The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-20
'|MAS0N|CH0MEB0Y
WRITES R ! {: SN.E'W PLAY |...I!|I.Y'
Beatrice Of the Cunberlands' to
Be Produced at Academy
of Music.
HAS PLENTY o f % CAL COLOR


HAS IA PLENTY OF LOCAL I c q 3
Youthful Dramatist Describe.
Scenes From Coming
Performance. 4
Another Maetcrlinck, or anotho,
Charles q. Blaney, has come to light
and In Richmond, in the person Of sew
entoen -year-old George Roebuck, ward
of the Masonic Home, author, drama
fist and producing manager. George
has done a playa real play with a
real plot and n real heroine and all
the other characters and things that
go with the very best movers He is
going to put 1t on at the Academy OF
Music on the night OF September 20.
It Is entitled Beatrice Of the Cumber-
lands
The young author is just about as
interesting as his play promises to be
when it finally reaches the footlights.
F'reckle- faced and with an air OF de-
Termination about him, he has overcome
a hundred obstacles to his proposed
theatrical venture in a way that de-
serves success. Like lots Of other
playwrights, George had some difficulty
in locating an angel" 1t Is going to
take some money to properly present
Beatrice to the public, and for while
George was kind o. up against 1t. But
he has finally hit upon the idea Of en-
SnS-
day he received number of subscrip-
tions toward fund which will insure
the appearance of Beatrice on the
Richmond stage
Hnx Local Color.
George came originally from Penn
sylvania. His: father was mining
engineer who died while prospecting
in the Cumberland Mountains The
boy spent year with him before the
end came and 1t Is In this mountain
locality. with which he is so familiar,
that no has laid the scenes of two acts
of his play. The other two acts have
their scenes laid In tho Home. Special
scenery Is being painted by Miss Inez
Kendrick
Georges play gets away in the noun
talns. Beatrice Woodwork. having
gathered a bunch of wild flowers, sits
down meath q tree to muse. A dreamy
light creeps into her eyes. II wonder
where. the hero Is" she says. "He was
so kind to father; he gives him all the
medicine for nothing, and before he
goes he kisses me-"
Is it not delightful getaway? Can
any play. that starts out like shat help
but prove a winner?
Beatrice's hero is the dashing. good
looking young NJ. D.. who has been so
"a, he h
hardly more than sweet sixteen, she Is
already sweet on the way Doc wears
his clothes. Somewhere along about
the end OF Act J.. father dies, and Doc
decides to send Beatrice to the Home
in the city The parting between them
Is most sad.
when come back you will be mar
ried to the school teacher" says Bea-
trice. IF I was as big as she Is would
you lovetme as rnuch?" she asks.
If you were as big as she is could
love you no more than I love you now.
and when you come back will be
waiting for YOU" is Docs reply. Her
heart jumps with joy; her eyes dance
with gladness; her very soul is filled
with rapture. Her dream has come
true, Finale Act /. # FL!
Scenes mt the Home.
Beatrice arrives ut the Home and
meets Billy Field. the idol OF his COM
panions and an all-around good guy.
For q while 1t seems that Docs chances
are as the centre Of the ughnut---
but wait. Tumbling to the dark horse
that has entered the field, Doc beats
1t to the city. and from what he sees
there fears that the worst is yet to
come. But not too fast. Agnes. AS
George Bernard Shaw says you never
ft111 Tpo \, N.Y. RI 1ryt, "a
his heart is until Billy and his friends
become suspicious and decide he's got
to move. Then there is rough house.
Finale Act II. 81 ia
Act III. shows a masque ball In full
swing at the Home. Enter Doc, mys-
FERROUS like, disguised as a milkman.
Meanwhile the dance goes on. NoSone
can figure out who Doc is. Still the
dance goes on. Finally he draws near
to where Beatrice is seated beside
Billy Fields They are eating nozen
custard. Something about him. seems
to tell her who 1t Is. ct is Doc!" she
shrieks. 1T is the woods for mine"
cries Billy. The ball breaks UP with
out the music playing Home, Sweet
Home" Climax, Act III. \. 5SS
ALPS Well Thut Ends Well.
The final act finds Beatrice and Doc
back In the mountains BY this time
the audience Is supposed to have
learned that Doc is the goods. Billy Is
there, too. He has fled from the school,
and his whereabouts are "a mystery
Ito all save himself, Moonshiners who
have their stills In the mountains sus-
pect him to be a spy and plot to kill
him. A number of his old schoolmates,
who have come to visit Beatrice, arrive
Fin the nick of time, and he is saved.
Realizing that his rival has won. Billy
decides TO go away. The final curtain
I3descends on Beatrice and Doc clasped
lIhrmly in each others arms.
I$tsAs4Angel-face," he murmurs.
{"Doc." she replies. si
STRONG ON DALLAS