The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-10

John Drew Has tiis Best Piny I'm Years.
John Drew himself Is always well
worth seeing because of the polished
perfection OF has skilled technique. anu
his annual appearances are Always
worthy of note. because OF the oPpOI-
tunity that they anord the theatre-Soins
public to witness. not only the fumoCs
star. but Invariably a company OF eA-
cellent actors. IN thoroughiS aGe-
uuate production of whatever play may
nave been chosen for mis- season > We
hiclc In other Wor[s. no matter Wnat
the play. Mr.. Drew and MS company
may be -ounted upon-from the expert
ence Of many years-to give a per
70. nance de luxe in its sneer WORK
manshIp. judged from the purely teen
meal standpoint
This .-ason, however. while the
easy certainty Of the star and the
sureness of his deft touch. the admir-
able assistance OF ms supporting
company ami the accustomed complete
ness OF the production obtain 20 the
full extent that We have -earned TO
expect, all these unite In the pFesenta-
lion Of comedy worthy OF the best
Efforts of any producer, actor ana
cast.
kor. in Alfred Sutro's The Per-
picked II Us band Challcs Fronman mas
provide. III. Drew with the best play
that he has mad in many years IL
is 4 comedy of manners, dei4cate anu
sareiicd IN its delicious huraor. yet
with very real intent and purpose
underlying its raillery- not GRIM
sermon. with d gloomy moral for rs
tag. but a keen witty an delightful
satire, abOuuc.ng in lines that sag-
gest thoughts all of Us nave
heard projected again and again. II
compelled those Of as VINO were wise
enough to GO to the Academy OF Mu-
sic last night to snuggie down in our
chairs and chGcXIe through two hours
and a half OF -~electation-
Sophie Polling (Nina Sevening). n
happily married woman, has been LED
by her friend. Mrs Elstead margaret
Watson and by Clarence Woodhouse.
The Master" Hubert DruceJ into
gnawing belief that she is not fulfill
ing her true purpose She joins the
.l.eague of Women" and spouts the
stereotyped pIatituGes anent the right
TO live her own life. treason to her sex.
sex equality" and all the other
phrases OF her epicene cult 1hen.
when her husband. Thomas Polling
John Drew returns from journey
and tries to take her in his arms. she
rspeIs him. and. yow!ng that she has
ceased to be "a parasite. doll. mere
sonE-bird.' declaring that snc mus'
guide herself, learn" heFtc!t, sne
reveals her astounding conclusion th"t
her husband IS "A stranger. ana that
,bev must live together. but apart.
unless the miracle happens" where
upon the husband. who is human
bs:nr. and has no conception of mira
cie-working. takes counsel with ms
sister. who IS also human being and
a pretty woman believing IN pretty
clothes and the attrac;ivsness Of the
eternal feminine. As result OF TINS
conference. the husband. assuming the
right cNsciscd BY his wife OF inviting
whom, she pieases to say with them.
p.rsuadss 4 lovely young girl. MISS
vince Mary Boland). to come and I've
in ,he hous.. Under the protest % 'on-
xertlnx her to his wife's views which
n. has already violently embraced
The inevitable happens. IN theory.
the wife - strong and earnest ih h'r
u.ii.t bel.cf. but when the Theory
reaches tire practical poin; Of nuns
b,rscff ont Of her husband = life aad
sIiovins, a younger and loveiicr wo-
"a, 10 supplant her she casts theories
"a the winds and becomes a cave wo-
mar again. sc.Sinf hs- mate. Aro.
eo-,u,afsl, "a IL not too late. he %
waiting Tor her
In necessarily limited space. 70 -
,o..fi,le 10 give a brief synopsis ~
the story. but 80 Is not possible 20 de-
scribe very intciiieibiy the characters
80 remarkably drawn b. Alfred Suiro
and 30 admirably played - NJ Drew
and his associate players THIS b. the
proper phrase. for u Is Nr from
one-rnnn play. and only very good ac-
tors could nave portrayed 80 vividiy
the rleanirE Of each character.
Not since The Second In Command
has Mr.. Drew been more. effective, his
light comedy was clean-cut ana sSiitui
as always, but beneath that tnere was