The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-11-16
ADJUSTMENTS.
MantelI as Lear.
THE CAST.

Edmund, bastard son of Gloster. Mr..
Henry Fearing.
Duke of Cornwall, Mr. Oscar Pfefferle.
Duke of Albany, Mr.. Frederick Bald
win.
Curan, a courtier, Mr.. Hugh Jeffreys.
Duke of Burgundy, Mr.. Lawrence
Kray.
King of France, Mr.. Casson Ferguson.
Edgar, son of Gloster, Mr.. Fritz Lie
Der.
Oswald. steward of Goneril. Mr.. Ed
ward Levers.
A fool, Mr.. Guy Lindsey.
An old man, Glosters tenant, Mr.. Hugh
Jeffreys.A
A physician, Mr.. Oscar Pfefferle.
A herald, Mr.. Casson Ferguson.
Lears daughters:
Goneril, Miss Marie Booth Russell.
Regain. Miss Agnes Elliot Scott.
Cordelia, Miss Virginia Bronson.
Robert Mantell. who ranks as the fore
most actor of Shekespeare's plays on
the stage today, began an engagement
at the Jefferson theatre last night with
superb performance of king Lear Thls
tremendous work, so broad in its scope,
SO wonderfully rich and varied, both on
the stage and in the study, has en-
Shakespeare.
Mr.. Mantell makes Lear a memorable
figure. He was at all times vivid and
impressive, whether he was denouncing
the perfidy of his unnatural daughters,
or raving while thunders crashed around
him, or whether as heart-broken old
man, he CROPPED for an explanation OF his
misfortunes. His pathetic moments were
enough to wiring the heart of beholder
and at times a simple gesture to his fool
or to Kent seemed to speak volumes, ir-
resistible in it's appeal for sympathy. The
plight of a dethroned and despairing
king, his heart riven by the cruel realiza-
ton of his chidrens ingratitude, his
crown gone and his power set at naught,
wandering an outcast and plaything of
the elements, buffeted and assailed by
misfortunes almost beyond the bounds of
human endurance-all was portrayed by
the actor with rare fidelity and an art
which held the rapt attention of every
person in the theatre. 1t was a per-
Torrance which was in keeping with the
reputation of Mr.. Mantell and was in ev-
cry particular characterized by artistic
excellence. Mr.. Mantell reads his lines
with singular charm and 1t Is a treat
to hear Shakespeares words fall from
his lips If he did nothing more than de-
claim, he could sway his hearers by the
sonorous music of his voice and his
fine enunciation.
Miss Marie Booth Russell SIS the crafty,
designing and altogether INSCRIPTIONS
Goneril, was quite conH ncing In the part.
Miss Agnes Elliott Scott was very good
as Regain, while Miss Virginia Bron-
son made Cordelia a most appealing hg-
ure. Guy Lindsey was excellent as the
fool George Stilwell as Kent was salts
factory without being brilliant and Henry
Fearing as Edmund failed at times to
avail himself of his opportunities. Fritz
Lieber as Edgar came up fully to the
requirements of that part and was es-
pecially good in the tempest scene. The
other parts, including the Earl of Clos
ter. the Duke of Cornwall, the Duke of
Albany, the Duke of Burgundy and the
King of France, were capably presented.
The staging of the play was most COM
mendable. The tempest scene was ef1ec-
tive and the electrical effects gave thor
oughly realistic impression. Lovers of
Shakespeare who went to the JEFFERSON
theatre anticipating fine performance
were not disappointed. Mr.. Manteil and
his company presented king Lear In
manner to win the highest praise and the
the curtain.
Tonight Mr.. Mantell will present Ham
let" Tomorrow afternoon Romeo and
Juliet will be played ana tomorrow
night THE Merchant of Venbee.'
"Human Hearts,"
Human Hearts will be presented this
season with an entirely new scenic equip
ment. Mr.. w. E. Vaudeville, at great
expense, had Photographic views for the
new scenes taken in the hills of Ar
kansas in the locality where the scenes
of the play are laid so as to have the
production as true to life as possible.
Human Hearts" in all its new scenic
splendor will be seen at the Jefferson
Friday and Saturday nights and Satur-
day matinee.
ain Africa"
Yorke and Adams. with their new mu-
steal comedy, I'm Africa were greeted
by a large audience last night at the
Bijou for the initial performance of a
weeks engagement. Those who attended
seemed pleased and were liberal with ap-
plause for the stars and a few others Of
the company who presented specialties.
The chorus was a good looking lot and
appeared TO advantage III pretty GUS
tunes. pony ballet presented dancing
specialties of some merit and was sew
eral times encored. Yorke and Adams
pleased in their usual comedy work and
were heard in number of PAROLES that,
judging from the applause, took well.
Alan Coogan and Miss Jeanette Leblanc
were seen In a vaudeville act of much
merit and received deserved applause.
Alan Coogan's eccentric dancing was ex-
cellent, and Miss Leblanc was an able
second. In their imitation of George NJ.
and Josephine Cohan's waltz from The
Yankee Prince" the team showed ability
of high order.
Others of the supporting company in
Guiding Tom Burton as Prof. G. Howe
Bright and Miss Mercedes Lorenz, as
'Tu Tu," deserve credit for clever work
A needless and quite unpleasant bit of
realism was offered in the first act No
southern audience relishes the presence
on the stage Of a pair of half-nude
negroes, even though the scene be I'm
Africa" The show would certainly lose
nothing by their omission, or by the
substitution of a few additional gar
ments.
At the Majestic.
well, bless my soulv' was the keynote
| of much neat comedy work at the Ma
jestic last night, where Mable Paige and
I, her company are presenting the comedy
+. drama, THE Midnight Express The
play has real comedy in it and the COM
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