The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-27
'TR|LDY' IS
SEASONS SUCCESS
POWERFUL PLAY WELL. STAGED
AND ABLY PRESENTED ny
LA VERNE COMPANY.
MISS O'NEILL TRIUMPHS
STAR RISES SUPERIOR TO ANY
PREVIOUS PERFORMANCE
OTHERS OF CAST HANDLE
THEIR PARTS WELL.

by the Lucille La Verne company.
both In the magnificence of its set
ting, the smoothness of the perform
ance and the appeal which it made
to the audience. "Trilby," George du
Maurier's dramatiZation of Paul Nj.
Potter's powerful novel of Mesmer-
ism, with Miss Nance O'Neill in the
title role opened the present week Of
stock at the Academy last evening
1t Is hard to speak of anything
using only superlatives, and yet that
Is the task which the reviewer of last
nights production of "Trilby" faces.
For the performance was so nearly
perfect. the work of the cast made
such a great appeal to the audience.
and the staging of the piece was so
well done that to be at all just that
last and Furthermore degree must be
relied upon. Every role was handled
even better than has been the fashion
I'D to the present time. and in "Tril-
by there are but few roles which
can be undertaken successfully by a
mediocre performer.
Miss Nance O'Neil's delineation Of
the character of Trilby was vastly
superior to her work in any of the
plays in which she has previously
been presented. In no previous play
has she so completely proven her
right to her reputation. as being the
foremost emotional actress on the
American stage. There is no theatre
calism about her performance. She
is too sincere. She lives the part and
her work reaches the house as no
other actress has reached them IN
many a day. The reception accord
ed her at her first appearance last
evening attested the popularity which
she has gained here. However, was
but a small portion of that accorded
her upon the close of the second and
third acts. The house simply stormed
and several bouquets of flowers were
presented her and Miss La Verne.
If there was one In the cast last
evening who came into her own II
was Miss La Verne. AS Nine. Vfnard
she gave an excellent performance,
and won hearty approval from the
audience. So we'll did they ike the
Interpretation of the role. the audi
ence recalled her several times, and
the hearty reception which she and
her play met with must have done
even her, this woman who has given
Richmond one of the most successful
seasons of stock which the city has
ever had. and who is used to success,
good.
But IL Miss O'Neill and Miss La
Verne were good. were excellent. what
can be said of Alfred Hickman's
Svengalio Here again comes In that
superlative degree, and again ii
causes trouble in gaining expression.
Hickman's performance of a difficult
role. was masterful and he deserved
all OF the praise which his work
| brought him.
And so did william Balfour. as
Taffy; and Frank Conway, as The
Laird: and Percival Aylmer's Little
Billy; and the Gecho. of Herbert Cur
tbs. Each was excellently done and
met with the heartiest approval.
The amateurs who were given parts
in "Trilby" each handled his well.
| The play gave Miss Louise White
who made her theatrical debut with
Miss La Verne in Lady Windermere'
Fan" a chance to speak several lines
| and she more than made good. Miss
Isaacs, one of the sweetest choir sim
gers of this city. sung the solo part
accompanied by Mrs Stein, ana the
attention accorded her was ample
proof Of her success
"Trilby' Is a strong play highly
emotional, and the manner in which
It was presented last evening seems
to insure that the present week VII
be one Of the most successful yet ex'
l-perienced by the present stock com
pany. And It affords the theatergoeri
| OF Richmond an excellent chance o.
seeing the company at it's best.
Change at the Orpheum.
The production scheduled for thu
Crpheum this week proved to be be
low the standard set by this theatei
and the management in justice t.
patrons have cancelled the engage
ment and for the balance of THU
week will show Photoplays featur,
films of three and four reels.
1t is the policy of the Orpheun
to produce only what Is good ant
when that is not obtafnable not t.
produce any Hence this change. Tn
feature films that have been booked
are the most elaborate that could b
obtained. The musical comedies will
| be continued. starting next week.
| At the Colonial.
| With Rush Ling Toy. the Chimes
mystifier. as the billed feature at
| traction. the two weeks bill OF vaude
VILE features at the Colonial yester
day opened to a huge success Aftel
a display Of picture plays, all comic
and one devoted almost entirely Il
John Bunny and Flora Finch. tbs
vaudeville portion was begun by thu
musical offering of the de Stefant
brothers, two quite youthful italian
boys, one devoting his talents to thu
! violin the other to the harp ant