The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-10-08
An1uSen7entS
"CIassnates" at The Grand.

OI01BmAtG8" 4N Inc GE8M0s
 With a play that appealed to all lov- CTS of military. that recalled the days of West Point to some, that satisfied in every particular, Norman HAckett, one of the seasons new stars. appear ed Wednesday. night before the first brilliant audience The Grand has seat ed this season.
 MT .Hackett. has appeared several times in Montgomery in support of eminent tragedians. and in such roles has won the admiration of many Mont gomerians. Appreciating this. he in- vited the local military officers to be his guests at a box party. Two boxes on opposite sides of the house were draped with flags and were occupied by Major E. F. Baber. of the End Bat. 'taiion, Alabama National Guard. and his staff. and Capt, W. F. Weiss of the Blues, Capt. Everett Jackson of the Creys. Capt. George Todd of the Artillery and Capt. W. F. Lee of the Mounted Rihes. These military off, cers appeared in full uniform, and added much to the brilHance of the audience.
 The play classmates" was used by Robert Edson in New York last sea. son. and it is indeed fortunate that Mir Hackett has chosen 1t as the first vehicle for his stellar career. It is a play that is we'll staged and excellent iy acted, not only by Mir. Hackett, but by the company with which he has surrounded himself.
 Opening with a scene at West Point the play is rapid in its action, little meIodramatic in spots. hut always there is comedy of the best sort to re- lieve the tension. It tells the story of a West Pointer in his year before graduation being expelled for hazing and almost blinding a 'plebe." Of the subseuuent wanderings of this "piebe" and his rescue by the first classman who caused his dismissal from the Academy. Of coure love is mixed in the offering to supply the motive, and the same of course applies to the hap py ending.
 MT. Hackett's portrayal of the role of Duncan Irving the cadet of the first class, Is most excellent. His voice, his expression, his stage presence are cor rect. Tn his best scene. in the jungle of Brazil, he arouses his audience to the highest pitch. With his individu- ality he raises what might be cheap ly melodramatic scene to a scene thor oughly artistic. That he was appreci" ated was shown by the curtain calls which he received and by the response which he made.
 Next 10 Mir. Hacketts acting that of willard Louis as Bubby Dumble. another cadet of the hrst class: snould he mentioned. Mir. Louis supplied the comedy that invariably relieved the tension. And he did 1t in the way 1t ssnecia1Iv amusing In themselves. 1t was the way in which they were spoken. c.o,., "plebe" injured in the hazing, and the cause of all the misunderstanding and aocenfahie manner. Other West Point CTS were absolutely correct in their uniform, walk and manner
 Miss Doris Mitchell, as Sylvia Ran" doInhs played as Mir. Hacketts lead Ing woman, and was satisfactory in her part. At times in every act in ltJ, 'h,ot che appeared her walking seem- ed a trihe ungraceful, but her voice and her intonations were acceptable; Other members of the cast were well The next attraction at The Grand will be Yorke and Adams m .rlayihs s sa, the Ponies" to appear Friday ana sat- urday matinee and night