The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-18
An1usenents
~The Honor of the Family.

With the deep humanity of Shaw, the captivating romance of Scott and the swashbuckling heroics of Dumas. ar their best in one compilation, with the
 added satire and keen wit Of Ba1zac,
 dressed up by master hand in the
 native language of it's inception, and
 adapted by a wizard of stage technique. there is little wonder that rThe Honor
 of the Family" contracts for the pop ular piece of the season. If there be any doubt as to the success of the play itself it cannot be identified in the pre- duction at the hands of Otis Skinner, and the very capable company appear ing with him last night.
 1T for no other reason than that Mir. Skinner brought his talents to the assis- tance of the playwright the piece would have been popular with Montg omerians who appreciate such a delightful actor.
 who is recognized. at least in the Southern field. as theA foremost of
 American players.
 One of the largest aSfS most fashion- able audiences 1t ts the pleasure Of Aessrs. Hirscher Brothers to entertain. greeted Mir. Skinner, and there was not little nervousness on the part of his more ardent admirers. who were fear ful lest the choosing of vehicle this
 season might prove as unsatisfactory as was '"rhe Duel" The title sug- SCStC0 luuL ItItlcs 1nQ LGW knew iEuAN the piece was founded on Balzac's strongest novel, .Menage de Garcon.s1
 There was just little suggestion of DArtagnAn,' dash of Petruchio and a vein of Monsieur Beauacaire through out this very copplex character por- trayed by Mir skinner. It gave him opportunity for his varied talents, and those who still remember and love his Rosemary, could hardly bring thefn- selves to imagine him the same.
 Mir. Skinner has not only been fortu- nate in selecting his play, but has been equally successful in selecting a company of fellow players entirely in accord with his perfect Interpretation.
 Miss Percy Hasweil. in the very diff ficult role of Flora Brazie. lived In the moods of the imperious French girl, ig- norant of all save the love of . man and the gay life of Paris. Miss Has, well is remembered as the leading wo- man in "A Royal Family"
 Apart from the artistic handling of the two very difficult leading roles the work of Albert Garcie Andrews as worth much appreciation and adnnira- tiof. Mir. Andrews is one of the fore most of Amefica's character actors and the part in "The Honor of the Family" could not be entrusted to more capable hands. The company was we'll ball ance@ throughout.
 The play is little remarkable in several respects. There is never s change of scenery, Philippe never changes his costume. not so much as to remove has great coat, there are but three female characters, one of these a servant, and not a single true love note is sounded during the entire the blood tingling without any heart disturbances.
 Few audiences have been as respon- sive as was that one last night. Rip | pie after ripple of subdued applause | punctuated the minor citmaxes. to bursts fourth into such volume at l times as to make 1t necessary for the | ing the break of some intense scene. | At the end of the third act. Mir. Skin- l ner was given an ovation, but declined l a cur tain call.
 'The Honor of the Family tells the | story of a sexagenarian bachelor who | is ruled by hIs beautiful housekeeper. l Flora Brazier. She submits to his | senile caresses in the hope that she can obtain his signature to deeds that | will give her the control Of his prop | erty and enable her to fee to Paris with her lover. Max Giiet, a hand some, penniless young officer who has taken up his abode at Rouget's, rec pg- nizing perfectly the feeble nature of the old bachelor.
 This triangular household exists un- til a forgotten branch of Rouget family appear upon the scene and lay II siege to his estate.
 Philippe Bfidau. the character DOT trayed by Otis Skinner, is a Bonapart. l ist is supreme daring and when the guilty pair of lovers find themselves l. with this formidable an- tagonist, they recognize that crisis is at hand. lI
 At a dinner given in anniversary Of IN the fallen Euperor's retirement, Phil M ippe chaIlenqee Max to deadly combat, and although he kills his man upon the field of honor, he nearly succumbs to inc treachery of Flora, who employs A servant of her dead lover to assas- nate Philippe.
 Again he triumphs and the climax of the play comes in 6 surprising ca- in which Philippe expels her from the Rouget mansion and by 30 doing maintains "rhe Honor of the Family"
 A very excellent musical program was rendered during the evening, and among the numbers was mazurka written by Sam Hifscher, one of the of the Montgomery Thea ire. This captious little composition. titled "La Savoy" was played for the first time in public, the orchestration having been completed but two days ago. It's rendition was loudly applaud sd. and friends of MT. Hirscher, who nave long been admirers of his talent, - .-..a .,,Iotad htrv, ana v1redtctad Rraaf l