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POTCDAY, FEBRUARY 21.
Madame Nazimova, at the Grand March 2.
AT THE GRAND
CALENDAR.
Tomorrow matinee (Washington’s
birthday) “The Man of the Hour.”
Tomorrow night, Washington’s birth
day) “The Man of ’the Hour.” Seats
ready now.
Tuesday, matinee and night, Max Fig
man in “The Substitute.” Seats ready
now.
Tuesday, March 2, Alia Nazimova.
(Seats ready Feb. 27.)
Wednesday, March 3, “The Blue
Mouse.” (Seats ready March 1).
Thursday, March 4, matinee and night,
“The Blue Mouse.” (Seats ready Maroh
,Ist.)
Friday, March 5, The Rogers Bros.
(Seats ready March 3.)
“The Man of the Hour” Tomorrow Mat
inee and Night.
Not since Beaumarchasis sent all
France into laughter with his inimit
able “Marriage of Figaro” has another
play caught the reflection of the times
and held it like “The Man of the Hour,”
which will be the attraction at the Grand
tomorrow (Washington’s birthday) mati
nee and night. It is American to the
core, reflecting a phase of American life
so essentially national, racial and pecu
liar to ourselves that there is not a
community from the Atlantic coast to
the Pacific that has not accepted it as
a picture of local conditions. In New
York, Chicago and Philadelphia, popu
lar opinion was vernacularly expressed
by “That’s us.” As the story of the
play spreads from coast 'to coast, and
from the Canadian border to the Gulf
of Mexico, editorial opinion was ex
pressed in a hearty “That’s us.” This
unanimous and widespread disposition
to make local application of Mr. Broad
hurst’s dramatic picture is a spon
taneous and genuine tribute to the auth
or’s keen appreciations of the essen
tials of American life and character.
Indeed, until "The Man of the Hour”
was made known, the nearest approach
to greatness in plays of American life
was thence dealing with neighborhoods
or sections.
The attitude of the press has been
most interesting because wholly unusual.
On the day following the New York city
production there was perfect unanimity
among all the newspapers as to the suc
cess of “The Man of the Hour.” This
was echoed in the weekly papers and re
echoed in the monthly and quarterly
magasines. Educational bodies gave
formal indorsement to the play without
managerial solicitation. Men who take
a big part in the affairs of the day in
all departments of activity—dn business
and in art, in public office and in edu
cation, in professional life and In the
church, found in the play an inspira
tion for praise.
In Chicago the press was like that of
New York city—unanimous in praise of
'The Man of the Hour.” There was no
dissent from the general verdict that
here Is the “Best American play yet
written.” Mr. William Winter’s suc
cinct and forceful tribute, “Here is a
play that means someining,” was re
peated in a score of wordings by the
press of Chicago.
The most distinguished of living Eng
lish dramatic critics, Mr. William Archer,
whi saw the play when on his tour of
the United States, in an article in “The
London Tribune” of May 23, exclaimed:
“O, that England had an author who
could write suoh a play as ‘The Man
of the Hour,’ and managers with ‘the
courage to produce it!”
William A. Brady and Joseph R. Gris
mer. the managers thus complimented,
have left nothing undone to put before
the public, in first-class manner, what
is critically and popularly regarded as
“The greatest play of th* day.”
Prices at the matinee tomorrow, 25c
to sl. Tomorrow night 26c to $1.50. Seats
will continue to sell tomorrow morning.
Mail, telephone and telegraph orders re
ceived up to 6 p. m. tomorrow.
Msx Flgmsn in “The Substitute” Tues
day Matinae and Night.
Max Figman. the dosciple of mirth and
merriment, who has made so many
friends in Augusta during the past two
seasons by hs admirable performance of
“The Man on the Box,” returns to the
Grand next Tuesday, matinee and night,
in his new comedy, “The Substitute,” by
Beulah M. Dix and Evelyn G. Suther
land, authors of that unique play, “The
Road to Yesterday.” According to ac
counts, “The Substitute” is entirely dif
ferent from any comedy that has ever
been seen on the American stage, anu
is as full of genuine good humor as a
watermelon with seeds.
