The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-27
Anausen7ents

@The hivahsR at Montgomery Theatre The Rivals" written ana acted many scores of years ago. was re. eeivea with unqualified favor at the Montgomery Theatre Saturday night ny q large audience which saw Joseph and William W. Jefferson and their company present the comedy. only the -odorous conparisonsn of which Mrs. Malaprop speaks prevented tha players, aa well aaf the play. from, being the recipients of practically the highest praise. Many in the audience remembered Joseph Jefferson in the role of Bob Acres and thought of Will liam ". Jefferson as being below the etendara. But as whole, the play was adequately presented, and Its stag inG and costuminG. while not sunptu- oues were thorough.
 The play was we'll presented. It's eMHlnal lines were given with expe- dtent accuracy, and while not always properly enunciated. especially in the delivery of certain words now almost obsolete and, therefore. to be pro- nounced with particular distinctive ness effectively spoken. The plot of the play was unchanged.
 Bob Acres. naturally the merit of the play hinged upon. and as 6 cardinal feaatRre William w. Jefferaon was admirable. but he was aeplorabiy far from perfect. Mir. JefIerson's voice lacked natural strength, and his esti- nation of the character of Bob Acres. while pleasingly amusing in the beili- cose climaxes, had naught of the russ tic vigor with which Sheridan intended, ss was shown in the first lines said ey the character. the player should carry the part through. MT. Jeffar- sons enunciatlon was correct and his acenie behavior trreproachabie. 1t was rather in the conception than in the execution that he was defective.
 Joseph Jefferson was rather better in Sir Lucius O'Trigger. The part was not so difiicult as that of Acres: It's ex- position required more consistent and less subtle sense of the clements of human nature. But MT. Joseph Jef1er- son played the part 50 well that it's was no scene in which he did not easily indicate faciie reserve of his- trtonic power
 Theodore Hamilton played Sir An thony Absolute with sympathetic ar- dor. His estimation of the chartcter was just and in makeup as well as in outward exposition he was conser- vative but eminently effective. MT. Hamilton's behavior was especially gAAJ AA0 H4V19AAbs 8A0 AAA kAAO bNEAnk comedy scenes he displayrd admirable ability to play either as subordinate oi as equal to the other characters on the stage, merging the effects of the role with quick intelligence,
 Leopold Lane. in the part of Captain Absolute, was quite adequate in a rate that called for good looks and gra. cious appeArance, which MT. Lane pos sessed. He has histrionic ability which never showed distress under the light stress to which it was subjected. Rich ard Lyle, as David. was altogether competent. John w. Dillon as Falk. land was very good.
 Miss Loretta Wells made a good characterization of Mrs. Malaprop. The part, though 1t is almost played in the lines. yet demands good work and Miss Wells was always adequate.
 Hardly inferior Co Bob Acres in point of dramatic excellence was the charac- ter, Lydia Languish, but Blanche Ben- der, who had the part, failed to make the most of 1t. Miss Bender, with very good looks, and with moderately just appreciation of the character, had not the strength to portray 1t. In voice she was weak. and In several climatic scenes she lacked the necessary force to reach the height demanded by the stress of the play.
 Roberta Brennan as Lucy and Roger Burnham as Tag played their parts with spirit and intelligence.
 Hap Ward in Not Yet But Soon" Monday night, is the next attraction at the Montgomery Theatre.