The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-01-14
"Everywoman, a Whimsical Allegory,
Delights Large Crowd at Academy

"Everywoman" entraneed a well
filled house in the Academy last night
and for good reasons. In the first
place, 1t was most gorgeous spec,
tacle. The stage pictures were all
that could be desired. whether they
represented the abode of the heroine,
the stage of theater, or Broadway
with subway entrance, q church and
a big lobster palace, all suggesting the
vicinity OF LongacTe square. There
was good music. written by George
w. Chadwick. some good singing and
q chorus up to the Savage standard
All OF which might suggest mu-
steal comedy, only 1t wasn't
To be sure. 'Everywoman" could
be arranged into an excellent must
cal comedy, only that was not the
idea of the author. 1t also could be
made into very fine melodrama, for
the good old stage traditions are not
forgotten.
The heroine scorns the villain. Pas
sion. and drives him from her in the
most approved style OF the virtuous
heroine. The house rocked to the
applause that followed this, II she
had Just added: Il loathe and despise
you," everyone would have been COM
pletely happy.
Later on she was seen In the snowy
street, clad as all herolnes are clad
under such circumstances-tn neat
sort Of faded lavender, or slatc-blue
gown, with mantel, or mantlila- or
shawl, or whatever 1t Is they wore
over their heads, under such circum-
stances, and with her what should
have been her suffering chee-ild, but
in this case Ii happened to be Allie
with the snow falling over them just
as on many another just such night,
when lust such bicnde-haired nero
inc was turned forth, all because she
had taken false, II accidental, step.
And then the villain came along, dan
difed, prosperous, and she begs him
10 take pity on her, and he scorns
her. and the snow comes downtown.
And then up comes the good-hearted
old man. or the comic man. ana
whichever one that comes UP says:
Gene home with me to my poor,
| humble abode. 1t amt much, bur
| such as it is" And SO forth.
| That scene is In 'Everywoman." and
| when the heroina and her chee-ild
| kneel down IN front of the church in
| the falling snow you sort of wonder
I II me -wU orphans wasn't a grand
| old thriller.
| So It can be seen that ''Everywo-
1 man. has a touch OF good old melo-
| drama about IT, as well as musical
| comedy. and is all the better for IL.
| But the whole fact Of the matter ID.
| IL liz something different Undouhted-
1y. II 'Everyman" had not been writ
| ten and presented by Ben Greet and
| MS players, "Everywoman" would not
/ have come into being. Anyway. 1t has
/ come into being, ana 1t ts out of the
/ ordinary, decidedly out of the ordi-
/ nary, clever something different 1t
| is in I'VE canticles, as the author, Wal
| ter Browne, calls his acts, and 1t is
| known as a modern morality play Ii
1 is a whimsical ailegorS,
! "Everywoman" sets out in quest of
happiness and happiness In her case
means love. she is attended by
Youth, Beauty and Modesty She re-
fuses to heed the voice of Truth, who
is an old witch and lives In well:
nor yet the voice Of Truths son, who
4 syn sAsaii5y, Lov2 Lnsfesd she heaEk-,
ems to the voice OF Flatterys who
takes up his abode In her mirror and
she goes 10 the great city and on the
stage. Wealth wins her after Pas
sion has tried and failed, but Mod
esty has been banished from the the
alter by the mana cement and Beauty
dies in "Everywonlan's s. abode on
the night that she gives great fete
and accepts Wealth as King Love.
Then Wealth casts her Off and at
tended only by Youth she seeks to
win him back. Old Time Stays Youth
and Wealth scorns Esrywoman, for
Vice, a painted hussy Then Truth
old Herewith, grown beautiful. comes
along and "Everywoman" turns TO
her, broken down, haggard, but see
ing things as they are and asking
Charity. In the end she find Love,
the son of Truth in her old home.
And all through the play wandeFs
Nobody, dressed in the garb that re-
minds one of the pictures OF Dante
and playing the part of the Greek
chorus. He fairly puzzles the audi
ence for he represents Nobody and
yet there he is in person.
/ who will care for you when you
are old and you have lost Youth and
Beauty" is asked OF Everywoman
and Nobody answers Nobody"
Which would be confusing and lausha-
lie 's u were not so true and satirical
Nobody was greatly appreciated
last night and when all the princi
pals were called In front of the cur
tain at the end OF the fourth act
II was Nobody who received 'he mos
applause. That Is II was II. Coopsl
Cline. who impersonated Nobody.
Next to him Father Time, Galley at
! the theater and assassin OF Youth. re-
! ceived the loudest round, although.
/ for that matter, IL clearly belonged 20
Everywoman. That's Masrane, or to
Truth. otherwise Marie Wainwright.
The company was 40 excellent that