The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-04-14
By DOLLY DALRYMpLE
IA NTICIPATED now as an annual
 M\ event, the coming of Prof. Hud- ,S\ son Strode and his excellent

IA NTICIPATED now as an annual
 IN\ event, the coming of Prof. Hud- LS\ son strode and his excellent
 dramatic club, '+The Black
 friars," from the University of Alabama will be one of the most brilliant events of the spring season in Birmlns- ham.
 Professor Strode has made splendid reputation in dramatic work since his connection with the university few years ago. and his wholesome influence and earnest ambition to place the drama before the pupils of his department on a high plane are worthy of the broad ec- ucatior and fine intellect of the man.
 Before assuming his duties at the Uni versity of Alabama. Professor strooe was director of plays and professor or d,-amatics at the University of Syracuse, where his work attracted the attention of the best critics and connoisseurS or the drama in the east, and he has re- peated this splendid success in the south, since his talent is acknowledged Wher- ever his work is known
 Especial interest is being manifested in the plays which 'aThe BlacIxfrairs'' will present in Birmingham next Satur- day evening, April 20, at the Tutwiler, ssIEer Husbands Wife, by A. E. Thom- as heinz one of them, and .''Op O Me Thumb" the other. Several of the proni- nent members of the casts of the two plays are Birmingham girls and boys. among them Miss Irene Waldhorst, MT. RucKer Agee, Miss Beryl Rogers. MT. Rowan Oden and Miss Sylvia Baird, all talented, clever amateurs. In fact. the cast this year is said to be one or the best that has ever appeared in a BlacK- friar play. Three of the members or the cast, Miss Beryl Rogers, Miss Hattie Rlalock and Miss Irene Waldhorst, will J f,vs tnir and all have leading parts again this year. Miss Rogers has been member of the cast of the Blackfriars' annual play for the past two seasons.
 The leads of the play are taken by Miss Rogers and Miss Blalock- Each IS an experienced actor, and takes her part with veteran skill. Nora, the maid, IS nlaved by Miss waldhorst with her usual success. The leading men in the play are Rucker Agee and Charles Johnson. Roth of these have parts particularly suited to them. and their splenold WoIk fin .Blackfriar plays of the past VIII pc greatly surpassed by their acting m the n,av. "Her Husbands Wife" Rowan Oden is one of the stars Of the play witn his work as Richard Belden.
 The plot of the play, in brsef, tells how 4 pretty young wife, Irene Ran dolph. imagines that she is aIlllctea with all manner of ills. and thinKs that she is about to die. The oniy thing that worries her is the problem of what is to become of her husband after her death. She is anxious that he be left in good hands. but does net want him to forget her. She calls rpon her old friend, Emily Ladew, Tor help. and asks her to marry her hus- band after her death. The proposal 1n- furiates Emily and she proceeds 10 get her revenge by flirting outrage ous1y with Irene's husband. Mean time, Dick, Irene's brother, comes on the scene and finds that Emily is an old sweetheart of his, and they again fall in love with each other. Compli- cations now come thick and fast, un- til Irene decides she will not die, and throws all her medicines away. Dick and Emily reconcile their differences and all ends happily.
 The cast of the play is as follows:
 Stuart Randolph-Charles Johnson.
 Richard Belden---Rowan Oden.
 John Belden--Rucker Agee.
 Irene Randolph--Miss Beryl Rogers.
 Emily Ladew--Miss Hattie Blalock.
 Nora, the Maid-Miss Irene Wal3- horst.
 Of the suitability of each person to the role assigned to them Professor Strode says:
 Miss Berl Rogers as Irene Ran dolph is playing the part which Hope Crews starred in for two years that of the little hypocondriac. This is the third season of Miss Rogers as the feminine star and the present part re-