Moreover the title role is a perfect fit
for Max Figman’s peculiar temperament
and in the minds of those who have seen
it will be the means of placing him on
Broadway in the near future. The play
recounts the experiences of James Smith,,
a long-run, up-to-date young lawyer who
substitutes for his prospective brother
in-law in the pulpit of a country
in New England. While masquerading
as tne parson he discovers a neat con
spiracy ’against an aged minister with
whose daughter he has fallen madly In
love. With this material the authors
have developed a most interesting dra
matic story full of action and clever
dialogue. The fun and laughter derived
by Mr. Figman as the lawyer while sub
stitute for the preacher can be more
readily imagined than described. The
first act occurs in the law "“offices of
Vandergrift and Smith at New York.
The second occurs in the sitting room
of the parsonage at West Appleford,
Conn. The third act takes place in the
gardens of the parsonage. Mr. Figman
will be supported by a thoroughly capa
ble company, including Messrs. Ernest
C. Wade, Sydney Price, Frank J. Klrke,
Hugh Stanley Wood, Herbert
Charles, Harry Lavian, Ernest Mack,
Ray Raceford, Jack Perry, Fred Allen
and Lolita Robertson, Lillias Rhodes,
Fay Wheeler, Agnes Everett and Myr
tle Tannehill. Mr. Figman is under the
management of Mr. John Cort, who
also directs the tours of Madame Calve,
Florence Roberts, the comic opera suc
cess, “The Alaskan,” and the late Bos
ton musical success,” “Commencement
Days,” a story of girl college life.
The Max Figman prices. Box seats,
$1.50; first 15 rows parquet, $1.00; par
quet circle, 75 cents; first two rows bal
cony, 75 cents; balance balcony, 50c; gal
lery, 25 and 35 cents. Tuesday night
prices, first floor, $1.50 and $1; balcony
75 cents and $1; gallery, 25 and 50 cents.
Seats will continue to sell tomorrow
morning at the box office. School chil
dren will be admitted at this matine#
for 25 cents.
Madame Nazimova.
No engagement in this city this season
will be more important than that of
Madam© Nazimova, the famous Russian
actress who comes to the Grand on
Tusday, March 2, for one performance
in English. This new star, whose vogue
in this country dates back but two
years, has established herself so firmly
in New York and the east that she is
admittedly the best interpreter of Ibsen
roles. With unlimited talent and tem
perament, teciinique and training Ma
dame Nazimova also combines youth and
beauty and her characterizations have a
freshness and life that stamp them as
individual. W'hen she succeeded in the
almost impossible undertaking of learn
ing English in six months and appeared
first at a special matiuee a* the Prin
cess, her opening performance won her
the success that she anticipated would
take her months to gain. Feeling sure
of herself after years of training in for
eign lands she yet expected that Amer
ica would find her trace of the Russian
tongue and radically new conception of
Ibsen roles rather difficult to encourage
at first. Instead the most discrlminat-
Ig critics in New York acclaimed her at
once as a find and the artistic and lit
erary frequenters of theatres eager for
something new and different in Ibsen,
flocked to the Bijou and have since been
her most earnest and constant support
ers. Madame Nazimova has chosen to
play Hedda, Nora and Hilda without th©
mystery wi'th which many leading act
resses surround these Ibsen characters
and as she combines a perfect knowl
edge of stage management with her abil
ity as an actress, her productions are
artistic and rational and under her
handling Ibsen plays are modern dra
matic. vehicles that appeal directly for
their sense and simplicity. Seats ready
next Saturday. Prices 50 cents to $2.
“The Blue Mouse.”
Here is what the Norfolk (Va.) Land
mark says of “The Blue Mouse,” which
will be seen at the Grand on March 33
aiTff 4th, with matinee on the 4th:
The much heralded and discussed play,
“The Blue Mouse,” was presented last
evening to an audience that taxed the
capacity of the Academy of Music and
was most representative in every way.
