The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-02-24
Maude Fealy Monday

Maude Fealy Monday.
 The production of Martha Morton's new comedy, The Illusion of Beatrice" by the youngest dramatic star on the American stage, Miss Maude Fealy, who Is native of Memphis. Tenn, will be one of the most important events of the present season at the Montgomery The atre Monday night.
 Miss Fealy and her superb company will be seen at the Montgomery Theatre Monday evening, and a large and fash ionable audience is looked for on that occasion.
 In The Illusion of Beatrice" Miss Fealy has a role that is exactly suited to her girlish and fascinating tempera- ment. She has been accorded high hon. ors in this play in all the cities where she has been presented this season, by her manager. John Cort, who has spared no expense in placing Miss Fealy be- fore the public, in a manner worthy of her exceptional ability.
 The Commercial-Appeal of Memphis, says:
 Tn little comedy of exquisite sim- plicfty. The Illusion of Beatrice from the facile pen of Martha Morton, John Court last night introduced Maude Fea- ly to her old friends and the associates of her childhood. The Lyceum Theatre was crowded and the warmth of the re- ception extended this youngest daugh- ter of Memphis who has achieved so much in her brief career on the stage, should have been exceedingly gratify- ing to her.
 The Illusion of Beatrice was writ ten for Miss Fealy and in drawing her picture Martha Morton has used only the most sympathetic cotors. She has drawn adroitly, characters limited in number but very real, and she has limned them with so much deIicacv and has touched thann are very real. Beatrice Is a type. Suf- fused with the warmth of the illusion that she Is the daughter of a princess, she. lives her life in a little Kingdom of her own and so imbued has her child hood been with the thought that her character has been nodded in shape ac- cordingly. In drawing this character Miss Morton has shown the strength of her art as dramatist. Beatrice is Miss Fealy. In transferring her from her real life to that of this little play the dramatist has accomplished a great deal Miss Fealy lives the part. She is the timid. naughty princess so sweet iy sympathetic at ali times, so exquis- itely gentle in what she does. It seems almost impossible to realize that in a body so frail, so febrile, so exceedingly fragile, that the great art of the actress Is encompassed, but it is there and her eyes reflect the genius which animates this little artist in what she does Un- usually gifted intellectually and with a personality of the most persuasive magnetism Maude FeaIy has made her self one of the most popular of the younger school of actresses. Her sue cess is due first to an inherent talent and to years of study devoted to per fecting it. As result she displays an art so subtle that one scarcely realizes but instinctively feels it. and 1t is an art exquisitely refined which finds ex- pression in the most appealing methods Her powers of suggestion are wonder fuI. Her eyes express a range of emo- tion and her voice accompanies their appeal i'll an irresistible way There is a wealth of tenderness and pathos in both. Her impersonation of Beatrice Neyins Is exceedingly sweet and inno- cent. She has embodied In the part a personality of radiant beauty and one also keenly incisive and authoritative In pathetic moments her touch was sure and her sincerity convincing, while her loyalty to her illusion was at all times appealingly expressed. She acted the more important scenes, especially those with MT. Webster, with winning soft ness and an irresistible charm. She more than justified all that was expect ed of her.
 Manager Court has surrounded her with people who are well selected and
 
 ably. Harrington Reynolds as John Stewart, the guardian of Beatrice, was admirably impressive in a part which gave him excellent opportunities. Jack Webster as Arthur Wilson was also well cast. He entered thoroughly into the character of the part and gave splendid support to Miss F'ealy in the more important scenes with her. Blanche Douglas as Mrs. Stewart also contributed much enjoyment because of her clever conception of a woman true In all her iridescent but changeful lights. Joseph Coughlin as Tim has drawn many of the best lines in Miss Morton's play and makes much of them. He is quite a clever comedian and a strong addition to the cast.
 Miss Fealy was the recipient of many social attentions yesterday and the l stage last night was bower of flowers 1 presented by her numerous admirers | here"