Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-23
ADJUSTMENTS
FINE PERFORMANCES GIVEN
.'IIIE WONAS ~ 'l'III.


rntation by the Price Players of Clyde
Fitch's drama. The Woman in the
case. management and players alike
would be quite justified In asking the
Indulgence commonly granted in the
case o! an opening performance. That
Is 70 say, they would be forgiven he
pea, II there were any reason for max
ing H. But there isn't. For, looking
back on II. and looking backward a
good many years into the bargain, I
can recall few stock performances so
notable, not only for smoothness, ease
the appearance of being set" and
other qualities that go TO make good
stool. work. but for acting OF "A charac-
ter none too frequently observed in
road companies OF the better class.
indeed, except Tor the altogether
natural failure TO provide types" for
severu of the parts-impossible in the
case OF permanent company of or
binary proportions-the Price Players.
on the whole. much more nearly APP
preached the manner Of a carefully Sc
l.,tcd ana long rehearsed travelling
company last night than they resem-
hled the style Of the average stock
company, depending on personal popu-
lnr!ty and local following for success.
And FOR this they deserve the greater
credit. because the play chosen for
this week IL not melodrama that
makes It's own appeal. if only the lines
are spoken distinctly, but a drama Of
the sort that must be played, must be
interpreted. must be endowed with
characters, in order TO he effective
ctdcnts, situations and cli,raxes are
sktl!fully worked out for Fitch was
"a mastcrcraftsman, but their force
would be greatly lessened II they were
not irtelligenty developed by the men
ana women who must turn the parts
f,t ,i..s- INT, tn IL.
short, the play is filed with opportuni-
ties. but likewise Allied with difficulties.
And the members OF the company, for
the most part, seized the opportunities
ANA avoided the difficulties with such
success that the whole was in the ma
tu-e Of am achievement.
The Woman in the case vaguely
suggests the story. There is no need
10 find the woman: she is already
found The difficulty is TO learn the
truth about her, and this difficulty is
heightened by the fact that the truth
about her can be learned only from
her. \ man is accused of the murder OF
his friend. with jealousy Of the wo-
man assigned as the motive. As n mat
ter OF fact the man in the case had
warned his friend against the woman;
had saved him from marrying her, and
had earned her undyiug hatred. The
w"nan's lover is dead, and the one.
great question Is. now ala he die. This,
the accused mans wife sets herself
to find out. and from the woman her
self She does find out, in an unusual
~ thrilling and tense scene, charged
with suspense and dramatic fire, and
this scene makes the play.
Catherine Proctor. again in a diff
tcult part, since she is compelled to
sustain the appearance of unhappi-
ness throughout most of the play, again
nf
time. II manifests itself in the ability
10 portray "a highly-emotional part
with rare discretion. investing il with
/ sympathy ms we'll as strength. Re-
visnG, or amending, q statement made
after having seen Miss Proctor in I'm
der Cover" memory makes the refer
ence now read: she is the hest lead
ing woman who has ever played here in
stock
Viola Leach has her great chance in
me third act. She is the woman IN tnc
, case. and in this scene with Miss Proc
tor she gives an admirable impersona
ton Of one of the eternal women In
inc case Playing opposite, yet to-
scther. these two young women make
TINS scene to be remembered
Mr.. Din is quiet and manly, but he
misses his points in most of his few
important appearances. In the Tombs
Tor example. when lie again denies his
CUNT, he talks, bu, he doesn't convince
even the audience. which knows he is
! innocent. Miss Tracy is most amus-
ing as the foolish mother: Beverly
west the new ingenue, is altoCether
! charming in bit part; Mr.. HohI, who
pays inc mans counsel. should be very
much or an actor before long. Ar
iiaines is clever in another hit and
MI k'ppie'S old servant is good enough
i"r any metropolitan company.
II YOU would SEQ a stock perform
| ance that will take you back ia the
neisht of the season, see THE wono -
in the Case"