As presented last night the Fitch play
was enjoyable, being filled from start
to close of the three acts with remark
able situations, climax and anti-climax,
fun provoking and laughter, held the
audience in its grasp at all times. The
plot or scheme of the comedy is well
known, as It has been the talk of many
towns and keen curiosity was to be sat
isfied. It is not a play for children, un
less they be very young and debutantes
even in this century of knowledge could
not be expected to grasp all the situa
tions, but its suggestiveness is not a
whit more than that of Camille, Zaza
and many other plays now on the stag©
to which no outcry is made and excep
tion. In addition to this the piny has
the element of mirth in that its charac
ters are in all kinus of complex condi
tion growing out of both well meant
and innocent intentions, as well as those
arising from the perverse, to use no
harsher word, side of our human makeup,
and man/ of the present day crazes are
held up to derision well deserved. The
author clears the atmosphere in a frank
“fess uiT* by those putting the misun
derstandings in operation, a lesson that
could be well taken to ueart by people
In general.
The company presenting the comedy is
A scene from “The Substitute, with Max Figman, at the Grand Tuesday, Mati
nee and Night.
THE AUGUSTA HER.AXD
well balanced, capable and entered into
the spirit of the play at all times.
“The Blue Mouse’ has no moral to tell,
but aims to amuse, and Mr. Fitch has
crowded as much fun into the three acts
as could be done. As usual he has con
ceived not only original and unique
types, but novel scenes. The leading
character, Paulette Divine, a “vaude
ville Salomer,” known as “The Blue
Mouse,” is a creation distinct and last
ing. She is neither good nor bad, but
she pleased everybody. As played by jyt |ss
Millicent Evans, one of the most Win
some and gracious actresses of today,
“The Blue Mouse” becomes a sort of
glorified devil. Another odd type la that
of an old German woman whom the
“Mouse” for ”$25 per,” employes as her
mother. Then, too, the president of the
Interstate Railroad, who likes every
pretty face, is another hewn-from-the
rock type. This propensity gives rise to
most of t.hrt* complications. Rollett, his
secretary, wants to be made division
superintendent and he pays “In© Blue
Mouse” to impersonate his own wife
and flirt with Lewellyn in order to
wheedle the promitlon from him. The
trick is turned and the mix-ups that fol
low are too many to describe. Of course
the real Mrs. Rollett is drawn into the
trouble as well as Mrs. Lewellyn, not
to mention Rollett’s father-in-law, “The
Blue Mouse” lover from ’Frisco, and “The
Old Boy.”
The fact is, when one comes to an
alyze the play he Is apt to ask what. Is
all this fuss about its being unfit for
the stage, when there are dozens far
worse and yet receive the applause of
the best theatregoers in the land. Hun
dreds of ladles and gentlemen who wit
nessed the presentation last night pro
nounced It the best vehicle of fun ever
presented here. If there was anything
said or done in the performance last
night it was so cleverly done that no
one could take offense. Those who held
aloof last night will ba sure to see th©
matinee this afternoon or the perform
ance at night. It is a play with a laugh
a minute. It is well singed and present
ed by a strong company. The dialogue
is bright and lively and even a dead man,
so to speak, wi.» laugh at the ludicrous
situations.
His Honor, Mayor Riddick, witnessed
the performance, and upon leaving the
house authorized the statement that
while the play had its suggestions he
saw nothing ~*at was worse than many
other shows, that he watched the per
formance very closely and found nothing
that would justify any interference by
the city authorities. As mayor of the
city he did not feel called upon Iq in
terfere for the reasons named. Chief of
Police Kizer joined in the opinion of the
mayor, and If anything was more pro
nounced in his expressions. Hundreds of
people leaving the house wondered that
so much has been said againsc the play.
The vast throng attending me perform
ance In si night was an evidence that
but little faith was put in the rumors
set afloat concerning the propriety of the
performance.
Max Rogers, the “Little Fellow” of the
Rogers Brothers.
Max Rogers, tl'.e ‘little fellow’ of th©
| Rogers brothers, supported by Jone Kane,
late star of “The Belle of New York
and other New York Casino successes,
who plays the opposite role, and the
original New York company in his lat
est succors, “fn Panama,” will bo the.
attraction at the . Grand on Friday,
March sth.
The story, and there is a story to this
musical comedy, is la In and about the
Republic of Panama, and gives Mr.
Rogers ample scope for his particular
style of work. On© can readily imagine
the opportunity this 1 orale gives for
elaboration and beauty in every respect.
