The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-29
Aduance Notes On Brilliant Pageant "The Princess and The Peacock

The leading roles of ''The Princess and the Peacock" which will be pre- sented at the Jefferson Theater, on May 4, afternoon and evening, are matic and Glee club of the South Highland school. who have shown their ability on previous occasions, and being under the capable direc- tion of Mrs. J. s. Smolian and Miss Hortense Jacobson, nothing more could be desired in the way oS recom- mendation.
 Helen Brewer, as the "Princess," is delight. Her sweet manner. her charming voice. and pleasing naivette make one think that she has stepped from between the covers of a fairy story book.
 The proud and naughty Peacock" Is our own Evelyn Greenhalgh. For the past two years, she has been studying in Washington under special teachers of expression. but has re- turned to Birmingham and South Highlands school Is delighted to have her enrolled as one of its pupils.
 This role, which is most diff cult one. typifies all that is proud and selfish in nature. and the strut ting of the peacock-its attempt to sing in it's strident discordant voice, and the manipulation of its beautiful and enormous tail will cause express
 
 The Gray Goose.' by contrast. rep resents the helpful unselfish side of nature, and Erie Pettus is a perfect success in this difficult part. His work in aiding the prince, in spite of his broken wing, is splendid act concern of his entire audience.
 The Spider Woman" the evil one, (for all plays must have an evil character overcome by good ones) is played by Virginia Lee Angel; and while this part Is unlovely in every most trying role in the play, her in depreciation of it Is so perfect and so well done that she becomes lovely in 1t.
 The "Prince"-the lover-who seeks his long-lost betrothed. is indeed, as well as in acting, a real prince. His quest leads him into many difficulties, and at each time he rises fully to the emergency, and when. at last, he finds his princess, hidden away in the cave of the Troll (those little people who live beneath the earth) one feels that by his splendid work he really deserves such a charming prize.
 The continuity of the plot is splen- did. and the stage settings are very artistic. The quick change from the cave to the scene in the palace. of which the princess dreams, is a stroke of mechanical genius.
 It Is in this dream palace, that she recalls the days of her childhood, and as she relates of them, they appear dancing before her: The dolls of nur- sery days, the buds and flowers, the leaves, the flower girls and boys, the village children. and the flower chill dren.
 In the woodland scene, where Is enacted the struggle between. the gray goose and the spider woman over the prince, the things of nature appear tripping lightly in dance form; the clouds. raindrops, sun sprites, the rainbow, spirit of sleep dawn, and the four winds.
 The final scene, which is ta- bleaux of the entire cast and chorus, is a blending of beautiful color and sound, and when the curtain de- scends at the conclusion of the play, every one will regret that this tai ented group of young people appear but once a year before the Birming- ham publicy
 The names of the children who ap- pear in the various dances of the play-"The Princess and the Pea cock" which will be presented at the Jefferson theatre. on May 4. aft- ernoon and evening. by the children of the South Highland school, are as follows:
 Buds-Mary Culp. Louise Douglas, Olive Heck, Catherine Winters, Alice E. Hamil. Gene Mccoy, Emily Ford. Daisy Lee Smith, Catherine Lide. Raindrops-Peggy Arnett, Lucy