The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-13

Tn George V. Hobart's play, "Ex- perience." which began an engage ment of four performances at the Jeff ferson theatre last night, there is an impressive presentation in an allegori- cal form of the adventures that befali Youth in quest of fame and fortune.
 The titles given to the 10 episodes of the play are, Tn the Land Where Dreams Begin" "In the Street of Vacil- lation." "The Primrose Path Tn the Corridors of Chance" The Street sf Dtsillusion," "The House of Last Re- sort" 'The Street of Reruorse," 'The House of Lost Souls" The Street or Forgotten Days" and 'Tn the Land Where Dreams Come True," which marks the end of Youths troubled journey with Experience.
 The piece is somewhat reminiscent of "Everywoman." Walter Browne's famous morality play. with modern setting, but Mr. Hobart has depicted in vivid and forceful way the down. fall and regeneration of a young man who yields to the temptations Of the world, yet keeps his soul unsullied and eventually returns to Love, the maiden who waited for him 'In the Land Where Dreams Come True" The pill grimage of "Everywoman," in the play of that name, Is similar to that of Youth in "Experiance," but the tempta- tons which beset Youth arc greater and more varied than those which are met by Everywoman.
 If "Experience'' lacks the spiritual beauty and imaginative power of ''Ev- erywoman," it is vastly more realistic and portrays sordid phases of life with force and verity that create g perrect illusion in the mind of the spectator. It is possible to forget for an instant that one is looking upon mere make believe scenes taken from the under world and put upon the stage.
 "In the Corridors of Chance" showed gilded gambling house, where Youtn loses all his money and Despair intro duces an appropriate finale by killing himself in an adjoining room. Tne House of Last Resort shows base ment dive, of the sort to be round in the larger cities, in which appear types associated with place of that sort. "The House of Lost Souls" is the reproduction of den frequented by cocaine addicts It's realism makes the most worldly-wise shudder, an ef- feet considerably enhanced by superb acting on the part of the principals
 There are too many scenes to dwell on all at length. The cabaret in The Primrose Path was one of the most elaborate and was really a beautiful bit of staging.
 Ability was not lacking in the large company necessary to portray the numerous characters of the play. Paul Gilmore, as Experience. and Leonard Doyle, as Youth, had the principal roles. Mir Gilmore has long been fayorite with southern theatregoers. For & number of years he played at the head of his own companies. Tn Experience" he has an important part and plays it extremely well. MT. Dolye while not quite so we'll known locally, proved himself an excellent actor and qualified to assume a difficult and ex- acting role. Among others who showed talent might be mentioned Mae Paul as Pleasure, Bernard Craney. as Wealth, Leota Sinclair, as Intoxication Pawn Conway. as Passion, George P Miller. as Chance, later as Makeshift and still later as Crime; proprietor of a tenderloin cafe; Clyde Franklin, as Work, Leona Hogarth, who was al appealing girl of the streets as Frail' ty; William Dupont. as Poverty; Henry Buchanan. as Delusion, the dope" ped dler, and Majorie Campbell. as Love. Tn addition to these, there were many other characters that were well acted MT Miller was especially adept in DOT traying Work, Makeshift and Crime Lack of space forbids the naming oi other members of the company who ac- quilted themselves creditably.
 Experience" will be repeated at the Jefferson tonight, tomorrow afternoon and tomorrow night It is an unusual play and worth seeing.