who sang Robin, has been hearE here before and there is always a true ring to what ever he essays. The weather had been somewhat unkind to him, but he pleased with his numbers. Mir. Stall made a good impression as Little John, and Messrs. Heck and Donald as the Sheriff and Guy. respectively, were satisfac- tory in the comedy department.
 The male chorus appeared to have stayed out of the damp atmosphere,