The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-11-17
MARY JAMES PA" MAKES
HIT AT THE COLONIAL


But few plays wsaich Dewitt New
ing has produced at the Grayce Scott
Colonial Theater this season will
make quite SO broad and universal
appeal to the big theatergoing pub
lie as will that of Mary James Pa"
the first performances OF which was
given to a capacity house last even
ing. There Is similarity between
II and Mrs. Wigs" and Miss Perry
lends to the characterization Of Por-
tia Perkins many OF the traits which
made the personality OF Mrs. Wigs
so attractive. In many other ways
she Is different, though, and so. too.
Is the pay: and the variety which is
afforded makes the performance all
the more attractive.
Dewitt Newing lis the shiftless HI
ram Perkins, victim of the wander
lust. who deserted his family for ten
years, leaving Portia to rear the two
children and to provide them with q
home. How well her exceptional self
accomplished the feat Is shown clearly
In the play and the manner In which
she did II Is suggested in the traits
which Portia shows upon the return
OF Hiram. Miss Perry gave an un-
usual and exceptionally pleasing per-
( Torrance last evening in a role which
required the most careful study II its
finer sentiment and true worth WAS to
be brought out Playing opposite her
Dewitt Newing again gave Colonial
goers performance OF merit ana
lost no opportunity<to invest the role
with all of the feeltng--both COM
edy and sentimentai--which was to
be found in it.
NJ. ss Scott was q modern young Ia
dy with all OF the modern Ideas of the
OF y-p n r. n I &~fxta
ing to see the wide, wide world. Sho
was a pout at times. q little unjust
to the mother who had. saved in q
print shop for her at other times,
Just as she was intended to be. and
she was also = sweetheart Of the
actor. fellow who later won the
consent OF her mother. OF course
Jack Warner was the actor fellow
Who later turned out to be the son OF
wealthy publisher for whom Hiram
was writing book. 40 OF course
things came out al right with she
marrying Barrett Sheridan and HI
ram and Portia being reunited.
Miss Nan Crawford rendered the
part OF Miss Faxon In a manner well
up to her usual standard and made
OF the Character very apt and cor
rect impersonation OF the ''deadlier
OF the speciea-". Herbert Curtis vest
ed the role Of Rome Preston. friend
of Portia and the patient waiter at the
odd corner Of tho triangle. with at
tractive vestments He played the
part carefully and with considera-
ton, giving a highly finished per-
fcrmance.
Little Miss Mountcaatle was an at
tractivc little Mary Jane George
Riddle. gave his usually excellent per-
Torrance in the role ofsLAnc Watkins
Arthur Berthe.et played the part Of
Claude Whitcome. Miss Chesmond
was a most likeable Llcw ellyn Green,
and Leslie Bassett was OF course cast
as the vi.lianous Skinner His work
In the role was OF high order.
But as Hiram Perkins might have
remarked had he been given the OPP
portunaty, tho plays the thing. MA
ry James Pa" ID pay blessed with
simplicity, with an appealing some
thing which at times makes those
Jumps rise In the throat a. tho sym
pathy for the woman fighting against
many odds makes itself felt. But
there Is also . great deal OF cemody
running through the piece and OF :
kind which one can 60 home and tell
a sister or a mother 81. Also there Il
fine character drawing in many Of
the parts.
"Mary James Pa" IL delight. wen
staged to the kninutest details, ex-
cellently acted by 4 capable COM
pany, Il IL performances well worth
the seeing. 7,
THE GIRLS FROM JOYLANnD