The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-04-25

-. rsu~.n. walters ssrhe Volt" Al
= rule refined audiences do not care
for meIodrama, but walters play drew
the first capacity house OF the season
The play was simple, direct. and free
from ali convention. and very possipiy
the reason Of its great success lies 10
this fact. 1t Is o capital character
sketch. while the offering was excel
lentiy staged In epery detail
Thomas Dixon's The Traitor" was
another pure and simple melodrama-
The play dealt with the days OF re-
construction. and the solemn mystery
OF the Ku-Kiux Khan: the love story
OF course is present. In comparison 10
THE Clansman." The Traitor Is
lighter. and less morbid. But In secur-
ing this effect, the author has lessened
the impressiveness Of his play And.
too. there was a.Sdeal Of humor In the
lines.
Another meiodrama that drew ex-
ceedingly well in Montgomery was the
dramatized version of Sir Gilbert
Parker's 1.-THE Right of Way" As a
drama not much might be said OF the
offering. but as series Of tableaux
with magnificent acting. the offering
was superb. The play afforded a brill
liant BIT Of character portrayal. the
lines dealing with the climaxes OF the
novel. The ending of the novel had
been changed radically to meet the APP
proval of His Majesty, The American
public. but in view OF the magnificent
acting presented by Theodore Roberts
and Guy Standing, hte audience couid
pardon his liberties with the story.
For the lovers of -minstrelsy rne
Grand during last season offered
minstrel seen in Montgomery In many
a day was that during the early part
or December--Cohan and Harris's pro-
auction. This offering was something
new an the minstrel line. What other
minstrel shows lacked. the feminine
touch the Conan and Harris produc-
ton had in the person OF Jnhah
Eltinre. The music also was apove
tha% usually heard In minsirei snow
ing effects, and the scenery MADE the
Al Field brought his family Of
Familiar black faces to Montgomery as
~. first minstrel performances, and
niaved 40 capacity house. Doc Quig-
lev Tom Donneily,a and Billy Clark
made the fun fast and furious. rieid
tried the woman frnpersonator. put MIS-
actor ala not make the same impress
ssor a. ala Julian Eltinge with the
cohan ana Harris production.
Lew Dockstader was also present
during the season. In the effort TO
secure novelty, Dockstaders offering
lost spontaneity. 1t was nevertheless
much appreciated at a matinee ana
night performance.
one Of the attractions which came
during the latter part OF the season
~ stellar nature was that OF Edith
Tafliaferro In polly OF the Circus" A
little girl not yet out Of her teens COM
pletely captivated q large Montgomery
audience with her presentation OF Lit
tie Polly 1t IL true that her voice az
times was not suitable. but time will
remedy this. her only defect
Francis Wilson, star sure OF DIE
business in any theatre OF the country,
appeared at the Grand for one per-
Torrance In when Knights Were
Bold" Preposterous to q degree. the
play which Wilson presented made no
other pretense than to amuse. This IT
did nagnificently. Magnificently set
in every detail. the bright comedy of
Mr. Wilson gave opportunity for a
thoroughly enjoyable evening.
Max Figman in ''The Substitute" was
seen during early February. Figman
occupied the centre of the stage most
of the time with his comedy, and was
thoroughly appreciated.
Shakespeare was seen in the early
season presentation of "Shylock by
Charles B.. Hanford. and during the
latter part of the season in Hamlet
by the Ben Greet players Neither OF
| the Shakespeare revivals was greeted
by large Montgomery audiences nor
did the actors add to the impression to
| the two plays already seen at the old
| Montgomery Theatre. Both plays were
| in hands of mediocre ability.
! There is but one regret OF the season
the fact that Maude Adams did not
appear In her new play. what Every
Woman Knows" This famous actress
had been booked for the season i'm
mediately before Lent. but for some
/ reason her entire Southern tour was
cancelled. Viola Allen was to have ap-
peared according to early season
rumor. Here again Montgomery was
disappointed. for she also did not make
a Southern tour.
During the year the management OF
the Grand changed hands. Sam and
Arthur Hirscher, managers of things
theatrical for Montgomery for MANY
years, resigned their office and Man
ager Jack Youngs was put in charge
by Jake Wells. upon whose chain Of