The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-09-17


day matinee and night-Lyman H.
Howe's Travel Festival. Friday and
Saturday nights and Saturday matinee
1.-The Rose Maid.''
Bijou Theatre-To-dny, matinee and
night. Harrington Reynolds, i'm ''The
Anselus.'
Colonial Theatre-vaudeville.
Empire Theatre-Vaudeviiie.
Little Thentre-Pictures and songs.
Fine Play Mt BijOu.
Building polite meIodrama, one
which taxes neither the credulity nor
the patience nor the sensibilitieS OF an
average audience. is in itself rather
unusual accomplishment. but when the
playwright has the temerity to delve
into such problems as the relation Of
church and state. or that other trou-
ble-bearing problem. intermarrIage.
and gets away with II, one involuntar-
lily doff's ones hat and remarks.
You're some writer" That's just what
Mel, Twomey has done in The An
gelus," which will furnish a weeks
entertainment and years upon years
Of thought to the people who will buy
tickets to witness the eight remaining
performances at the Bijou this week.
Gaping the big slice which NJ or
Mrs. or Miss Twomey has bitten. is the
Introduction of a priest as the lead Of
the performance, always in play.
wrighting considered rather precarious
ground for even the more experienced
of play constructors. There Is just one
thing which has kept the author from
absolute failure and has wrought from
that prospective failure a success
That one thing is Harrington Rey.
nolds. the man who braveiy jumps into
the cloth OF Father O'Brien and makes
OF the prelate something real, some.
thing tangible. something which live.
and brea,hes and literally exudes the
goodness which is too often buried.
Mr.. Harrington is by TO means IN
known in Richmond. For several
seasons he was seen here In THE
Rosary" but never has ne been sep
arated from his clerical garb. He is
either the most consumnate actor Of
this role on the stage to-day or else
his early training was for the priest
hood. None but he whose life has
been spent close TO the church could
possibly have the insight into the
character portrayed as that shown by
NJ. Harrington. He is finished ac-
tor. complete in every detail. In
shcTt. he is g priest, notwi;hs;ard-
Ing the footlights or the actors sur
rounding him.
The play itself is commonplace
enough. There are just enough laughs
20 relieve tie tension. There Is an
abundance of love and lovemak:rg.
T.c-e Is the conventional william. who
vili!aUizts in the conventional vaEdyk-
I'd way and the equally conventional
riding hab.t makeup. There Is the
jUV' ale. Fred Bradbury by name who
j. q very good Juvenile. There is the
Juveniles sweetheart. Elsie southern.
whose Eanlicap OF good looks soesn';
spoil Ee- from being a very clever
l!tile woI.aa-ia fact. all OF the well
known types OF the ordinary meio-
drama are present.. And thea there Is
Harrington Reynolds. Also there Is
Frank Z. Elliott who .s the real lead
% ~" piece and Goes IL well having
perfectly beau'TuI wsvy hair
Naturally. the lessons which the au.
thor has .adcavorcd TO teach az al
good. An aysr!ciogs corporation rep.
resented ~ 'he vaadyked william car.
ri.s the bTgHt % the troubles Land
owned b. the tcwnsnnen Of FAthe!
O'Bricn 90 be eover-ly purchased fur.
rlshes the main theme II all comes
OUT rish' N 'he era ana 'be eoncius'
iou reached Is satisfying. That Ma gds
TbTgsx. ss Father OBricn's maid. II
entirely too ambitious aad anticipates
ringing % the.be'i ~ visitors. or that
/ several members cf the cast appeaI
| ~ az ease o. the stage. is possibly
Que 90 tbs Tact tina, reaearsais are
jsst over and THE play only In it'
4 second week.
4 AItoe4-te- The srrelus~ IN 9ood