The scenery is rich and warm In cotor
nnd style, anu the costuming in perfect
harmony with It. The soft blending of
splendid electrical effects gives the whole
an unusual charm and Is entirely differ
ent from the hackneyed idea which has
always predominate.i in musical farce,
i at Is, to be successful there must be
a blaze of white light, a flash of vivid,
decided coloring and a great deal of
noise. There is beauty and tone to “In
Panama,” nnd as for comedy, one need
only think of Max Rogers, nnd ns one
man was heard to remark in a thentro
lobby: “I laugh when I buy my ticket.”
A New Departure for the Grand—Big
Show for One Solid Week.
Manager Harry Bernßtein, of the
Grand, announces for one solid week,
commencing March 22d, with matinees
Tuesday, Thursday nnd Saturday, the
extraordinary engagement of Cecil
Hpooner. The coming of Cecil Spooner
will certainly be one big treat for tho
Augusta play-goers, as this little lady
is one of the most popular actresses on
the stage today. She Is now playing at
tho Lyric theatre, Atlanta, Ga., for two
weeks, and will play at that theatre for
tho entire summer. She and her largo
company of Now York favorites will ap
pear here at the same prices that she la
now playing a two weeks’ engagement
In Atlanta, and when you take in con
sideration that she played for three
months on Broadway at the $1.50 scale
of prices, one will wonder how the Grand
can afford to do it? Cecil Spooner will
offer the theatre-goers the same plays
that she were so successful in Now York
“The Girl Raffles,” and “The Dancer
and the King.” She will also bring with
tier two solid carloads of scenory nnd
effects to properly present the two
plays.
Manager Bernstein guarantees this
star, company and productions to be the
best ever offered in Augusta at the prices
charged.
“The Jefferson Boys.”
Richard Brinsley Sheridan s classical
comedy, “The Rivals.” comes to us with
more than 125 years to its credit, yet It
Is one of the most virile of plays and
altogether human nnd enjoyable. It is
essentially a “comedy of manners,” and
in the unfolding of its many comedy sit
uations, no better exponents could he
found than William W. Jefferson, who
is the "Bob Acres” and Joseph Jeffer
son the “Sir Lucius O’Tnfggor.” These
two gentlemen ar© supported by a
particularly capable company who give
a rendition of a comedy masterpiece in
a regal manner which both demands
and satisfies the cravings for the high
est form of dramatic entertainment on
the part of the present day theatre-
Scene from “The Man of the Hour,” at the Grand to
morrow, Matinee and Night.
MABEL'S MATHS EE TALKS
Well, girls, here we are again. T sup
pose all of you girls ar© getting your
pretty frocks and new hats ready for
“The Man of the Hour” matinee tomor
row. Everybody is going. Why not you?
Girls, you don’t want to overlook the
fact that tomorrow is “Washington’s
birthday.’’ George Washington was “The
Man of the Hour” in Ills day. What is
more natural than the Grand should of
fer “Th© Man of the Hour” on George
Washington's birthday in memory of tho
“Fatner of Our Country.”
Guess that popular gallery won’t b©
crowded at the matinee tomorrow, ror
those mHtinee girls up hi the “peanut”
will Just ©at up “Tho Man of th© Hour.’*
Girls, you will like IlTlly Lnmpe, who
plays “The Man of the Hour.” He Is
not only one of our best looking young
leading inen, hut ho can act, und he Is
chuck full of magnet ism. Oil, you, Billy!
Whatever you do, girls, don’t overlook
Max Figman in !'Th« Substitute,” Tues
day matinee.
Atlanta simply wont wild over Max
and his new play last, week, and I have
already had occasion to remark that At
lanta has nothing on Augusta when It
comes to appreciation.
I have also had occasion to “tip” you
off on several shows that always proved
to be the best. Well, In Max Flgrnan
and “The Substitute’’ you will see one
of the best sturs and plays of several
seasons.
Max Figman is no stranger to you,
girls, for he has already “showed himself’
in “The Man on the Box” and “Tho
Marring© of Kitty.” in “Tho Substitute
goer. This excellent histrionic treut
comes to the Grand In March.
Lew Dockstader.
