The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-31
his house she revolts, and the act


ends with a savage scene in which
Paul thrusts her out TO 20 to her lover.
The second act Is set in I.azarrc's
apartments year later, and here IS Z
Gallicized East Lynnc''--thc arrange
mcnt, the life fantastic" Is quite
open; his friends and associates conc
and so freely accepting the situation
as matter Of course. IT soon be :
comes apparent that the afair will not
last; LaZarrc dimes ana lunches with
Otcro and others or her lis ana brings
to the house one Nine. Silvcstrc (airs.
Sam SothernD called the universal
muse because OF her little habit OF
cul;ivatinG successful authors, after
the money has begun 10 come IN Nine.
Silvestrc ila,terS his spoiled. childish
vanity-thcy laugh together AT poor
old Sardou'-and tho situation becomes
Impossible for Evelyn. She leaves her
lover this time. and In the third and
last act. her husband discovers her in
their childs nursery. where her ma
tcrnal love has driven her Gas il drove
Madame Nine) and. after a heavy scene,
takes her to his heart, thus rcdceming
her.
AS to the play Itself, there may be
much question. II Is certainly not
the sort 10 which the teachers OF "a
girls school would take their charges
for a pleasant little afternoon-far
from 1t, and 1t is not particularly in
tcrestinE. The Conversations par,ic-
ularly in the second act and in the
carly part Of the third, arc entirely
too talky and long. True. last nights
was the first performance OF the piece
in English. and 1t Will doubtless be
carefully trimmed and pruncd.
Although the waits were very long
the curtain did not ring down until a
quarter before demonstrating the
fact that it was the first presentation.
the performance was remarkably
smooth and easy.
Rut there can be very little fair
criticism OF the men and women who
formed the company Olga Nethcrsol..
is beyond doubt a great actress. She
reads eHquisteiy in SOFT round
voice. which she can sharpen and shriIl
until it makes one shivcr, OF lower
and deepen until one can almosl see
the tears in her throat; her face, when
she pleases (Which is rarciy). is aligul
with the joy Of life. ana. again. 1t Is
a mask OF hopeless tragedy, and al
ways, she is an artist. possessed OF a
profound knowledge of every detail OF
dramatic value. Walter Edwards gave
a powerful and convincing pert ormance
as Paul Vaudray; his face is strong
and mobile, his voice heavy and yet
simple and natural. and his stage
presence easy and assured. Franklin
Roberts had an ugly role. He made up
like the pictures of Edmond Rostand,
but his big, virile personality reminded
one more Of a healthy English crickcicr
than Of tcmpcramcntal. trcnch
novelist. Rightly or wrongly. one
looked for one of dAifnunzio's men IN
the part. Wallace lIrskinc played cx-
ceedingly we'll the unimportant part Of
Vivian Duchatel, and Nellie Malcolm
was the giggling. husband hunting.
young Marcellc to the life. Mrs
George Barnum and Maud Hoslolu
We're acceptable as Julie and Rosa, re-
spcctively. Mrs. Sothcrn was not
pleasing as Nine. Silvcstre. a child
billed as Joe Wallace Ct believe he was
a girl) was simply wonderful as the
little hoy, Louis. and his scene in the
nursery was one Of the few bright
bits in the piece.
Mr.. Greet's part Of the performance
was utterly beyond criticism. The set
tings were perfect, the nursery In par
ticular being any little boys nursery.
with It's Mother Goose pictures on tho
tablecloth and along the walls and
every little detail had a meaning all
lis own. There were even French il
Illustrated magazines and newspapers,
and the clothes of the men conveyed
something. Lazarre was dressed more
than carefully, while Paul was almost
notwithstanding Il striking contrast
for Evelyn to dwell upon. Every bit
Of business showed the hand of a mas
ter stage director
Unpleasant, but perfectly played
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