The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-21

this stirring and appsaiiss drama Of
reaches Of up York state. Nor will
IT be an ordinary production that wiz
be given. Mr.. Nswing long since de-
termined to give Tess Of the Storm
Country" but he also determined not to
present It, 4ptil such time - he could
give II an adequate production. Both
he and stage Director Bsrthelst, whose
woodworking ability has bssn DEM
onstrated time and time again. to-
gether with Scenic Artist sackerman.
have been working on the produce
ton of Tess" for several weeks. Now
they are ready and they promise some
thing that will set all Richmond by
the ears after the opening perfor-
nance Monday night. Tho sheer force
of the play, the intense dramatic situa-
lions. the homery humor and pathos
OF the people. the tremendous heart in
terest that Is always maintained. would
be quite enough to make II a success.
but when Is added to all this q we'll
nigh perfect acting performance rs
well as a most sumptuous production
the combination should make q record
breaker
Tess. SO the story goes. is the daugh-
ter Of Orion Skinner, one of the native
Inhabitants Of the shores of Lake
Cayuga. Fish netting has been his
vocation all of his life. Just as II has
been the vocation of his friends. But
the government has set it's foot down
upon this method of catching fish and
game wardens have been sent to arrest
and prosecute all those caught in the
act Thus the men are forced to try
and outwit the warden; as q result
there are frequent captures. frequent
yirtInna nd INF
ders
There lives in the immediate vicinity
wealthy landowner who has little
sympathy for the people OF the neigh
borhood who are derisively called
"squatters" This man has son and
daughter. The son Is clergyman
and the daughter is betrothed to the
game warden. On the eve of her mar
riage the warden Is murdered by Ben
Let's, though Tess father Is accused
Of the crime. A young fisherman has
witnessed the murder. but blow on
the head has caused loss of memory
and he cannot recall the name of the
murderer.
Teola becomes a mother and In seek
ing shelter from her father she comes
to the cabin OF Tess. who agrees to
shelter the babe. Fearing that the
child might die without having been
first baptized. Tess seeks the aid OF
the. minister, who has become infat-
uated through her natural beauty. and
the underlying goodness Of her ac-
lions. However, when he learns, or
thinks he learns. the child belongs
to Tess he refuses to perform the reli-
gious rites. His sister. hearing his
refusal. makes a confession. absolvine
Tess. The father, learning of his
daughters trouble. becomes merciful
and determines that he will In the fu-
ture do all that he can toward bet
tering the conditions of the squat
ters.
In the meantime the young fisher
man RECEIVERS his reason and his
memory. He charges Ben Let's with
ras murder and Let's Is arrested. Oron
Skinner In released from Jail. The
minister realizing the wrong that he
has done Tess. asks to be forgiven
and assures her of his love. The cur
tain falls upon a highly happy scene,
while the audience leaves thrilled by
the many climaxes that the dramatist
has created.
Miss Scott. as Tess. will have another
of those parts with which Richmond
audiences have come to associate her.
As the oaretree, philosophic. yet ingen-
uous. child of the hills and the lakes.
she will be even more captivating than
she was as Glad" In "a Dawn OF
Tomorrow" or az Princess Snow White
Mr. Warner will make an ideal min
lister and lover. while all of the rest
OF the members of the company will
be given roles hes. suited them. As
already mentioned the production win
be one of the heaviest and one OF the
most attractive presented by the
Grayce Scott players this season. The
engagement OF Tess OF the Storm
Country" will begin with special
Washingtons birthday matinee on
Monday,