The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-01-09

new York, January S--(SpeciaD--Is an
affinity less troublesome than wife, and
Is q Union with the marriage ceremony
eliminated more desirable than the we'd
ded life? These questions were humor-
ously answered in ",rhe Affinity, which
began its New York engagement at the
Comedy theatre on Monday night Des-
pite the suggestive theme and title of
the play, there is nothing dlstasteful in
the performance and the few awkward
situations are completely submerged by
the overflow of humor.
The play is translated from the French
of Eugene Brieux, by Lawrence Irving,
who, with Mabel Hackney, played the
leading roles. II was originally called
THE Imbucus,' and was played in Lon
don all last season under that title.
When the play came TO this side, how
ever, a more popular. more American
name was affixed.
Professor Pierre Cottrell. the hero OF
the play is a middle-aged gentleman.
who enters into an irregular alliance
with his affinity. Charlotte. His beau
tiful young mistress, however proves to
be most exacting one and the indg-
mites which the amiable and generous
professor suffers at the hands OF his fair
companion, places him in the ''henpecl"
class The trials and tribuations OF
this learned but immoral gentleman fur
nish the material for the first two acts.
AT the close of the second act, the good
natured Pierre lost temper and an I'M
usually bitter quarrel ensued, which re-
suited in Charlotte quitting his bed and
board"
The professor. rid OF his disagreeable
affinity, welcomes the return to bachelor
life, and saves his money for an old-time
holiday.
But his pleasure is short-liyed The
incorrisfble Charlotte, discovering her
mistake on leaving in such haste, threat
ems to drown herself IL the professor
doesn't take her back. He refuses and
she makes feeble attempt by jumping
into the river. where Is rescued by a,
boatman- This softens her aged lovers
heart and he turns over the two hundred
francs. which he had saved for his va
cation, as a reward for the boatman who
had saved Chariotte's life.
While the style and theme of the play
does not appeal to the Anglo-Saxon taste
1t furnishes an excellent evenings enter
fainment on account of its continuous
humor. Fortunately, 1t has lost little
of its ironical humor, its satire or Its
character drawing, in the translation.
Booth Harrington ana Harry Wilson
painted such a realistic scene of 'barri-
stormfng'' in their new play, Your Hum
BILE Servant" which was produced at the
Garrick theatre Monday night, that 1t
must have made the actors and actresses,
who are fixed snugly in Broadway
berth for the winter, congratulate them
selves.
A pleasant feature of the play was the
return OF Otis Skinner to New York.
This finished artist played the role of
"Lafe' Towers. q versatile road actor
who has starred in everything from
Hamlet to Uncle Toms Cabin"
The play opens In a little town, where
the company is going to smash. Mar
garet Druce, the leading woman is a
beautiful young girl, and the ward OF
"I4afe' Towers.
Like all beautiful actresses, she, Of
course, has a host of admirers. One Of
these is a silly, stage-struc< boy by the
name OF Dick Prentice, whose father is
made Of greenbacks. So infatuated had
young Prentice become, that he had left
his comfortable home in the east and
Joined the troup, so that he could be near
the object OF his alteration
The company finally goes to smash,
the manager absconds, leaving the mem
bers stranded. After great many
trials Towers manages to get back TO
New York with his ward, accompanied
by the ever-present Duck.
Tho party lands In a west side actors
: clearinghouse. This step. however.
proves too much for the fastidious Dick
He had undergone the trials of barn
storn7ing'' and innumerable other in
conveniences In order to be near his lady
love, but the fare and surroundings OF
a. theatrical clearinghouse smothered
his affection. and he returned, repentant,
to the parental roof.
Towers had loved his beautiful ward
from childhood but his meagre circun1-
stances and abundance of years had
sealed his lips. When the inconsistent
Dick deserts her he longs to tell her his
secret. but is too unselAsh. Through
his coaching he finally manages to land
her with a successful Broadway pro-
duction. Then, with broken heart, he
packs his few belongings together and
prepares to return to the world. But
before he goes she learns his secret and
they are married.
Besides Mr.. Skinner. the cast included
Alfred Herdson, Jr., Miss Iyetta Jewell
Miss Isabelle Richards and Miss Jessie
Cromette.
Three young bachelors had jolly time
at the Broadway theatre on Thursday
night, the occasion being the first per-
Torrance of 1.-THE Jolly Bachelors"
musical comedy by Glen Marlborough
and Raymond Hubbel. The misad-
ventures of these three young men, who
are all in love with the same woman. fur
nish the substance of the play.
The production is one of the most spec
tacular that has been seen on Broadway
this season, and includes an airship gar
age.
The young men wind up by being car
ried off in an airship, which lands them
on the ocean liner "Insania."
The music was very tuneful, and the
chorus exceptionally good. Miss Nora
Bayer and Jack Norworth headed the