Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-22
PLAY THOROUGHLY ORIGINAL.
,..ane.. nnd chnrm Pcrvndcd All
manccs VIII BE Given To-Day.

nanccs VIII Be Given Io-Da!.
| AT his desire she left her native city
10 accompany hfr1 TO LONDON FOR she
loved him all in ALL. Fitzgeraid MOI
aYfs Peg Wellington.
Love was indeed the motif Of the Play
presented at the Academy of Music last
night: The love Of Pes Wellington for
/ David Garrick. Not the mature Peg
ne have been accustomed to see pcr
trayod upon the stage. but the ingcnu-
| GUS vinsonae Peg of earlier times. The
..Pce'' who had all London at her feet
when she was but mere slip OF girl.
fresh from Eioiante's Circus in Dublin
Nor was II the same Garrick we have seen
pictured IN other plays. This was ne"
and perhaps a true picture of the Ia
soous Thespian. A new phase Of his
.ate self. A man not wholly without
good Qualities but rollicking. self-sat-
tsned Gar.rick. and far from steadfast in
his loves.
Around the lives and loves OF these
Two famous historic personages has FRAN
| nes Aymar Matthews woven the theme OF
her new play. Pretty Peggy. by name
S STARS RECEPTION SPONTANEOUS.
Grace George a compare lively new star.
sr the theatrical firmamaDei, made her
t5rst bow before Richnolld audience
in the title role. Her reception last night
pas spontaneous and warm.
The individuality of the young actress,
and her sympathetic temperament invest
I'd the character of Peg Wellington with
a new charm The vivifying art of the
young woman. sentimental but not OBJ
.rusiva. always natural. rendered her in1-
6ersonation natural and compelling.
The play in which Miss George appeared
Ssas delightful for Its originality. simplici-
fy and sweetness. Freshness and charm
nervaded all its scenes. End al times 1t
completely broke away from the conven-
9ional atmosphere of the theatre, al
Though part and parcel Of it.
Pretty Peggy was idyllic in love scenes
snd through II ran vein OF true poeucai
Seeling. With such a charming actress
and play. how could the result have been
different from pleasing?
STORY OF THE PLAY.
Briefly told the play tells of the at
lection that spranS up in a circus tent
between q simple Irish peasant girl and
the great London actor. David Garrick.
He won her heart and induced her to
accompany him to London upon the prom
Use OF making her a famous actress. This
ambition was sgratitied. but a greater,
nobler desire. to become the wife of the
man she loved took possession OF Peggy.
Ga-rick had woed and won her young
heart although scores of sreen-room
Sal,ants We're at her. feet. The day was
set fo- the marriage and Peggy was in
The midst of the preparation for her we'd
ding when she discovered that the one
man in all the world to her was pertidl-
Gus and unworthy of her love She learn
ed lust ir time of his intrigue with an
other woman and dismissed Garrick from
her home. Both Peg and Garrick cortin
ned to act in London. but both Searned
for the love of the other. designing
woman Eva Soree, connived with for
tune teller. Columbine whose suit had
peen rejected by Peggy. to have the actor
missed on the night of her benefit al
Covent Garden London during. per
formarce Of Shakespeare-s LAS You Like
Ii
DRAMATIsT's ORIGINALITY.
Here the dran.atist showed some origi
nslity by scattering the actors and
actresses throughout the real audience,
and at given signal the Academy
patrons We're surprised to see men clad
In velveteens and powdered wigs. in the
boxes and ajsles of the theatre bowling
like mad at the thoroughly surprised
Peggy Order was restored. and as the
latter fell in a swoon. on the mimic stage
after forgetting her lines as Rosalind
Larrick. who ras occupying a stage
box leaped over the feotlishts and grasp |
ed her in his arms.
This play between the actors in the
audience and the actors on the stage
was first introduced by Aimee in Nam |
zelle, and afterwards by Charles Cosh- |
Ian in "A ROYAL Box: hut never was
the effect more deftly and successfully
handled than last night in Pretty Peg
gy." The audience was taken unawares
and when it realized what had happened
broke into spontaneous applause.
THE SUPPORT ADMIRABLE.
Miss George was admirably supported
by Vincent Serrano as David GarTlck. |
lind that old character favorite. Annie |
Ward Tiffany vas seen as. Peggys mo-
1her. The other members Of the cast sus-
Gained their respective roles well.
Altogether, Pretty Peggy" is a dra-
1uatic novelty. and ought to crowd the
ACADEMY at both matinee and evening
performances to-day. The scenery was
particularly beautiful and appropriate |
throughout the entire production.
In The Major and the Judge" which |
patrons of the beautiful playhouse Will |
be treated to production of unusual |
magnifcence. The management carry |
expressly painted by the celebrated artist. !
i. Dodd Alderman of New York city.
The stars are Tom Lewis and Sam J.
Ryan, whose names conlure up merry |
and they are ably ASSISTED by the favor |
s.s. Maude Huth;; the Doherty sisters.
Gould. Billy Platt John Havens and |
about twenty-five pretty girls.
The Major and the Judge comes |
well heraided from other cities. where it |
has made an emphatic. enthusiastic, and |
enduring hit. and ii has been applauded |
ay audiences tremendous in size. and out
have spared no expense to make the pro- |
auction one Of the most gorgeous of the |
season and carry carload of magniii- |
Cent scenery and effects
Fiddle Dee Dee continues its merry |
way a, the Bijou after week of Won
~ fAyy ,,Na~ 4