The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-02-12
THE STAGE

There is no more devoted couple.
In the theatrical profession than Mr..
and Mrs. William Montgomery. or
Florence Moore and William Mont
gomery. as they are known on the
stage, OF the "Hanky Panky' COM
pany. They have been married sew
EN- years, starting OF with almost
hopeless financial prospects, while
now, they are. perhaps, the highest
paid couple. i'm the show business.
In admiration for Miss Moore, her
husband and partner. BILLY" Mont
gomery, IL liable TO be overlooked by
anyone not familiar with the details
OF stage business. but he Is vitality
necessary and largely responsible for
Miss Moore's success He Is his
wife's severest critic. In addition to
feeding" the laughs to her and let
ting her get the credit. he watches
her work constantly. gives her val
liable hints and suggestions. 1--WE
Joined the "Hanky Panky" company
In Chicago long before II went into
New York." said Miss Moore. There
was nothing In 1t. written for us.
All we had to do was to come on and
entertain the audience in our own
way. We have been doing our best
to do that ever since. The cordial
reception we have had in Detroit
makes us very happy. We have play
ed so many cities. in vaudeville, and
most theatergoers know our work SO
well. that. we had 10 drop all our
vaudeville stun when we Joined
'Hanky Panky, and get something
new, so we extemporize every per-
Torrance IL Is not hard to do this
when you devote yourself to IT, |
watch my audience. pick out In
dividual faces and | watch them TO
see how they enjoy what am doing
Some like one thing and some an
other, and we try always, TO please
al lin the audience before us. Some
times, ] notice down front, group
OF bored-loking young men who seem
to be waiting only for the chorus
girls TO appear again. ] look over
them to others in the audience who
seem eager TO watch me, and | play
for them
The moral status OF Mary Page,
The character portrayed by Mrs.
Fiske in The High Road" has been
the subject of considerable discus
sion, from the date OF the plays first
performance. in Montreal Canada.
last fall. The moral proposition the
young playwright, Edward Sheldon,
has preached Is not entirely new,
but, the manner in which he puts
IL, and the final goal he has set for
the woman who made one early mis-
step, has given new twist to the
situation. A few years ago, the
theme would have been considered
daring and probably would have
aroused extensive adverse criticism,
but the social evolution that has
been In progress for the past decade,
has brought new view point, new
tolerance and a greatly broadened
humanity. There is more and more
Il tendency TO Judge by what is,
rather than by what has been, and
many OF the most important leaders
in the country's thought are taking,
daily a ground that is more ad-
vanced The author OF The High
Road has treated the subject OF sex
In it's broadcast sense,
extending his plea To a general so
cial and industrial justice for wo-
men Mary Page. has psychological
depths prominently adapted to the
sounding OF Mrs. Fiske. and, treated
with her wonderful introspection,
the character easily takes rank with
those other great creations she has
given TO the latter-day stage. A
gratifying feature OF the character
Is that IL calls for an exposition OF
phases OF Mrs. Fiske's personality
which many OF her former roles have
kept hidden. These are womanly,
and sympathy compelling
attributes, which have not been as
sociated with any of her recent work
George Arliss, the well-known
actor, who is. at present, having a
great vogue, and great success.
in "Disraeli." has been chosen pres-
dent OF the Actors Church Alliance
OF America. Bishop Greer Is the
honorary president of the alliance.
The organization is the outcome Of
an original effort made by members
of the theatrical profession and the
church, TO secure for actors the en-