The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-07-11
.Bijou Company viii
Play The Devil"
All This Week

! 1t is farewell week at the Bijou
thts-week.- and in the pro-
ductton of THE Devil" one of the
| most noteworthy successes of the
world stage In the past ten years,
which Director Berthelet has selected
as the final attraction this season,
every effort will be made to reach
the highest point of attainment.
Careful consideration has been given
the selection OF the play. the details
of the production have been worked
out with painstaking care and the
selection of the large cast has not
been the least of the many things to
cause the director deep thought.
There Is a romance of particular
interest to local theatergoers connect
ed with the production of THE Devil'
here at this time. For 1t was in the
original Savage production of this
famous satirical comedy from the
Hungarian that Director BertheIet
first met and loved Leona Ball, his
charming wife. He was cast as the
artist and she as the model They
played an entire year in New York
before going on tour and when the
company did leave the Great White
Way there were honeymooners In it.
The story of THE Devil" Is full OF
interest and comedy In back
ground of seriousness. wherein Is
shown the develish influence of evil
influence and suggestion. there is
woven a sardonic 4humor stepped In
cynicism of the most accute kind.
Some Of the lines are so tipped with
wit that they cut like the blows from
a rapier. The comedy element pre-
walls, but 1t is a kind of comedy which
appeals to the thinking man and the
wit Of the dialogue reminds one much
of Shaw or Ibsen. There Is but one
sentimental note in the play and that
is sounded by Mimi. the model there
Is but one character that laughs in
the face of THE Devil" and that IL
Elsa. strong in youthful vigor and
purity of mind.
Edward Arnold will be seen in the
role Of THE Devil" part played
George Arliss and Edwin Stevens, 1t
will furnish the popular lead unusual
opportunities for revealing his recog-
mixed ability and will bring TO light q
depth OF feeling and a contrasting
lightness OF acting not before credited
to him. Director Bertheiet and Miss
Ball have been cast for their original
roles. those OF the artist and his
model. George Riddeil and Miss
Olga Hoffman. Herbert Curtis. Leslie
Bassett Miss Crawford, Miss Perry,
Miss Fitzroy. Roger Maybe, Sammy
Lynch and Miss Josephine Tignor, a
local girl. will be seen to advantage
also.
The plays calls for unusually beau
tiful settings and Director Berthelet
has been able to secure exact duplf-
Gates Of those used in the first pro-
duction an 1t was given by Henry w.
Savage. Tho play IL modern and the |
sets show the interior Of the artists |
studio and the interior OF the con-
servatory OF the Hoffman House In
Vienna.
With It's presentation Richmond
bids farewell to the .'best stock COM |
pany which has appeared here since |
the days OF Larry Giffen." The pro- |
duction of THE Devil'' Ia to be made |
the masterpiece OF the season, II care. |
full thought and painstaking care on |
the part OF Director Berthelet wiz
enable to make II so, ana the play |
SHOULD prove one OF the most note-
worthy pre~artafJoss p~ea 81 thin eits
In years s s - ~ e y,