The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-22
"Lena Rivers. J

Lena RlVerS, fenarkapiy succS99 full play, will begin weeks engagement at the Bijou tomorrow night. In speak ing of this play the Louisville Courier Journal said:
 All credit must be given the star Miss Beulah Poynter for Il very clever and accurate dramatization of this interest ing story, for it is her own version or the novel that she uses, playing 1t in d prologue and three acts.
 The prologue opens at Granny Nlcll- ols aoor-yard, at Slocumville. Mass. Iht story tells of how years before Lena mother married u southern gentlemai who was vsiiting In Boston, and who let' her for some unknown cause; how nrs Rivers comes back to her old northern home and brings her child. The mother dies leaving Lena to be taken care of nA her old Granny" At the opening Of the piece John Livingstone, Lena's uncle, has come from his home in kentucHy 70 take Lena and her mother, Granny, back to Kentucky. It is here shown ;nat Durward Belmont is in love with Lena ana he in turn is loved by Caroline LiV- ingstone, Lena's cousin. Caroline Is very jealous of Lena and does all in her power to make her unhappy when she gets her to her home in Kentucky.
 This is the scene of the first act, after five years. Lena is a young lady now and very pretty and bright, and Belmont is more than eyer in love with her, much to the discomfortre of Caroline and Mrs. Graham, his mother The scene ends with an effective dialogue between Lena and Mrs Graham, in which the latter does all in her power to make Lena prom ise to give her son up, as he will not .oVe one always who can tell so little or ner father and mother. This Lena refuses to do. much to the dissatisfaction of the mother and hearty approval of the audi enee.
 implications become greater in the second act which discloses that Lena a father mas married Outward Belmont's 8 mother, accounting for the difference be- tween her name and Durward's s. Mrs. Graham sees her husband kissing a pie ture, which Is so much like Lena that she jumps at conclusions and accuses Graham of loving Lena, and as he has given her q pony and paid for music les sons for her 1t looks all very hard against him to so jealous a woman. She. with the help of Caroline made it so plain ;sat Lena is Grahams mistress that-as Lena cannot tell. being bound to secrets by Graham, why he does so much for her Belmont gives in and believes the worst. The act ends with Lena declining his love, making a strong appeal 10 her old grandmother for help and comfort
 The third and last act goes to bring things to q very happy conclusion
 II Is 6 good play that Miss Poynter has given. telling in the dialogue what sne has not put in the action of the p.ece. and following the novel as closely as go long a story will allow.
 As Lena Rivers, the most unhappy lit tlte country girl, Miss Poynter is excel lent In the prologue she is tine rustic al yra ,ft bor with childish affection. and caring for those who love her, hating with a young sters hate those who poke fun at her. The acts of the piece call for much heav- fer work, and her scene with Mrs. Ora ham. where she refuses to give her lover up. are powerful It is q trying scene and she carries it off well.
 Next to Miss Poynter, in artistic charac- terization, comes Sam J. Burton. who plays the part of Rastus Johnson as only one used to seeing the methods Of real old southern darkey could do it. It is true 10 life and delightful 10 see. The Caroline Livingstone of Sylvia Starr is cold and heartless. true to the Caroline of Mary Holmes novel. A clever bit Is done by Marie Day as Granny" and the comedy of the piece is kept up by Ted Armond and Georgiana Wilson, as Joel Slocum and Nancy Scorendyke. Emma Butler calls for some praise as Lucy Graham and is stylish and handsome woman.
 The piece is well staged, and especraily real in the last set, an exterior of tae Livingstone manor. following out the idea of colonial architecture used so much throughout the Bluegrass The gowns worn by the women are new and a.rac- tive and the whole makes a very pretty play