The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-09-24
EXCELLENT PLAY
SEEN BY SMALL
CROWD At ACADEMY
"READY MONEY" CLEAN AND
OYABLE--GTNEN By CA
PARLE COMPANY.

Again reviving an old subject of
discussion, we rise to remark that we
wonder why the really good plays
which are occasionally presented in
Richmond are not given the patronage
which they deserve, and why those
who harp on the uplift of the drama
do not once in "A while drop in to see
exactly what is the condition OF the
drama. Should they do SO they
might. were they lucky, strike upon
such play as Ready Money the
Brady offering of James Montgom-
ery's delightful comedy. which yes
terday was twice presented To two al
most bare houses at the Academy of
Music. The idea Of these few para
graphs IS not to tell of the baroness
Of the house, though, nor is II to take
10 task the people of Richmond It
is to review the play as yesterday
presented. and we set ourselves to the
pleasure.
Those who failed TO take the OPP
portunity of seeing the play really
missed n good deal. But this is again
returning to the harassing and we
make another start Few plays which
have come to his city have been so
thoroughly enjoyed as was that Of last
evening. There is absolutely nothing
which could be said against the play.
and but little which might be said
eeatf'et-t +t---e.+,tfr f,t, T he plot of
Ready Money" is devoid Of cheap
sensationalism, and spoken Of even in
the broadcast sense. rather questiona-
BILE situations and lines There Is
nothing Of the kind in Ready Money"
and yet. contrary Ia the idea which
seems to have become more or less
universal. the play Is full of interest,
there is sufficient of the thrills and
the com ady is rich.
For the time being so much for the
play Itself. The company in many
respects was one of ability, and al.
though several of the members show
cd plainly that several additional
days al rehearsing might have been
spent rather pr0ftably their perform
ance was on the whole of high or
der. and brought out excellent bits
of acting on the parts of several Cor
hett Morris, as stephen Baird, has
the big Part Of the play and ii would
probably have been difficult in the
extreme to find man better fitted
for the role. His work throughout
could hardly have been improved
upon at any point Of the perform
anCe. OF a high order also was the
acting # John NJ Kline, in the role
of Jackson Ives Wilson Stuart's.
James r. Morgan during some scenes
of the play. was good, while at others
It was raspnG Frederick Webber's.
delneati0n Of the part Of Captain
West. and the crcditable performance
of all Of the women members of the
company rounded out an excellent
cast.
Again returning TO the plot. The
story hinges about a down and outer
whose business ability has been tested
and each time failed. and who is
finally approached with a proposition
to put counterfeit money in Circula-
ton a money so, perfect in the execu-
ton that even the government ex-
perts fail to detect it, He refuses to
perform this part of the schemer's
plan; but to test the statement that
money breeds money he consents to
keep il over night 1t is seen by his
friends, and they Immediately be-
liovc that mine. the stock of which
he has been unsuccessful In dispos-
ing of, has begun to pay. and they
are all eager TO get in on the ground
floor. The sight of the money does
II, and their telling of its presence
is sufficient to bring other checks TO
the salesman Government officers
appear. and. but for the quickness OF
the business failure to grasp his OPP
portunties would have discovered the
phoney coin on him. They finally
succeed IN getting hold of the money,
but then are unable to say that 1t is
counterfeit, A message IL received
stating that the extra time allowed
the workmen at the mine has led to
the discovery of gold. and the play
ends with the right girl in the right
place. 1t Is a play delightful and
thoroughly enjoyable.