The age-herald., 1901-02-21
ITO HAVE AND TO HOLD"
 SCORES A BIG SUCCESS
Baltimore Gives Cordial Reception to the Dramazaon of Mary JOhnStons Popular Novel-The Play is in Four
 Acts and Follows the Story of the Book

ways expected and which was slightly noticeable last night in the beginning of the play, disappeared entirely in the face of the more than cordial-the enthusias- tic reception of both play and players.
 While the play does not follow in de- tail and in sequence the stoy as 1t Is de- veloped in the novel, only those changes are made which are required by the change from novel to drama, and all har- monize with the main incidents in the novel. There is less of the melodrama Tn it. too, than might have been expected Dueling, clashing swords, killing and oth- CT startling incidents are touched upon lightly or omitted altogether.
 "The novel-or rather the drama-is presented in four acts. And the scene in which the maidens appear who have crossed the ocean to meet their fate in the wilds of Virginia was selected as the opening scene for the play. Some addi- tional touches were added by the dramat- ist to this scene, deepening the comedy parts and brightening the lines. The bachelors show some nervousness at the prospect before them. The maidens lead them a chase before they are finally caught and held in check by the bonds of matrimony.
 'In this scene, too, the keynote to the rest is given for the coming of the Kings favorte. Lord Carnal, Is an- nounced-not as in the novel, but by let ters from England-and in the same way the flight of the Kings ward, Lady Joce- 1 1yn Leigh, is also announced
 Ralph Percys nasty woonig of Pa tience Worth. not knowing that she is in reality the Lady Jocelyn, and the troubles 1 which follow-the arrival of Lord Carnal, his demand that the lady be turned over to him. the opportunity given for flight in the refusal of the Governor to yield x1rtfl fl1a4af @I... 4l-I- nfz-l.A ship-wreck, the rescue-follow in rapid succession, as in the novel
 'The journey from the village after the marriage to Percys home was represent ed by panoramic effects, but unfortunate ly the scenes were shifted so quickly that their significance was almost lost upon the audience. In the tableaux by which the shipwreck was represented there was also little too much haste and not quite enough light, but these are minor de- fects and ones that will be remedied cas- fly.
 Interest, of course, centered especially in Isabel Irving, who had the part of Jocelyn Leigh, and in Robert Lorraine, who was Ralph Percy Miss Irving's per sonality, as we'll as the parts in which she has always played is such that it is difficult to disassociate her from the | drawing room play. Last night it was difficult at first to realize that she was Jocclyn Leigh But later the stiffness which characterized her acting disap- peared. She threw herself completely into the part gaining in intensity and | power until she made a fine climax in the trial scene.
 Mir. Robert Lorraine, the young Eng fish soldier-actor. who has but recently returned from the Transvaal, like Miss | Irving, was somewhat conventional ct first, but he also warmed later on and did some excellent work in his closing l scene
 Charles Walcott, who created the part of Jeremy Sparrow, more than once was interrupted by cordial applause for his sympathetic delineation of the fighting, singing, loyal and lovable old parson. Ialbrook Blinn, as Lord Carnal, won the highest praise stage villain can desire hlsses, not only from the gallery, but from the main audience.
 g. Miller Kent made much of the con genial part of John Rolfe. John Findlay, as Peaceable Sherwood, and Lottie AL tor, as one of the damses, by their lit tie comedy touches added piquancy to | the village scenes.
 Contrary to the expectation, Miss John son did not come to Baltimore to wit ness the production of the dramatizatton of her novel. E. F. Bodington, by whom tho dramatization was made, was pres ent, as was also MT. Frohman.