The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-09-05
WITHIN THE LAW"
PLEASES AUDIENCE
&C. r.. SEES BEST SHOW YET BOOK
ED INTO ACADEMIA
GREAT PLAY
MISS JOEL'S TRIUMPH
GIVES EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE
OF ExACTfNG RoLE--PLAY
HAPPILY CAST AND
WELL STAGED

Local theatergoers, who consider
ed themselves "stung" by several OF
the early season attractions at the
Academy, will be more than repaid for
their disappointment by seeing one of
the remaining performances OF Bayard
veiller's remarkable drama. within
the Law" which held a miserably
small audience spelIbound last even
ing for two hours and half. The
size of the audience Is hard to ac-
count for in the light OF the reputation
preceding the play and the subse-
quent splendid performance given by
one of the best road companies" ever
put out from the metropolis.
TIE problems with which this in
teresting story deals are big and they
are ably handled by its author who
employs with telling effect nearly ev-
cry trick of the stage. and does 1t so
successfully as to make his work rank
among the best productions of the
modern stage for the quality of sus-
tanned interest, rivalling In his re-
spect, Madame X" Bought and
Paid For" and others of that type.
The story hinges around the event.
ful career in New York of Mary
Turner. young, innocent and depend
ent upon the work of her hands for
livelihood. Employed at meagre
salary in the emporium Of Edward
Glider, she Is placed under false ar
rest for the theft OF merchandise. and
mercilessly sentenced to Auburn for
three FEARS. Vowing revenge upon
her heartless employer. she serves her
time and upon the expiation of the
sentences takes up her abode in the
city with gang of crooks and black
mailers. awaiting her oportunity. 1t
soon comes an dshe marries the son
nf t.1n .x.An haa ~
she wins, In thrilling scene in
which the announcement is made to
the irate and Inundated father. the
SON, deaf TO his entreaties. swears
allegiance TO the girl, Of whose past he
was iguorant. Then follows an at
tempt by the gang TO rob the Older
home, plot which Is furnished by
tina girl and In the, exciting climax.
this sto 81 pigeon III murdered by one of
tbs crooks, all If whom escape leav-
ing young Glider under suspicion of
the murder hy powerful chain OF
circumstant!ai evidence. The rest Of
the plot would best be learned by
seeing the performances.
The cast that mas been chosen to
interpret the play Is unusually COM
petent and well balanced. and the
small audience was unstinted in we'll
deserved applause, The part of Mary
Turner made famous in New York by
Jane Cowi. or rather that brought her
fame. Is played here by Miss Clara
Joel. we'll remembered for her pro-
nounced hit last season with The
Girl in the Taxi and she achieved a
distinct triumph. her acting in the
second and third acts amounting
almost to an ovation She has many
OF the qualifications of an emotional
actress. voice. physique and intel
ligence, In addition to being a strik-
ingly pretty woman. She deserves
great credit for her splendid rendition
of SO exacting a role.
Thomas Jefferson Evans. a young
man of considerable talent. played
opposite Miss Joel. and did so wei,
that the audience manifested almost
rs heartily approved OF his work as
OF hers.
Miss Agnes Lynch eniivened the
rather tragic story with some very
girl friend OF Mary. Frank Kilday
made a capital proprietor OF a large
department store and reminded one
much OF the actor who played John
Burkett Ryder In The Lion and the
Mouse And George NJ. Fee simply
walked away with his portrayal of a
police inspector. with his bullying
manner and clumsy methods. invest
Ing the part with an unctuous humor
that was irresistible. The remaining
characters were in competent hands
to the very smallest bit. and although
the company has not been out long.
everything ran smoothly enough
The piece is handsomely mounted,
the four settings all being interiors.
To those who wish to follow the
eventful life OF shop-gr1. maltreated
and prosecuted, and who seeks and
obtains revenge by methods question
able, but within the Law" we can
heartily commend this play. You
simply cannot afford to miss II II you
love the drama.