Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-21

an tho honors were reaned by Mary
80 nj tho Bi5ou last night In the re-
ii d. Sir Charles goung's play. Jim.
rcon1a7l." produced by the Fawcett
many. As Nina Ralston. the unsus-
..-r vic Of the notorious forgcr. she
wcii-rounded artistic demonstra-
.,- - what she is capable of as a dra-
.ae stadcnt despite the handicap of
,,.rr surrounded by a company which
-..,rv distinguished itself for medic
r.;y
= ra7t. hut few, il any, Of the players
...-. suited Tor their respective roles, and
seemed pity that the whole burden
:. ne play was thrown upon Miss Shaw's
.,,u,as-s. But, fortunately. they were
ma and she emerged from the crucial
t,c With credit
SHAW MORE THAN ORDINARY.
that Miss Shaw is an actress of more
.,tr ordinary ability cannot be denied.
-, has The happy faculty Of knowing
( t1 1ead-a quality possessed by SO
s-a.!l actresses OF the present time
81 rsaaprebends what she reads. and
sue aH is convincing. Her perform
,.-r s-s' night not only proclaimed her
s.-sdsrt but an artistic as well SIT
t.ral paiustaking, versatile. clever
,ra~Eea- Fawcett is TO be congra tulated
- Es7frs saCh woman TO head his or
Caa.zat
LEWIS'S WORK POOR
what Miss Shaw possessed Ior aeciclz
lows lacked. am speaking now Of last
rafl7 performance He utterly failed to
r-asa the character Of Jim. either in looks
~ 7ffon He suited not the action to the
-o-f or the word 10 the action. He read
rz5lg and gave an equally faulty inter
-,rat.tigu in all he seemed sadly out of
Mace and his work added additional
Tetehr 10 Mss Shaw's broad" sholders..
Tass has done and is capable of doing
some rital work but in Jim, the Pen
man he IS as q fish out of water-an
7,-r- aut Of his class. Frank Bangs and
other equally well-known actors have set
voc Efeh an ideal in the role for Lewis to
-Fr remainder of the cast was also no.
MI, weak The Louis Perciva1 of Rega1
r-s.on was arnateurisll. the Lord Dire
I-Erarst OF Harold Cahiil clumsy and i'll
conceived, and the Baron Hartfe1d of AL
f- Hudson as a character study, quite
lnlossible
what little praise can he bestowed on
tA5 company. outside Of Mary Shaw, is
duo 10 Francis Fraunhoz the juvenile
and rratry Viola Burton. the ingenue
The play ore eyed, the waits We're unnec-
essgsly long. and the performance most
Disappointing.
Manager Fawcett YOU have good ma
.eraf in your No. ., company, but don't
waste their talent on Jim. the Pen
rnau" unless you can instill into it
srsater and wider understanding Of the
characters than was displayed last night
STOP THIS NUISANCE.
Just here word to Mr.. Wells. The
habit Da-sistently INDUCED in by many
patrons OF coming into the Bijou late is
not only most obnoxious to the rest of the
audience, but IS practice that should
be Put down, and at once. It fs bound to
6e.ract from the beginning of the drama
u7on which the theme of the play hinges.
ana the first act is invariably ruined.
People who have paid their money, and
lhs actors on the stage, are entitled to
some respect. This both are robbed of
iy the late corners. who disturb the en-
tirz action of the play by the rtstling of
skirts and the banging of seats. a rule
that no one viii be seated until after the
conclusion Of the first act after the cur
tain has arisen. so successfully in vogue
in rival theatre. will o5viate AL this
tr5u5le, and get rid of q nuisance that
has almost become unbearable.
a word TO the wise, Mr.. Wells and if
taken I am sure that the majority OF the
patrons of your pretty little playhouse
VII rise and call you blessed.