The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-01-05
Ansusess1ents
,. K. Hacket. .t n. t....s

Seven years ago. or thereabouts. a young man. a matinee hero. played the romantic drama, The Prisoner of zenda' to Montgomery audience that taxed the seating capacity of the old theatre on North Perry Street. Since that time there have been other mat tnee heroes in Montgomery, but there has not been another performance of Zenda. or the same matinee hero.
 Monday night at the Grand "The Prisoner of Zenda" was again present. cd to a we'll filled house. and the actor no longer a matinee hero simply, but one who had added well earned laurels to his name. was in the leading role. It was the same matinee hero changed, with a greater grasp of the sifua- tions and with greater ability to play to the possibilities of those same sit uations. James K. Hackett again charmed his audience with the story of the romantic Englishman created by Anthony Hope.
 It. Is no surprise that playgoers have hugged in their memories the story of Rudolph Rassendyli and his Princess Fiavia-and the actor, James K. Hack ett. An absorbing story, superb me- chanical facilities, and an actor with a physical manhood and a personality to i'll the most exacting of school girl minds, are not soon forgotten. That they are still appreciated was shown by the cordial reception given Mir. Hackett and his capable company throughout the performance last even- ing.
 Undertaking five different roles in one play is no light task, especially as each part calls for something en- tirely different from any of the others, and each of the parts is equally capa- ble of being overdone. Mir. Hackett's acting throughout the evening was not open to criticism at any time. c No matter what the situation, he was sat- isfying.
 And 1t was a most capable company with which Mfr. Hackett has surround ed himself. The one glaring weakness of the cast was Brigham Royce in the role of Michael, Duke of Strelsau. Mir. Royce could not act his role in any scene with any degree of perfectness. In many scenes his lack of cleverness spoiled what might have been a per- feet effect. particularly was this true in the throne room scene with Miss Norris as "Antoinette de Mauban. |" Miss Morris acting was at all times of the best. Forced in several scenes by the action of the play to occupy the stage with Mfr. Royce, 1t was her abil- ity that saved the scene from becom- ing a farce.
 Beatrice Beckley was the Princess FlaviS as those in the audience wish ed her to be. A perfect blonde and graceful. when on the stage. she shar- ed the honors with Mir. Hackett; and deservedly so. Had her beauty beeh less perfect or her stage presence less graceful, the audience would not have been satisfied. The audience had come to see MT Hackett; they left the playhouse with the added pleasure of having seen Miss Beckley.
 Carl Ahrendts as Colonel Sapt and Guy Coombs as Fritz von TaTlenheim were capable, while Arthur Hoops as Rupert of aentzau was adequate.
 The scenic appurtenances of the pro- duction were superb, the forest near Zenda of the first act of the play be- ing especially well staged.
 The next attraction at The Grand will be MorFison's Faust" with Ros- abel Morrison, on Wednesday night.
 At The Majestic.
 It's all mixed up at the Majestic this week. good, bad and indifferent. In some respects the bill of five acts is exceptional, in others mediocre. But, altogether, there is amusement for the fun-seeker, interest for the blase. re- creation for the weary. The bill is and stretches out into an hour or more.
 Frank H. Tinney Is there. And he's black face artists. but they seldom show themselves in this part of the world. In his And He Did" Tinney occupied the stage singly for a bunch of enjoyable minutes that could easily ha afretchad mt dnuh1v rvfkhnuf tn