The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-11-11
AMusEsiENTs.
Oisa Nether.ole ct The Grand.

Of9a Nethersole ct The Grand.
 The Writing on the Wall" Is the warning thundered from the stage by olga Nethersole and a strong company. to rich oppressofs of the poor. The play comes from the, pen of William J. Hurlbut It was seen by large audi ence at the Grand last night
 Tn this play Miss Nethersole has continued along her tendency to sacri- flee ambition for a philanthropic pur- pose. Although the play Is problemati- cal to the point of morbidness. some of the lines are rnsKShv ssxf nome pnoosl iy interpreted. thass asssshbrtconiHes,a ,are overshadowed by the splendid work of Miss Nethersoie. The magnificent can add only a little to the display of her great talent.
 The play and It's title are somewhat distantly related The plot is old. and many tricks sare used. It deals with a vital sociological question. that of. the tenement house. Its phases are han died by Miss Nethersole without glovas. and purely from the stand point of the, downtrodden. i Miss Nethersoie interprets the character of Barbara Lawrence. the wife of "a New York capitalist. She becomes interested in slum work. and
 
 panied by Lincoln Schuyler. represent ed by Albert Perry. After discoursing to a party of wealthy friends on the evils of the tenement system, she sud- denly discovers that her husband Is one of the largest tenement house own CTS in the city, while her own church also has large holdings. The peda- gogy of the lines is cleverly hidden by Miss Nethersole.
 In the second act. in the disclosure of the love existing between Barbara Lawrence and Schuyler. the settlement worker, Albert Perry's work dwindles before the standard given by Miss Nethersole. Her renunciatlon of his love. the dearest thing on earth to her. is well handled.
 This act is long drawn out and nor bid.- One of the tenement houses own ed by Lawrence catches fire during a Christmas celebration. To avoid pur- chasing new fire escapes. Lawrence. several weeks before had ordered his secretary to repaint the old ones. Meanwhile. Barbara discovers her hus- bands infidelity through a confusion of two presents. one of which was in- tended for another woman A clever trick is used here Tn making known to her husband the discovery she has just made. Barbara begins the scene with declaration of her own love for Schuyler. anticipating the husbands countercharge to the accusation which she is about to make.
 Then comes the announcement to the husband and wife of the fire in the tenement and she learns from news paper that her husband has deceived her in the matter of improving his own property After vividiy portraying to her husband the agony to the bereaved parents of the children caught in the death trap, the two learn that their own little Harry Is missing. Of course, he is one of the victims of the fire. The portrayal of agony and suffering at this point, while we'll done. Is per- haps too prolonged.
 The upshot of it all is that the hitherto villaino6s husband asks for chance to begin life anew. and the wife grants 1t. Schuyler having been killed while trying to rescue some Of thesfire victims.
 The costumes are tasteful and elegant. while the appointments of the one scene which holds throughout the three acts are exact. s,'
 The continued successful run of the play with its large attendances is greater tribute to the art of Miss Nethersole than pen can pay.
 Harrison Hunter as Irving Law renee. Is given an excellent chance to display exceptional talent Albert Perry. while above mediocre. did not seem to take full advantage Of his lines at all times. Hamilton Mott. representing John Trainor. Lawrence's secretary Is eminentiy fitted for the part. Although given small chance Miss Charlotte Titteii as Stella Trainor the secretary's, wife and liar ry's nurse interpreted the act in e manner which makes her valuable member of Miss Nethersoie's company
 Montgomery people. paid fine tribute to the, art of Miss Nethersole. The audience was large, fashionable and It was an audience that demonstrated frequently It's ap- preclation of the unfolding of the story