Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-09-28
THE W|TCH|NG HOUR
IS Of BEWTCH|NG
ClEVERNEsS
Crowds Waits for Hours and Is
Well Repaid for Its Waiting
in Powerful Theme and Bril-
liant Action.

John Mason and The Witching
Hour came to Albuquerque last
night several hours late and bewitcn-
ed an audience, weary with waiting.
into complete forgetfulness OF its
WEAKNESS. The train from the west
on which the company arrived
reached albuquerque at 9:45, nearly
-four hours behind its schedule. AS
many patrons of the theater as could
be reached by telephone had been ad-
vised hat the train was delayed and
that the curtain would not rise until
10 O'Clock. Those who desired to do
so were given the privilege OF re-
turning their tickets. Very few tick
cts were returned. As a matter OF
fact the curtain did not rise until II
O'Clock. But as soon as he could
reach the theater, Nj. Mason spoke
briefly to the audience He told them
that he was sorry for the delay and
that the company would do its best
in an endeaVor to make up for he
Inconvenience. Then followed an hour
OF waiting while the scenery was
placed, with the curtain up so that
the audience might see.
1t was no more interesting than
must S'tllt StllliSS are Dul lif di-
Hence waited and some of them
grew not a little sleepy.
But from the moment the curtain
went up ON the first act until it went
down on the fourth, there was not Il
sleepy y in the audience, Every
man ana who mad waited felt
rather more than glad that they had
waited. The Wltching Hour, as
John Mason, Miss Gardner and the
company play 1t is worth waiting for,
The audience would have stayed un-
III daybreak had the play but held
so long 1t is "a marvellous using OF
the dlmly understood powers OF tctep-
athy ana hypnotism, a series of ire
m%cudously strong situations which
simply grip and hold and John Mason
Is wonderful IN his grasp of II all. He
dominates the whole play from It's
beginning to its end save IN The sec
ond act when Amelia Gardner takes
the center of the stage. Yet 80 per
feet is the balance OF the company
that Sfr. Mason's dominance is not
obtrusive. 1t is %iusldous, almost
psychic, as is the story.
IT Is small Wonder mat the Witch
ing Hour has been the sensation of a
continent, 1t is likely To continue
Just AS long as it is presented by
John Mason anu the Snuber COM
pany. Were 1t to come to AIbuquer-
que again 1t Is probable that every
mar ana woman who saw 1t last night
would see 1t again. This play has
been the subject of more favorable
criticism, from dramatic critics great
small, thar any other play OF
llIe past three years. 1t is doubtful,
though, if the play and the players
have ever had a more sincere trlbutc
than that paid it last night when a
theatre fun of A%abuquerque people
stayed out of their beds until the wee
small hours Of morning to hear 1t
through and went away rejoicing
If the Shuberts win continue send
attractions of this sin to AIbu-
they may be assured of just
the same appreciation shown last
night. Theater goers here have been
waiting FOR a long time for attrac-
lions of the kind 1T seems that AL
has come. Certam-
is if The Witching Hour is a sample
of what Manager Matson hopes To
bring here during h rest OF the
season Albuquerque is fortunate.