The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-29

pnny, In "a Woman'S Why"
Bijou-"Busy Ivy matinee and
night.
Coionial-NRudcviiIc.
F.mpire-Niniuturc MusicnI Comedy.
Orpheum-Tnbioid Musical Comedy.
Little Observation-Disclosures.
Grnycc scott Triumphs in - woman's
Wny."
Before an audience eager to welcome
old friends and ready TO make new
ones, the Lucille La Verne Company
opened it's season of summer stock at
the Academy of Music last night. with
Thompson Buchanan's comedy. "A Wo-
mans Way" and with Grayce Scott as
the first of its visiting stars.
Both play and star We're wisely Sc
lected for the one is "a charming and
lightly satirical comedy. ideal for pre-
sentation during "a summer engage
ment, and the other is one Of the few
women of the stage personally dear
TO the theatregoing public OF Rich
mond.
The play, which Grace George used
some years ago, is cleverly written
little sugar-coated sermon preached at
the clinging vine style of woman. in
that it sets forth in humorous, yet
profoundly wise, IA shion the success at
who fights to hold her husband, en-
ploying the articles of the other
woman, instead of weeping at him.
over him, and on him.
At the time the action of the play
begins. Howard Stanton has, with the
utmost modernity. got himself smashed
up in an automobile accident with a
woman distinctly not his wife. The
newspapers have smeared the story all
over their front pages; reporters are
clamoring for further details; his
mother is endeavoring to condonc his
/ conduct: his wifc's mother is trying
to condole with her daughter, and all
their friends and relatives, as we'll as
the public in general. assume that a
divorce will follow.
But the wife assumes an altogether
different attitude toward the situation
and toward her husband. In a speech
/ rcplcte with wisdom and understands
J ing. she announces that before any
{ woman can take her husband from
/ her. she will have TO earn" him, and
straightway begins her campaign by
! inviting the other woman to her
F, house, together with several of the
other woinan's former danes, as well
| as "a man who has been hopelessly in
love with Der the wife. for many years.
Follow Then the clever exposure of
the woman with pearl necklaced
past, the husbands awakened jealousy
and consequent capitulation. and hap
]
! bright pretty little play, one that
many of us have enjoyed before. but,
as ii was presented last night it also
served TO reintroduce TO us Grayca
Scott or rather to introduce to us a
new Grayce Scott. who played the wife.
When Larry" Glffen whom we OF the
half generation ahead OF those who
do the new dances have practically
| canonzed as the patron saint OF SUI
perlative stock companies. presented
his brilliant companies here for sew
eral seasons. Grayce Scott was an un-
usually charming nlsenue.
Last night, when she made her first
entrance and was compelled TO stand
quietly bowling for some minutes while
the audience stopped the action OF the
piece. she appeared stu the ingenue--
slender ngure. big blue eyes, masses OF
blonde hair. and all. But. as tile pay
proceeded while her physical appear
ance of course remained unchanged,
the artist In her projected itself over
the footlights. the effect or tho en-
perienccd actor who has got under the
skim Of part and is sending the part
over II adc itself felt, and She grew In
stature in the eyes Of the mind Al
ways IA comedcnne OF deft and sure
touch, she remains that, but she has
added to her equipment quantity. a
depth, that makes her more SERIOUS
work instantly effective And this
quite apart from the magnetism that
has always been hers
Altogether Miss SCOTS Marion stan
ton OF last night was literally Il beau
tiful performance have seen Grace
George IN the part, and. of the two,
think Grayce Scotts the better per-
formance. chiefly because Il is softer,
glittcring with less hard btilliancs
pcrcivai Aylmer, WHO played oppo-
site Miss Scott in the role OF her hus-
band, was not altogether easy in the
first act, due to his cngrossng duties
as stage director OF an altogether new
company, but later in the play he be
came much more free, aud gave album
dant evidence OF the excellent work
that may be expected of.hm, If his fine
performances here earlier in the season
as Lord Icllerdinc, in ~ Butterfly on
the Wheel were not already sufficient
to guarantee his ability.
Miss La Verne has always been SO
successful in character parts that ii
is unfortunate that She did not cast
part she assumes in IA Woman'S Way
is not suited to her.
/ Frederick T.. Bcane was delightful
in the character bit OF General Living
ston. scoring with every one of his
few opportunities. while Charles Is
! tNoSs' III IL Otu WIZ, prayed Il servant
admirably.
Others to whom small parts were
allotted, and of whom lack of space
forbids detailed mention. were Jean
Shelby, Eleanor Haber, Eda Won Bmc-
low. William Balfour. Frank CONWAY
! William Hedge and Douglas Bronston
The scenery and settings. thanks IL
! Messrs Calfen and Bernstein and their
assistants OF the house, and j. j. Quinn
the scenic artist of the company. ali
under the direction Of Mr.. Aylmcr
were surprisingly good. while the fact
that the opening performance oil the
season occupied only two and one half
hours. merits approving and grateful
mentioii.
And into the orchestra pit came Sig
nor Felix lardelia. one OF the hrst
clarinetists in this country, aud nllcd
in the orchestra as only half dozen
ordinary men could do.
Finally. the house called Miss Scott
and Miss La Verne again and again,
and both got hcwers--Nliss Scott huge