The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-03-25

the dramatic spectacle. cEverywoman,'
which will be offered nj the Academy
Friday and Saturday with a mattinet
both days the characters all bear tn.
names of abstract qualities. the mere
mention OF which at once established
their identity. Though for the mos
part these characters are human and
perform throughout the action of thu
play just as human beings would II
our modern world. the appellations
leave the audience in no doubt a. Il
what they really mean and their ten.
denotes. Thus Youth 10 a young girl
Beauty a beautiful girl. and Modesty
a modest girl--all selected with pa.
thence and care.
Wealth Is blase man of the world
whose appearance is not incongruoue
with the idea of his possessing q man
sion on Fifth avenue and villa al
Newport. Truth Is toothless bag who
carries a scourge and whose every word
at the beginning of the play Ia un-
pleasant to Everywoman, but through
the development OF the drama her Sc
we're visage changes and she becomes
beautiful. just as truth itself becomes
beautiful to one who has waded
through deceit and lies. Everywoman
herself. represents the average young
woman of our day. accomplished
beautiful, rich. but dissatisfied. longing
for the admiration and the plaudits
of the world. and for love. Her pill
grimage in quest of love which takes
her into strange places and among
queer surroundings, Is the play It
self.
One of the most difficult tasks which
confronted the producer was the seiec-
ton of personality to represent Vice.
Vice, be it known, in "Everywoman,"
is in the siren of the. world, the ere;
ture without conscience and without
heart for whom men forsake wife and
children and Alome pour out their souls.
and are left at last battered and bleed
ing upon the rocks. while the creature
goes forth in search of other con-
quests.
Kipiing has told her tale In THE
Vampire" just as Walter Browne did
in "Eyerywoman." Vice. sang Pope,
lis monster of such fearful mien
that to be hated she needs but be
seen" but made familiar with her
treacherous face. first men win pity,
then endure, and then embrace"
1t was this conception OF Vice which
the producer of "Everywoman' sought
to represent in the riotous carnival
of New Years Eve on Broadway. New
York. She Is of the throng of mer
ry-makers. yet distinctive; her pro-
fession, her lack of moral attributes,
visible in every glance of her eye. every
line of her sinuous figure. She must
be creature SO insinuating SO ravish
ing withal, that she would command
the eye or every man and the curious
glance of every woman.
From scores of applicants for the
character of Vice Mr.. Savage selected
Gwen Garfield. young woman of rare
histrionic instinct because In pri-
waite life she Is ultra demure and shy.
But made-up for the character of Vice
she embodies the ideas of the dramatist
and poet. In the shimmsring gown OF
green in which she appears In the
motley throng, she needs no introduc-
ton. Men seem to know her and
women shudder apprehenslvely for she
represents one of the most unpleasant
types in the world. a type upon which
sociologists disagree and worthy mem
bers of society close their eyes, while
recognizing it's existence.