The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-10-08
Madame x" With
Eugene Blair Is
Bijou Attraction

~
| cncc WEE moved TO ruHU by her Epfrn-
did art She portrayed the charac-
ter of an errinx woman, estranged
from her husband and her child but
the great predominating note, mother
fove. was struck with ouch force, pre-
cision and intensity by this thorough
artist that har auditors were thrilled.
Miss Blair was especially good in
her opening scene where she pleaded
long and earnestly with her husband
for forgiveness. And then in the inn
scene. after years of dissipation and
wandering, when she returns to France
to die. she brought out the main
theme with fine force. But ii was in
The last act. In the courtroom, where
defended by her son and seemingly
about to be condemned, she refused
10 tell the story of her past and dis
grace her son. that the actress rose to
her highest plane with grip on her
audience that could not be shaken OF.
IL is safe to say that many of the
crowed house who saw the opening of
the present engagement last night
carried the effect of her acting with
them when they left the theater, and
that they win remember 1t for days
to come. Not only did women weep
but men, strong and chronic theater-
goers. used to the wailings Of melo-
drama, were observed Ticking a tear
away, under cover Of course, but flick
Ing just the same
Neither was Herbert Charles, the
son, so greatly outciassed as a tear
brtnEer. His lines in the courtroom
scene are great, and he made the most
of them as, in fact. he did of his
entire part. His performance was
clean cut and convincing with little Of
the over acting that frequently slips
into such role.
Madame X In q drama and is
staged for dramatic purposes entirely
But there Is enough comedy In the
parts OF Perissard and Marival, who
are engaged in confidential business
as delineated by Charles e. Lave and
Isousi Pierce, to satisfy all and sew
eral times make 1t roar from pit to
heavens. Nor must Walter Wilson's
Victor he forgotten His bizarre
makeup and slow drawl amused the
audience greatly
Harry Coleman's Noel F'loriot inn
proved as the action of the play pro-
ceeded. His attitudes were quaint, to
say the least Louis Fioriot has lines
of which much can be made. and
Harry Devere. who interpreted the
part, did not allow them to suffer
through his reading Of them. Nor did
Harry Stafford as the adventure La
rogue, allow any OF the points to es-
cape him. The minor parts were for
| the most part creditably taken. Es-
pecialIy was this true of the women's
roles.
''Isaby MING At Academy.
| Baby Mine" by Margaret Mayo
who wrote Polly OF the Circus" will
be the fair week offering at the Acad-
envy. opening for three days on Tues
day. October 9Th, with matinees We'd
nesday and Thursday. BABY Mine.
| is no stranger to Richmond, one
might say almost resident. as on
wednesday, October Cd. the piece
played two performances at the Acad-
envy, and it's sure to duplicate it's big
success Baby Mine was construct
ed for laughing purposes only, and
the author was on the Job. You
smile. you laugh, you roar, and then
again. The company is up to the
standard OF VIM A. Brady. and that's
enough, to say. It's better than good.
| At the Empire,
Woodfords educated animals, par
| ticular Oscar, the man monkey. Sa-
ger Midgeiy and company in a novel
piaylett. and, Guy Sampsel and Edith
Reilly form the star features of a
more than usually excellent vaude-
VILE bill that yesterday began a
weeks stay at the Empire. Woodford
displays two monkeys. a pony and
dog, but 1t lis the human fun Of Os-
car that formed the laughing hit OF
his act
Sager Midgely, assisted by man
and woman. have a clever notion of
what makes a playlet interesting
The antics OF the two men, one ini
tating the other through a broken
mirror was the cause Of much amuse-
ment and Mfdgeley's character world
was artisticaliy performed
A pair of excellent singers reveal
ed themselves in Mr.. Sampel and
Miss Reilly. They sing a large num-
of songs. Their dancing is we'll done,
and, the sumptuous wardrobe worn
by both, especially by Miss Reilly. is
sure to create considerable comment.
The Wood brothers. finished gym
nasts offered spectacular ex~
hibition. They also sing and tell
stories. but excel in their athletic
work Carney and Wagner. a boy
and girl singing and dancing team, i'm
insi
Excellent photoplays completed a
highly attractive bill.
At the Colonial.
With a specially arranged bin for
general attraction appealing to regu
lars as we'll as to visitors. sure to par
take OF Colonial entertainment thi&
week, a highly pleasing bill opened
yesterday at that theater.
Belle Hathaways monkeys perhaps
spread most of the pleasure given by
the several acts because of the funny |
antics OF a dozen active and amusing |
simians. eight of them being the ia |
NOUS and rare rfng-tailed monkeys |
The closing feat Of revolving at rapid |
speed on a whirligig was responsible |
for enthusiastic and continued APP
plause.
THE Girl Who Dropped In" proveA |
10 be the most pretentious sketch pre- |
sentation yet offered at this theater. |
Its literary value Is high. the plot ia
cleverly devised and not unremindful |
of polly of the Circus" the char |
acter work of MIR. Forrest is an evil |
dence of excellent training. and MisA |
.vfctaraes,s In rad ditinx. to appealing TO- !
the eye. acted and read her lines In
exceptional style.
Over and Over, a most agile and |
funny fellow. coupled with a power
full woman, whose ability In wiru
walking was displayed, opened the
show In a high class manner. Car
roll and Kathryn Mcfarland in a sue
cession OF character changes In songs.
dancing and story telling. were pleas
nd ha - aa f,.a