Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-16
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY EVENINGS
AND SATURDAY MATINEE,
Grace George in Pretty Peggy.
BIJOU THEATRE
Week beginning tomorrow evening.
ratinees Tuesday. Thursday, and
Saturday
Fiddle Dee-Dee.

The coming week promises 10 De 1He
most eventfui of the present tneatrlcai
season. Tomorrow evening flcnlnohn
viii have an opportunity Of seeing
decentralization Of Miss Mary Johnston
popular novel. Audrey" and at the same
zinc TO pass critical judgment upon a
play in advance of the metropolis.
ACTION OF TIE PLAY.
The action OF the play. Audrey" as
6rsnaatized by Harriet Ford and Ernest
Roddington from Mary Johnston's novel,
is divided into six scenes. or tabieaus.
A synopsis shows that the first setting
cnyirons the May-day race course at VIII
Harrisburg Tho second scene is the in
terror of Dardcns house: the third is at
Stages: the fourth shows the interior OF
The ballroom at the Governors palace'
while the fifth will give. 1t is sald, an
accurate picture of the interior of the
old Bruton church in Colonial days Inc
last scene of all is at Fair View.
The play opens with the May-day games
in progress The town people and aris-
tocracy rub elbows In the Joyous good
nature Of the day. PresDty Evelyn BYRD
appears surrounded by half score Oh
pelliwigged and swnrded young Gallants,
with Colonel BYRD and Marfnaduke HOW
ard following GraVely behind.
When the race for the hoydens is an
nourccd Audrey makes her first appear
aDce.
The race finished. Audrey approaches
Evelyn Byrd for the trophy she has won.
Her eyes meet those OF Harvard, and the
admired man Of tie world recognizes
The little charge that he rescued years
before from the tonanawk OF the In
dams.
The scene at Dardelis exhibits the I'M
lovely and unsyl:patletc environment,
that stern as it is, has rot been able to
craInp the spirit Tor curtail the dreams
OF the pure Child Of, natUre-Audrey of
the forest. Harvard, spurred by his duty,
now seeks 10 learn the condition of his
iong-ncgIected ward by Fate. The ludi-
crous and 5esotted T5arden is soon hUs-
tied off by his shrewish dame
parden and the first real meeting and
interview between Audrey and the ideal
of her long thoughts $50 exquisitely woven
by Miss Johnston IN the hooli) takes
place. ~
Thus early in the play is the audience
put in possession of Audrey's idolatry OF
the man who saved her from the savages
that night of terror when her sister and
parents were slain before her baby
eyes and she wandered dum!--hereft in
the vast silence Of the frontier mid
night.
Here also is the character Of the world
weary man Of fashion artieulated His
cold mind, strong arm, and atrophied
heart are deity indicated. Bngon. the
fierce half-breed in love and fanatic in
hate, now appears ominously.
The third scene at Stages introduce us
10 williamsburg society with much COM
edy and cleverness.
To Mrs. Stage come all the maidens
of high degree for extra frlis and furbe-
lows for the Governors ball.
The besworded fops and sallants at
tend their ladies sedans. and an accurate
notion of the amenities in Ee good old
Colonial days is given Mr.. Stage snatches
moments enough from his forty horse
power Macbeth rehearsal to converse
most amazingly with his dear Miranda.
Evelyn Byrd meets Audrey. realizes her
beauty and power. and hates her for her
sorcerv over Harvard.
Then comes Harvard, drunk with wine
and distract with too much thinking
comes her idol, her god-and Audrey
with wjde-eyed fear does his bidding,
Desked in Mrs. Stages fInery, she drives
with Harvard TO the ball, but not until
HGgon has mad a stormy scene with
Harvard. declaring his love for Audrey
and his intentions concerning those who
came between them.
The ball scene will be the biggest and
most brilliant picture of the play.
The dramatistS nave studied the man
ners and fashions of the times under Miss
Johnson's tutelaGe, and have exhausted
the resources Of the coStunlier and the
peruquier TO make the appearances of
the bellies and ioeauX accurate of the day.
When the glitter and gayety have reach
ed their height, Harvard leads Audrey out
for the dance. and the pathetically pow
erful scene Of her outrageous humiliation
takes place.
AT the end, Evelyn Byrd proves her.
self true ladye of Virginia as In the
book. and the curtain descends.
From: the brilliancy of the Governors
bail to the somber interior interior Of old
ton church faithfully produced from old
prints) is a tine draI attic contrast, and
furnishes the fully conceived opportunity
OF showing the reverse side of Colonial
Characters and custom.
The climax Of this scene is as powerful