Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-09-23
aS,,AkN IS UNIQUE. I
BOLD, DARING.
STRONG IN HUMAN INTEREST.
s.<THE LAR AT THE BIJ0U.
Fnwcctt Stock Company Scores In-'
ntnntnncou. HIT In clever comedy
House Crowded to Doors Mrs.
Bruno in unorna at Academy To-
Day.

Il ( y /. Z
It is of st. Ann that I shall speak, a
bold, daring yet original play from the
pen OF a observation-disclosures to fame,
yet If I mistake not. will one day rank
with Pinero, Jones. or Fitch I say this
unhesitatingly after carefully digesting
his maiden effort
st. Ann" at the Academy last night.
1t is, am glad to say not a book play,
which in itself is sufficient to recommend
it. In these days Of Richard Carvels.
Janice Meredith, and David Harums it is
a relief to study new characters, to see
new situations evolved, and to hear dia-
logue that has not been rehearsed and
depicted before your vision in folio Of
pages. No. est. Ann" is not one Of those
creations It is a play that gives you
peep. into Bohemia. that land wherein.
dwell artists. and where conventionality
is for the once sadly out OF place. The
artists in this play are congenial. hap
py, hard-up lot of people. with talent as
their only asset. Such artists as Du
Maurier. picture in his book. ''Trilby,'
and Paul Potter. depicted on the stage
st. Ann is a play Of problems, heart
drama of climaxes. It is a sex against
sex story, in which the woman wins out
against the man. It is a play cynics
will not admire, in that optimism prevails s
throughout. and pessimism is as If it
never existed.
The good prevails above the bad, as it
should at all times This is what Mr..
Armstrong set out to depict. How we'll
he achieved his ambition was demon
strated by the hearty applause given his
efforts at the Academy last night
One of the strongest points in "St.
Ann is that all of its characters are
natural. It fairly throbs with human
instincts, human impulses. human pas
sion. Its theme is the story of mis-
guided girl who falls. and yet redeems
herself despite the social law which con-
dennis the woman and condemns the
man.
The denouement, therefore. is happy
How else could 1t be with an author
whose creed is unmistakable. optimism?
CHARACTERS WELL DRAWN.
The characters in this strong story Of
love are carefully and conscientiousl5
drawn.
The central character around which the
play revolves. of course, is Ann Lamont
"St. Ann" as she is called, depicted by
Miss Flora Fairchild, who but recently
assumed the role, taking the place Of
Miss Hall. While this young woman is 6
careful and painstaking actress she
failed to take advantage of the excellent
opportunities the character afforded. She
utterly failed to reach the dramatic re
quirements the part demanded. Miss
Fairchild was more at home in the ten
der passages of the play, but on the
whole she was disappointing. Perhap:
the best work she did was the confession
scene in the second act.
CAST WE'LL CHOSEN.
The remainder of the cast was adequate
particularly the women. I will be happy
to pay tribute to the sterling actor of thu
| Old school-Robert McWade. Although a:
| the art critic he had only bit vet hi
| delivered his few lines in such mannel
that bespoke the actor that he is. g
last saw McWade with Julia Arthur
| in a Lady Of Quality, when he contrib
| uted no little to the success of the play
| His success in Rip Van Wrinkle is SECOND
| only to that attained by the dean of tn
American stage-Mr. Jefferson; SO tina
| McWade has already scribbled his nam
on the thespan wall of Fame.
There was a strong tendency on tn
part of Eugene Frazier to overdo tn
| part of Richmond A little less of tn
n1c1odrama, Mr.. Frazier, and methink
you will be all right.
| Charles Waldron read his lines well
| and with distinctness. He showed tru
| aDpreciat ton Of the chara cter Gordon ii
| tus.
| The scenes of 'St Ann are laid il
| New York, London, and distant Hawaii
| The color schemes were Mr.. Armstrong
own ideas, and reflected credit upon hi
knowledge OF stage craft While "St
| Ann" is not great play it is a play tina
/ appeals to women, and when woman
| communication is once won, the rest
| easy. They seemed to like the play las
night so you may have no fear of tn
/ future success of est. Ann" Mr.. Arm
| strong. JOHN w. AVERY.