The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-03-12
Academy.

Academy.
Wednesday and Thursday. matinee
Thursday--..The Fortune hunter
Bijou.
This week--Daye Lewis IN Don't
Lie TO Your Wife,"
Empire.
Continuous vaudeville.
Viola Allen. who Is an actress OF
wide reputation and, corresponding
ability. appeared in what the program
called "a play of three acts by Rachel
Crotherr, entitled The Herefords. y
at the Academy last evening. But 1t
really was more than mere play. IT
was a petticoat sermon TO pett!coats.
most excellently played by very su-
perior company. OF the latter there
il no doubt. and whether the honors
of the evening, outside the laureIs
which properly belong TO the star,
were won by Grace Eiliston, Miriam
Collins or George Fawcett Ii aues-
ton which the average audience must
decide for itself. There were times
when Grace Eiliston had them safely
slowed away and the next minute
one was quite sure that nothing vas
ever more sweetiy natural than Mir
lam Collins as the daughter, and then
George Fawcett, looking like grave
and gray "Bill'' Dabney. would sim
ply walk off with them only to hand
them over a moment later to either
Charles Waldron or John Wesley.
The company with which Miss Allen
has surrounded herself is worthy OF
| the star.
But to get back to THE Here
fords." which was written. evidently.
as Hendrix Ibsen should have writ
ten his plays; that Is. Hendrix H.
sen with his hair combed. perfumed
and with a dab of powder on his
| nose: q Henrik Ibsen In skirts, II
such a person can be imagined. In
/ fact. Mrs. Rachel Crothers proved to
+! her own satisfaction that Mr.. Rachel
| Crothers should have written THE
! Herefords."
| For two acts Rachel Crothers DEM
orlstrated that she u capable or
writing an almost great play. She
| takes a wife and husband, shows
them working together at tho profess
! sion of the husband. sculptor, for
| the common good. Then she shows
| how the woman with her nimbieness.
aeAteiiS sus sa.nss. ,,-,t,.
ha'u,s. ou.Hu.ps n 49,.
All tne ease !" A.
among women whoss nAe ~ 800, ~
| blessing 10 spe"x' cue "s r.s
lcf when her husoahu mas se'1s0 :,
IN vain. he eonsra'asa.ss hsr ~ Wen zen
as ne may, "u. e@ieoI opens D",
| fore her. enc "ouio pscon.s aav ~
the partner VI neg !oss ~os
come ar. neIeteIo' huspanu W Wv
proper uhder some clrouM.AncN' ~
cannot see II that way ana oess nst
to give II up. ana demands 10 s!se
up the career. impiores aho tnen az
mands wnhe snc. tninkine tnat ne
mas become !eaious. Ie.uses ene :,
ready 10 sacrinee husoaho' nome ano
daushtesr on tne aitsr OF ner aMoi'
lected child. suddenly arrives nome
| fFesn q Eanl'S sachooi. daughter aeat
sixteen and with trouble writ large II
ner young life.
| Right heie Mrs. Crothsrs decided
that she would write the rest Of tn.
play. which up to this point migh'
have been written by Mr.. Crothsrs
She saves the woman from sacrificing
husband, homo and daughter; sAvei
her before II y too late; saves hel
before shocking the audience and be-
fore Mrs. Crothera has written q
really great play. She. decides AfteI
,aii that sire wou't be too daring. *'Any
80 they were married and lived hap
PLY ever after" Nobody dares "a,
they lived unhappily ever after and
gets away with II. There was = rea
nice moral fun In view at the enc
Of the performance. which was ter
minutes too long at its best. in spit'
OF a scene beautifully played b,
mother and daughter. Villa Allen ans
Miriam Collins.
But for all that Miss Allen has {
most superior company and Grac'
Isiliston proved beyond all doubt tina