The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-30
MThe Man of the Hour,

"The Man of the Hour" It is not at all likely that the current ltheatrical season will bring in any of greater interest than George Broad 1ursts great play of modern life, 'The Man of the Hour" which will again be seen here at the Bijou theatre, com mencing next Monday. for one week, un- der the direction of William A. Brady.
 In this wonderful play the men and women are not actors dressed to repre- sent characters with words to repeat from memory. They are, every one, modern human beings living out their own lives, working to accomplish their own ends, and you or are merely sit ting in their homes or their offices and are watching events as they shape them selves into a complete story of corrup- ton and bribery opposed by honesty and integrity.
 It is not so much that '"The Man of the Hour" leaves behind it moral les son of great power which Is helping to wield the thought of the day in the di- rection indicated by the plot, but it's con- tinued success discloses a distinct reve- lation of the public taste and readiness of the stage to respond in full measure to the public demand. It is noticed with
 gratitude and unmeasured satisfaction that much of the suggestiveness of the
 old-time society play Is graciously omit ted in more modern constructions. "The
 Man of the Hour" is essentially an Amer ican play, redolent of the soil and ap- peals strongly to those who admire and
 respect the rugged virtues. It Is of a class of productions which have more than ephemeral vogue, inasmuch as it H. illustrates familiar and comprehensible types of humanity which compel admira- ton and a degree of interest which the more sensational and lurid heroes of stagedom cannot evoke. It plays it's part as a missionary in uplifting the drama to better things. Its theme is new, it's characters sturdy and original, its
 tone is clear and it develops the better side of mankind. The success of "The
 Man of the Hour," and 1t is an unques-
 toned success-is wholly due to its nat
 uralness, it is so true to life that 1t
 doesn't seem like a play.
 There will be matinees Tuesday, Thurs
 day and Saturday.
 Orpheum Vaudeville
 Reese ProSSer, sweet tenor singer,
 known to every patron of the minstrel show as the greatest tenor of his class
 on the stage, comes to the Orpheum this week as the headliner, and he will prob ably prove the greatest drawing card that theatre has ever had. Every thea tregoer knows his singing and loves it. He comes back this year in better voice
 than ever, after a long rest. It will be a welcome return of an old favorite. He Is supported by Miss Helen Reed, another sweet singer and a woman possessed of a stunning stage appearance. in clever musical speciality called "At Eventide, which gives ample opportunity for MT. Plosser to sing several of his best songs. The stage setting is said to be elaborate and beautiful, and the act a big success everywhere. While providing this big headliner Manager Semon has not neg
 lected his other acts in any way. and presents four others that are all above
 the usual Orpheum quality.
 The OKura Japs are looked as Won
 ders' and the newspapers give them credit for being even more than that. They are foot balancers. Pero and Will son are comedy pantominists, another class of act that should take well at the Orpheum. Smith and Roland are the song and dance artists of this weeks bill, and an act like theirs is usually well comed, and the other feature will be Porter Norton. the, famous magician, comes here with many new stunts in magic which were never shown here be- fore He is a strong feature and should round out the best bill of the season. { There Is a change of pictures every day at the Orpheum. The matinees are at o'clock in order to allow time for the school children to reach the theatre be- fore the curtain goes up, and the night performances are at 7:30 and o'clock. Manager Semon states that this is the best bill he has yet offered and says that it will offer a variety of attractions and entertainment such as Is never seen in a 1O-cent vaudeville theatre. At the re- quest of patrons there are number of reserved seats in the theatre.
 PLAYHOUSE GOSSIP
 Ethel Barrymore will, come ito the Jer- ferson theatre Wednesday and Thurs day, November 9 and 10, in her latest Pinero success "Mid-Channel." It is said to be the most thoughtful. neatly woven and trenchant representation Of a certain phase of modern life that the author has written since "The Second Mrs. Tanqueray."
 In her early stage career, Mrs. Fiske then Minnie Maddern, was supported by Richard Mansfield in 'In Spite of AL and by Wilton Lackaye in Feather brain" In later years came Maurice Barrymore, John Mason, George Arliss Tyrone Powers Guy Bates Post. Hol- brook Blinn and large number of inn portant though somewhat lesser lights in that they did not appear in leading roles, including Augustus Cook, Freder- ick DeBelleville. Charles Cartwright William B. Mack, Albert Pruning, Fuller Mellish and many others.
 While Manager R. S. Douglas of the Jefferson has mot received official noti- fication,, it Is understood that theatre goerS of BirnfnRhafn will have ',the ops