The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-07
ADJUSTMENTS
r.. Mn, Who owns Broadway

.Tbe Man Who owns Broadway"
 A crowd that filled the Jefferson thea ire to it's utmost capacity last night en- joyed Raymond Hitchcocks performance in "The Man Who Owns Broadway quite as much as the comedian seemed to en- joy making them laugh. In "The Man Who Owns Broadway" George Conan has buflesuued his own previous work and has written a musical melodrama in which the melodrama is punctured at every turn by laugh. The villainy is deep-dyed on the part of lady ad- venturer and her gentleman friend and there is "the girl" who must be saved, likewise her father who is about 10 fall into schemers' tolls. Also there is the brother of the girl. noble youth, who smells a mouse, as 1t were, or rath- CT, two "mouses," and suffers agonies of mind Last but not least there is the hero, MT. Hitchcock, himself. The hero foils villainy with one hand and does comedy with the other, scarcely tlisarranging his famous forelock in the operation. He is in the habit of making confidential side remarks to the audience at the most critical times, but he is a very effective hero. As he solemnly promises, the ending is all that could be desired from a consideration of genuine heart interest.
 Besides the main theme and appertain- ing thereunto. there was a large com 1any, generous provisions in the matter of costumes and scenery and a general atmosphere of sumptuousness that was sufficient to give an added fillip to the enjoyment The company was strong in numbers and did what it had to do as well as could be expected MT. Hitch cock, being as the old-fashioned press agent would say, the bright particular star" He scintillated with his usual sue cess and soon had the audience with him fer jolly evening. His humor was ex- tremely unctuous at times, eccentric, too, and always in his happiest vein. A cur tain speech on the north pole question was also greeted with gales of laughter. The cordiality of MT. Hitchcock's recep- ton must have done him good and 1t was quite evident that his efforts pleased
 
 immensely.
 Miss Flora Zabelle, with her pleasing ways, added personal attractiveness to rhe performance, while Richard Tabore as Tom Bridwell; John Hendricks as An thony Bridwell, Francis Lieb as George Burnham, the villain; Mildred Klaine as the ''villainess," and Lila Rhodes as the sweetheart of Tom, were satisfactorily 'in the picture' Mark Sullivan, pre- sented his capital portrayal of a theatri- cal manager and did some impersona- tons which were received with the ap- plause which their cleverness deserved.
 The music was left principally to the orchestra, as vocalization did not seem to concern the company to any apprecia- bie extent. The score was reminiscent of Mir. Conan and there were some stun iiing stage ensembles. P. c.
 "The City"
 The late Clyde Fitch few months before he died. near Paris, wrote a play called "The City" which was pre- scented last night at the Shubert the atre. And in the three acts of that drama are raised a multitude of ques- tions which would do a great many persons good if they listened to the lines and profited by the grotesque and sordid truths.
 It may be supposed that MT Fitch aimed to teach the people of small villages and cities what an awful price they pay when the city bug buzzes in their bonnet and they essay to lead a role in the ctiy more full of prom ise than they lead in the hamlet. There are people who delight to ar que that in the metropolitan cities are tn.. ties with which a big man may assert his power and make name and fame for himself. MT Fitch undertakes to point out that in securing those oppor- tunities price more awful than the pound of flesh Is exacted for every good thing that may result in such a step filled with such golden opportuns- ties.
 The only fault with the production of 'The City" last night is at the door of the late MT. Fitch. In his latest work he did not attempt by veneer to cover the sordidness of any express sion or the infamy of any feature of the work. On the other hand he paints the picture with a kalsominer's brush on a canvas about the size of ball room and leaves absolutely nothing to the imagination. It is all rhere and then some. To takes6p human frailties and handle them in the crude merciless style as in "The City" leaves one in wonder of the genuineness of the entire fabric of existence and in doubt as to whether anything Is good.
 The theme of all men gifted with the genius of writing should endeavor to uplift the moral standard of hu- manity rather than to erumble it down But in The City" the ghost in the closet stalks out as If the doors to the closet were self-operating and no effort was made to keep MT. Ghost on the inside.
 That is in substance what occurs in