The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-04

.n. the ne.odrarnado field is tho well
known play of Western iife--"Bfily,
The Kid" In which Berkeley Has
we'll has been booked for = weeks
engagement at the Bijou theater. be-
ginning tomorrow night
The play. while melodramatic, Is
consistent and tells a story that is
full OF interest. having for its big
climaxes situations which are excep-
tionally dramatic. The comedy ele-
ment is furnished by n good natured
1rishman. a fine type Of the old South
ern colonel and his colored orderly.
The story Of the play opens on the
home divide of a big. New Mexico
ranch. Hero are living the hero, his
mother. who thinks. that her first
husband If dead, has married a. sec
ond time. and his stepfather. Tho
hero is q lad full Of life who Is at
the age when the sensational appeals.
and he has decided that he is to be
come bandit. The home life is ideal
until one day the shadow creeps
across TIE threshold in the coming
OF Mrs EFright's first husband. who.
driven from the East by his mis-
deeds ny accident finds the wife he
deserted, and who believes him dead.
He tries to persuade his wife TO as
aist him in new crime, the abstrac-
ton Of certain deeds belonging TO
her second husband. and finding that
she would rather tell that husband
She entire truth, plans the diabolical
plan Of making Billy, his own son. a
thief and an outlaw. by the aid Of
licuor he succeeds in this but even
then does not get possession of the
coveted papers. even though he mur-
dcrs both Wright and his wife. being
found almost red handed by Billy,
who then and their takes an oath to
avenge their deaths. Billy becomes
an outlaw. and there is a reward put
upon his head. for the second act
finds him at the head of n band. the
most feared man in the territory.
Many are the traps laid for him, but
he escapes them all. and In the end
returns to the East to lead an hon
Get and God fearing life, accompanied
by the girl whom he has loved since
childhood. The love interest that Ia
developed in the telling OF the story
Is exceedingly strong. and the types
which have been introduced are TAX
an from real life and we'll and clear
ly drawn. From a production stand
point the play is elaborate each of
the four acts having been given
handsome and artistic settings,
At the Empire.
Just as novel. Interesting and typi-
cal as is the idea of tabloid enter
tainment will be the latest idea OF
tabloid show to be offered at the En-
pire during the week to start tomor-
row. Carrying the title. Hiram at
the Cabaret" that peculiar combina-
ton OF yokei simplicity and the bright
lights Of the metropolis, promises to
make for a banner week OF humor
and laughter. ~
In its first scenes Hiram, the prin-
cipal figure Of the offering and the
butt OF the Jokes. as well as the laugh
provider will be seen in his natural
habitat. the GLORIOUS green of the
farnlands, the people OF rustic sim
plicity. uaturalness and charm. pro-
viding n splendid scene taken from
life, And the later scenes will show
the same Hiram affiicted with wan
derlust. having taken himself and his
fortune to the bright lights Of Broad
way. where he is seen as the un-
heralded but main figure of the caba-