The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-24
MISS CROSMAN IN
CONTRARY MARY A
Receives a Warm Welcome OH
Her First Appearance in
This City.
is CLEVER AND CHARMING.
t.ftt -.
CLEVER AND CHARMING.
An Excellent Cast Surrounds the
Star-AIiss Alice Butler Played
in Giffin Company. I

Miss Henrietta rrosnian in May,
Mary. Quite Contrary. very modern
comedy. made her initial how to o Rich
mond audience last night at the Academy,
and received the warm welcome that is
supposed to belong only 10 the friends
of long standing.
It was a case of love Mt first sight
for from the moment the delightfully."-
Contrary Mary fcated breezily into
view. she simply did what she pleased
with the enraptured audience that tiiieu
boxes, pit and gallery.
She came, was seen, and conquered rs
she liked.
MARY. Mary, Quite Contrary is not
only very modern but very light as Well
Were 1t not for its really clever lines and
the quite perfect way in which it is
produced. the end might be mot yet.
but no such casualty could possibly befall
any production In which Miss Crosman
and her capable company took part.
The play Is the ancient story of the
return of the old lover, the indiscrect
letter written years before by the now
happy wife. the insaney jealous hus-
band. two love-sick Juveniles. an e*-
centric ..old man. and ditto "old lady
and finally the "Dea ex Machina. Con
ITaTy N1dEy, WHO ptttHbSS JSfaiVh.'
husband, destroys the tell-tale letter and
marries the happy wife's obstinate and
much-in-the-way lover OF bygone days.
The comedy might well be called n
Ecrap of paper'' il the name had not been
copyrighted years ago.
To say that Miss Henrietta Crosnlan Is
charming and delightful is TO only halt
tell the tale and leave the rest to the
imagination. She is not only clever ana
delightfully natural but she has that In
tiescribable attraciirsness. possessed by
but few women and no man, of doing Or
binary things in an extraordinary man
ner and OF making the commonplace fun
Of interest.
The modern comedy, in Miss Crosman's
hands, reminds one OF u great musician.
who. in an idle moment turns from
.'rag-time melody, Just fto show the
'ilesser lights how perfectly y can be
done.
From .'Rosalind'' to Mary is 4 long
call. but because one lives on the noun
tain IL no reason why walk in the.
valley is devoid of pleasure.
An Excellent Company.
The company surrounding Miss Cros-
man is excellent. there being no exception
necessary to prove the rule.
Mr. Boyd Putnam, the leading man
and the cause of all the trouble. is we'll
known here. having played with, Miss
Viola Allen. He.wus convincing. nsl,l 'fl',-
derful TO rclateu, knew how to wear riding
clothes. a fare gift behind the footlights.
The appearance OF Miss Alice Butler,
the eccentric "old LADY" recalled the
days of tho Giffin Stock Company, Of
happy but disastrous memory, of which.
however. this clever actress can only
be included In the happy
The Jealous husband portrayed by Mr..
Addison Pitt was disagreeably artistic.
A.; Mary said In the play. Women
are only firm. while men are always OBJ
sttnate.''
Mr. William Herbert, Miss Dallas ry-
Ter. Miss Angela McCaull ana Mr.. Joseph
~. Ciraybill all deserved praise, as in
tced did tile entire cast.
The house was well filed, and society
ror the night seemed TO have forgotten
The forbidden things OF Lent. II such a
pelghtful performance be consirered
.pcnance. :" then the wicked will never
Fare to turn away from sin.
Miss Crosman has won a welcome,
which VIII be always waiting for her.
Peggy From Paris.
George Ado, the celebrated humoris
end author of Peggy From Paris.
& though young man. has attained re
= tnarkable success and he has scoret
heavily not alone in his books and maya
q zines and newspaper writings. but ha
attained even greater distinction as a tlra
1latist. Mr.. AIDE wrote not only the sue
tessful musical play Peggy From Paris.
Which Is 10 he presented at the Acad
envy next Monday and Tuesday nights
hut he is the author as we'll of the .'Sul
tan OF Suiu." The County Chairman
slhe SHOTGUN and The College Widow.
tf3t'''Pegsy From Paris was SO successful
That II ran for an entire year In Ney
York, Boston and Chicago The Sultul
Of sulu," also has famous record o
ffuns;, willie Tile County Chairman, re
y 1Ralned ali last winter and until summe
at Nai!ac!ss Theatre IN New York. "Th
Sio-Gun aud THE College Widow
were last seasons productions, therefore
haze not mad time 10 secure runs outsld
Of Net. York and Chicago. These sue
cessess show the quality Of Mr.. AIDE.