The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-12
ADJUSTMENTS.
Academy OF AIusic-Dnrk.
BiIou-Don't Lie TO Your Wife.
matinee and night.

a play IN three acts, by Rachel
Crothers, entitled The Herfords."
| Characterization Herford. n sculptor
| Charles Waldron: Ann Hcrford, his
| wife, Viola Allen; Daisy Herford, his
sister. Grace Elliston: Millicent Her
ford. his daughter, Miriam Collins; Dr..
Remington, his fathcrin-law George
Fawcett: Keith Mckenzie, his as
! sistant, John Westley: Ruth Creol, his
wife's friend, Jessie Izcttc: Ellen, a
maid Florence Johns. Time. the pres
ent. Scenes-Act l. Tho studio III the
Iierford House, New York. > o'clock
| OF an afternoon in January. Act II.
The living room In the same house,
/ four months later, o'clock of an even
ing in April Act III. Same as act II.
half an hour later. The play staged
| BY Miss Crothers.
II has been many day since We
| have seen in Richmond company
| that surpassed in general excellence
that which appeared Mt tho Academy
| OF Music last night in Rachel Croth-
ers's new play. The IIerfords. {"
/ Headed by Viola Allen. long ago es-
tablished high in the theatrical heav-
ems, 1t was composed OF men and wo-
| men who, whether we'll known or
| comparatively unknown. were able.
| through sheer ability. TO CLEAN in
J their respective roles undimmed by
| the radiance of their star.
But first the play. Narrowed down
to a few phrases. it teaches two les
sons or points two morals: That, in
| the words OF the most charming char
acter Of the play. st Is impossible
! for a man and 4 woman to love each
/ other, live together and be happy. un-
| less the man is it and, less siangily.
[, but more freely translated. "a it were,
| that no matter how great in a wonlan's
/, eyes may be her work. her sphere,
! her career /: she he a mediterranean.
the call of the mother-love IS greater
| in time o! stress.
And. as the play was presented last
! nlght-it has been out only two
| weeks. and will doubtless be altered
to some cxtent-thc second of the
two Is the one more convincingiy con-
I! vaycd.
| oliver IIerford is a successful sculp-
! tor, and at the time the play opens
/, Is working hard on II friezc for a
, great building In competition with
! many others. He has become dissat-
! isiicd with his work, apparently II bit
stale" and mis- WIFE cndcavors TO stir
/ him. to put new life aud vigor In him.
even to assist him with n now idea
for the frcze by showing him some
sketches for the same work which
she has. hnlf-idly, half in earnest,
don1.
lie recognizes the beauty and orig
inality of the drawings. but thinks tina
thcy arc not big enough. not s;rone
enough, in their conception. and scout.
the idea of using them himself. Some.
what amusedly he consents to he'
making the plaster moleis herself All,
nding them in competition. Follow
ing this one line of the story both ar,
thunderstruck by tho decision OF tn,
commission-the award for the worl
goes to the wife.
Then develops the truth OF the quot
ed line. The husband is Inundated, I,
spite OF himself. IT becomes more tina,
he can bear; he first urscs. then com
mands. that she shall give UP the worl
and devote herself Ia their homo. ,hci
GauShtcr and himself Her father add
his advice: her friends and his try t,
Amake her sec the inevitable effect upo,