The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-20
ADJUSTMENTS.
Acndemy-"Thc LILY"
ColOninl-Vnutieville.
Empire-EnudcviIlc.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
Little Thentre-Pictur
Great Actress stirs Audience.

Great Actress Stirs Audience.
| ReboundinG from the more or less
uneven. not TO say wabbly presenta-
ton last week of Lady Windermeres
/ Fam the Lucille LA Verne Company
rose last night to dramatic altitude
/ rarely attained by stock company
and none too frequently reached by or
ganizations that devote all their efforts
/ to tho performance of one play
| For the fourth week OF the summer
season David Belasco's play, The
Lily" an adaptation from the French
of Adolf Wolfe and Castor Laroux. was
chosen. and to play the title role Miss
LA Verne had the good Judgment. fore
sight. fortune-what you will--to en-
gage one of the foremost emotional
actresses In the English speaking
world. Nance O'Neil. who had created
the part in this country And not con-
tent with this extravaganza, she Sc
cured the invaluable services of Alfred
Hickman, also OF the original cast and
an exceedingly competent actor and
director, who practically staged the
play for her. as we'll as played his own
important part.
Therefore, led by Nance O'Ncil and
infinitely strengthened by Alfred Hick-
man. the company gave performance
that surpassed even the fond hopes Of
It's well wishers while the largest audi
ence that has ever witnessed any PLAY
by any stock company in Richmond. If
memory and information received do
mot err, was aroused 10 a very real and
intense enthusiasm, spontaneous. live
and free from usher-led perfunctori-
ness.
The Lily" is very evidently an adap-
tation from the French stage; not only
because of its freedom, for that quality
10 not confined to the Gallo drama, hut
chiefly because of the fact that its two
notes or tragedy are sounded by the
lnslstent hammer of parental author
ity upon the natural impulses of young
"on.anhood This freedom referred to
would have necesstated. a few years
ago. a mild hint that The Lily was
not strictly speaking a play for young
girls; in this day. however, Of Pro-
Kressive Dances; it warrants only a
timid suggestion that those approa CHI
ing, or passing, middle age may ind it,
wcll--asterisky.
II seems that IN the circles that re-
volve about the plot q spinster who
has reached certain. or an uncertain
age. is not described by one OF our
unpleasant words. but is gently known
as lily.
In the PLAY, the elder OF two daugh :
. ters has lowered into that quickly fad :
ing emblem through the harshness OF
her rakish old father. who had refused
10 allow her to marry the man of her
heart years before.
Worn. tired and unhappy. she sub
mits TO the domineering habits of her
father even her brother, and plays the
mother, the housckceper, to her family.
waiting upon everybody, and asking
nothing for herself But when her III :
tie sister becomes entangled in an af-
falr commonly described by n word
not readily susceptible OF translation
with a man OF the neighborhood, and
her father and brother. angered ana
outraged. attack the girl. the father
I even with blows. she rises in her
thwarted womanhood. speaks out the
fent-up bitterness OF years. and tax
ing her sister III her arms. protects
her
In This scene Nance O'Neil was over.
towering, tremendous with n wonder
iul, deep. vibrant voice she wrung tho
emotions, stirred the heart; and held
the audience with power given to
ie" actors. She did not appear AT all
until the second act: had little share In
that, and, only in the scene referred 10
IN inc third act. was the most promi
nent hgure. Yet il was Nance O'NeiI
that the audience took away in IT'S
memory
Catherine Carter was the Little Sis-
,cF' Much easier than as Lady Win
dermere. she handled satisfactorily a
heavy part.
Alfred Hickman's brother was artis.
tic and polished 10 high degree
wniic his stage direction was resnon
sibie Tor a perfectly smooth and wal
running performance. He was on the
stage when the electrician, or the stage
MANAGE Turned the footligbts on and
on in the midst Of "A scene
Percival Ayimer. appearing only IN
inc hrst act. In Ugh, comedy role al
humorous cynicinn. was at his delight