The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-05-14
MOTHER PROVES
ADMIRABLE PLAY
LUCrLLE la VERNE AND HER
PLAYERS WIZ GREAT SUCCESS
AT ACADEMY.
BIG CROWD PLEASED
OTHER BILLS INCLUDE HONER's
ODYSSEY, AND AMUSING yAU-
DEsfLLE At EMPIRE, CO.
LOyIAL AND LJBIN.


Jules Eckert Goodman, presented by
the InciIie La Verne Stock company
FOR The first time In Richmond, with
the following cast:
Mrs. Elizabeth Wetherili
Miss Lucille La Verne
Ardath Wetherill
Miss Donah Benrimo
Leonore Wetherill Miss Parke Patton
Bosste TerhUne Miss Julia Neville
Agatha ........ Mrs. Edith Benrimo
Harry Lake ........ Mr.. Hal Castle
John Rufus Chase
Mr.. Howard Teachout
william Howard WetheriH
Mr.. Wade Scott
Walter Thompson Wetherill
Mr.. ]. cleaneay Mathews
John Walton Wetherill
Master John Culpeper
James Bingham Wetherili
Master Charles Barry
The third week of the La Verne
company began AT the Academy last
night with Mother" four act play
by Jules Eckert Goodman. which ran
FIVE weeks In New York--and with
reason, II last nights performance
can be used as criterion OF the plays
oxcollencel For the manner of it's
presentation last evening heforo a
large audience. II may be said that
this s(the best offering so far ten
dered Richmond theatergoes by this
capable company.
Several members OF the cast found
roles IN which they manifested great
or posss than permittedyfby 9th
ers of the past few weeks Notably
Ark pat 1i.n n tyto riy
charming Leonore. As the younger.
though unsought sister Of two wastre,
brothers, to say nothing of Ardath,
who was the one Harry Lake really
wanted, Miss Patton Is worth eultivat-
ing. She also looks exteremly nice
in pale yellow. And she gave up her
beau with sisferly devotion not over
frequent off stage.
Miss Donah Benrimo.- as Ardath,
trieo her best TO get fairy TO marry
I,eonore. She wasn't gobbly. But of
course when Harry finally did make
it quite clear that Ardath was his
alpha and omega In affinities, and
backed his suit with motor car elope-
ment she couldn't blight his life long
er. and they went off in whirl OF
blessings and honkings,
The maternal theme is one that
can't be overworn when artistieally
treated. In the present instance there
is an even balance in the work of
the entire cast that prevents the play
from ever sagging into pathos and
the weepy doIdrums. Those last night
| who went with misglyings of tragic
sobhing and gnashings Of teeth found
4 instead q new and indefinably sugges-
! tive revelation of the regeneration that
] "a II a
! That Is the erux and the climax and
/ the Astounding triumph of this piece.
William and Walter Wetheftii ms,
! two black sheep, gave considerable OPP
J portunity to Mr.. Wade Scott and MIR,
, j. Cleneay Mathews, respectively.
t Both these gentlemen showed to ad-
| vantage in difficult roles. Miss Julia
! Neville gave the designing Bessie Ter
hume with an unstudied grace that
captivated AS a tough lady" Bessie
=, recalled Mr.. Hutcheon of Home
| Brew" memory. Her sweep off the
stage together with the final EXPIRE
! ssion OF her attitude to the Wetheriil
family fairly enchanted an already
! enthusiastic audience.
Attention must be directed to Mas
ter John Cuipeper and Charles Bar
| ~. The kids did some astonishingly
good acting and scored a great hit.
df Miss Lucille La Verne It Is nard-
! " necessary to speak. Richmond
t theatregoers know that Mfss La Verne
| is always good. that the uniformly
| high quality OF her work is in Il meas
| ure. beyond praise. az the self-in-
| molating mother In the present play
| she reveals one or two new and su-
preme qualities as a finished actress
II Is TO be hoped that she and her
| company remain long with us.