The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-27
ADJUSTMENTS.
My Wife.


 John Drew was greeted by bril- liant audience at the Jefferson thea tre last night and,he more than pleased with his performance of My Wife" an adaptation from. the French and comedy built along the lines French farceurs affect. Gerald Eversfeigh mar ries his ward, Beatrice Dupre, in or- der to carry out certain requirements of will and to gratify that imperious young lady, who wants temporary and make believe husband for a period of 12 months until she can be eventually married to Frenchman whom she thinks she loves. Of course, this re- suit is to be attained after the formal ity of a divorce has been consum- mated.
 It is easy to guess what will hap- pen. At first. angry at the enforced bondage and pining for his bach elor freedom, Gerald is almost an ogre on the honeymoon trip, and frolicsome Trixie is brought face to face with some trying moments. Tn ere is duel, growing Jealousy on the part of Gerald and eventually grand quarrel with batter familias and mater familias on the scene. Gerald returns to London, determined to resume his old life and see his wife no more. She follows him home and they eventually discover that they are very much in love.
 The play might very well end at the and Trixie ceases to carry on the farce and become serious, but 1t is thought necessary to dispose of the original lover, who has In the meantime mar ried somebody else. This explanation is awkward and the play is spoiled by the addition of g. fourth act that is anti-climax all through and practically falls flat.
 Mr. Drew was admirable in all parts of the play and he shone to advantage in many fine comedy scenes ably as- sisted by Fred Gottschalk, comedian of fine training, and Miss Billie Burke. who was altogether charming and one of the most fetching bits of femininity that have ever delighted Birmingham audience Miss Burke is piquant naive and imbued with the fascinating spirit of youth. These three, with the SUD- port of company that answered to every requirement., succeeded in drawing out all the best points of the play and in making the performance one that left small room for criticism.
 Mrs. Carter VIII Play "DuRarry."
 Mrs. Leslie Carter will pay 'DuBar- ry" in Birmingham instead of "Zaza," acordng to a lcng distance telephone message received last night from Will jam Louis Payne, Mrs. Carter's mana ger. MT. Payne telephoned from At lanta and informed Manager R. S. Douglas of the Jefferson theatre that the scenry. costumes and all the other effects required to properly present "zaza" had failed to reach Atlanta on schedule time, the same play having been advertised for that city last night, and that he deemed 1t advisable to change the bill here for fear that the mountings of "Zaza" may have been misplaced. It was the original inten- ton of Mrs. Carter to play "DuBarry" in Birmingham but it was decided to substitute the success of former days for David Belasco's great play, which was seen by many last year. 'Zaza" was then advertised and now comes the announcement that Mrs. Garter will be forced to carry out her original inten- ton because the stage settings are not likely to get here in time. News of the change will be welcomed by many for 1t is generally admitted that "DuBar- ry' is the greatest play In which Mrs. Carter has ever appeared and those