The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-04-12
AmuSenenfS
''The Gingerbread Man, at Montgom-
 cry Theatre

cry Theatre
 The Gingerbread Man" is very tasty bit of theatrical cake. not highly enough seasoned for jaded palates perhaps, but disestibly, healthfully sweet, spicy with here q plum and there bit of real ginger quite deli cous but never so artfully hidden as to have the zest of surprise. It was offered at the Montgomery Theatre Thursday night and munched pleas urably by an audience modera tely nu- merous and applausively appreciative.
 Aside from culinary metaphor, The Gingerbread Man" is called upon it's program, a fanciful fairyesque It's persons of the drama are The Ginger bread Man, Fudge, Magic Bon Bon, Sal lie Lunn and Taffy, who are so to speak borrowed out of the oonfection- CTS shop the Good Fairy and Kris kringle and the Fiery Dragon, who are present by invitation from the land of the myths of childhood; and Sim pie Simon, Jack Horner Mar gerry Daw and others from that very estimable, rhyming fic- tion of human interest, Mother Goose. Its plot is the story of a struggle maintained with more or less of amia- bility. except for the artful and ter rifying fncantation of the climax of the first act, by Machiavellius Fudge and the Good Fairy. Beside the principals of this momentous struggle only Jack Horner and Magic Bon Bon are intimately concerned, but the other characters are nevertheless in- sinuated, rather than dragged into the play, and are made to do very d. verting and entertaining things in- deed.
 Of the piece itself it is judged that ttS nnnrantinn nf fhama n- terization and its music are its bright est and best features. Its dialogue was rather a burlesque than q satire upon the myths and the jingles out of which the most of 1t was made, and while humorous, was seldom really clever and almost never positively wit ty. It was not. dull, however. and with the pretty and catchy songs interspersed served very well for an evenings amusement.
 "Mazie' for instance, was n delight ful bit of melody; John Dough-" quick, sparkling, clever, and of the kind of songs that are readily caught. So. too, 1t was altogether charming to have a gingerbread man in the fiesh- .. in his flesh, of course, for enc may easily have him in ones own fesh-- and to be hguratively at the other end of the see-saw from Margery Daw. But the conversation between some of the persons and always longed so to look upn was not scintillant "The Gingerbread Man." therefore, Is fanciful. enjoyable, musical, but 1t Is not brilliant.
 The play was admirably produced. Its principals were adequate and it's chorus composed of fresh. pretty wo- men who sang with unusual merit. In costumes the presentation was artis- tically elaborate and sumptuous. and the scenery was made with care and attention to details and arranged with excellent effect.
 Eddie Redway was the Gingerbread Man and very good one. His make up was emnently fine and his acting meritorious. Homer Lind as Fudge was acceptable, his rendition of the song. "Queen of My Dreams" being especially pleasing. w. H. Mack as Wondrous Wise made a clever char acterization and his comedy work was notably good Ross Snow as the Good Fairy was made up with delicious ab- surdity. Ills acting, while lacking any absolute originality. was spirited and thoroughly enjoyable. Ben r. GrlnnelI as King Bum was good. Willie Dunlay as Simple Simon played delightfully."- and with Nellie Lynch. who deserves the greater share of the praise for the twain, furnished per haps the best comdy offerd.
 Mae Phelps as Jack Horner was ex- cellent. Of handsome appearance. vi- vacious, and with a pleasing voice. Miss Phelps played an attractive role charmingly. Opposite to her was Craze Belmont. pretty. and graceful as Ma zie, and singing with strength and sweetness.
 Mrs. Leslie e-Carter in DuBarry Fri day night Is the next attraction at the Montgomery Theatre.