The yearly coming of Lew Dockstader
nnd ids great minstrels always promises
a treat In the field over which Dock
stader reigns supreme. This year the
minstrel king promises an absllutely
nsw entirety, with nothing retained from
Inst year’s production. While having
given the offering for this yenr a new
scenic frame from start to finish, Mr.
Dockstader takes ©special pride In the
remarkable ensemble of singers with
which he has surrounded himself, em
bracing Ilccso J'rosser, Will Oakland,
Edgar Von Roy, W. 11. Thompson, Jas.
Bradley, Herbert Wllllson, Master Kee
gan, Harry Vail and about twenty oth
ers, In a program of voenl gems and
choral music ©specially written for this
yesr’s offering and to be heard In no
other production In th© world, ns ev
ery number is absolutely owned and
copyrighted for Dockstader’s minstrels.
Th© minstrel will be se< n at the Grand
in March.
Nat Goodwin.
Th© coming of Nat Goodwin to the
Grand next month In a now play ja
awaited with a great deal of Interest
by the army of local play-goers, for
Mr. Goodwin Is a big favorite here. Ho
is accompanied this season by Edna
Goodrich.
William H. Crar.e.
After rtri absence of several years In
the south, William 11. Crane, whose
coming to the Grand Is eageny looked
forward to by all lovers of good act
ing. will shortly make his appearance
at the “House of Hits,” the Grand, cur
ly n©xt month in “Father and the
Boys."
PAGE SEVEN
lie has the host play of his career. Again,
take my tip. Don’t miss Max Flgrnan
In “The Substitute.”
Girls, at last your fondest dream has
come true. Alla Nazimova, the beautiful
Russian actress, who stirred up New
York two years as no other actress ever
did before, will posllively be seen at
the Grand on March 2d.
Girls, have, you ever s©en that cut©
little Millicent Evans? Well, you will
soon, for sh«- appears here In “The Blue
Mouse” on March 3d and 4th, with mat
inee oh the 4th.
Girls, “The Blue Mouse” will be th©
“talk of the town” and will push ‘Folly
of the Circus” hard for first honors, and
w'll certainly win th© pennant in th©
“Fopulariiy League.”
Then there are those Rogers Bros.
“In Panama,” that Grand has so many
“good tilings” ‘ coming that I hate “to
take the money.”
Of course, these columns would not
be complete without mentioning th©
coining of Nat C. Goodwin and his
beautiful bride, Edna Goodrich.
You know, girls that Nat Goodwin
need not over act again, for he owbs a
copper mine out In Nevada that will keep
him from worrying the rest of his days.
William 11. Crane, In George Ado's
' 'Fat her and th© Boys,” is another
of tfios© extraordinary New York hits
that will delight Augustans next month.
Oh, you, Margaret llllngton, aft©r
what. Daniel Froluuun lmd done for you
to treat him like you did.
Margaret Jlllngton was an obscur©
arHhl© in Th© Giffen block Co. whin
discovered by DanUl Frohiimn, who
made her one of the best emotional
actresses In the country and lifted h«r
up to stardom and after giving her hie
good name, was -thrown aside for a
younger and better looking man. Oh,
these actresses!
Girls, I am very much afraid you will
be disappointed in this particular para
graph. it. looks as if Grace Georg© has
canceled her southern tour.
For this disappointment, Manager
Bernstein promises a pleasant surprise
soon, for Cecil Hpooner is coining soon
and for one solid week, too.
Cecil Hpooner Is probably the great
est. a 11-Brooklyn favorite ever known In
“The City of Churches,” and It was
only through th© burning down of th©
Kroner theatre that we get ner ar all.
Hhe Is now playing a two weeks’ en
gagement at the Lyric theatre, Atlanta,
and she Is proving as big a favorite In
©old Atlanta as she was in Brooklyn
ami th© critics of Atlanta unanimously
agree that she 1h the host ever.
Just think, girls, you will have Cecil
Spooner for six whole nights and thr©«
matinees, and some of the wise ones
are saying that a show can’t play her©
that long. We will try und show th«m,
won't we, girls?
Cedi Hpooner carries a company ©f
twenty-five and two solid carloads of
scenery. You will fall in love with C©di.
MABEL.