The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-03-17
TAKE IT FROM ME"
 A LIVELY SHOW,
 AT THE JEFFERSON

Take It From Me" which open ed an engagement at the Jefferson theatre last night, Is joyous musi- cal show. with a plot as preposterous as usual in this form of entertain ment, but treated from a somewhat original angle. Good dancing, large company of talented people, costumes that were numerous and many of them elaborate, with more freshness about them than one sees in most road shows. were good qualities which made a favorable impression last night and if the way the performance was received Is any criterion of the business to follow, there will not be many vacant seats during the re- mainder of the engagement.
 Alice Hills was conspicuous among the funmakers. Miss Hills is a com edienne of original methods and her presentation of a freakish business woman was very diverting. Then there was the veteran musical comedy and light opera comedian, Charles Meakins, who played his part with characteristic eXuberance; John F. Hennings a light comedian and ec centric dancer whose abilities were much in evidence; Edgar Gardiner. who acted the part of Tom Eggert well and whose dancing was a revela- tion of grace and agility; Airline Gar diner, who played Grace Gordon, loyal friend to the firm Tom and his friends were trying to wreck in order to disappoint a grasping enemy, Miss Gardiner being both a beautiful dan cer and an attractive actress in the role assigned her, Marjorie Sweet, who wore stunning clothes. sang and danced and acted the part of movie "vamp" with California fervor. Henry w. Pemberton, who was good in the Straight" role of Cyrus Grabb, crusty and selfish man of business; Herbert Salinger, who was an ex- cellent stage lawyer, and quite number of others, all of whom acquit- ted themselves with credit.
 Even the minor parts were in capa- ble hands. Roscoe Patch made the most of his interpretation of an ener- getic sheriff attaching Tom Eggert's effects. Two comical serving men, one an elderly retainer on skates part of the time, were we'll done charac- terlzations There was a sprightli- ness in the entire performance, as result of everybody working hard, that made Take It From Me" lively and entertaining from beginning to end.
 LHt NfhiQiiici lIAO ulu sOHt or the best dancing seen here during the current season. Including Tom Ar line and Helen Gardiner The com edy was for the most part bright and more original than Is often the case in musical comedies. The music of the piece has not much distinction, with the exception of one or two songs, but all were helped out con siderably by the stage settings, some of them on an elaborate scale.
 All in all Take It From Me" is about as good show Of it's kind as one would care to see and registers higher than the average In talent.
 Unfortunately the finale was spoil ed for many patrons last night be- cause of the usual stampede to get out of the theatre before the per formance had ended. People were standing up in all parts of the house, to the annoyance of others who kept their seats until the final curtain fell. This practice at the Jefferson theatre is common enough in all con science. but it does not become any more bearable on that account etther to the players on the stage or to theatre goers who do not join in the rush.
 Take It From Me- will be at the Jefferson for the remainder of tb a week, with matinee Saturday afer- noon.