The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-05-23

"rHE WOMAN IN THE CAsE,~
Is sUPERBLY PLAYED

The lamented Clyde Fitch. whose un-
timely taking off happened at the very
height of his illustrious career, fortu-
nately left us numerous evidences Of
HIS genius as playwright. a round
hundred IL we remember Alright. OF
this varied assortment OF plays. The
Woman in the Case" ranks among the
very best Manager Price. of the Aoad-
amy company. with his usual enter
prise and taste. and in accordance with
his earnest desire to provide our thea
tergoers with the greatest successes
of the American stage. has selected
this admirable play as his fourth Of
fering. For two whole seasons blanche
Walsh used IL with emphatic success.
Well did many of us last night rem am
Der the one performance given
at the Academy. The rscollec-
ton of that memorable night will sure
ly stimulate many others to attend the
production this week.
The story of this play Is simple,
coherent, intensely human and repiete
with dramttc interest II is beautiful
and eloquent commentary on wifely
devotion and shows to what extent a
woman VIII go for the man she loves.
The husband in this case 10 an APP
parentiy helpless victim OF that power
fui something We call circumstantial
evidence. But knowing her sex far
! better than mHu, hts loyal wife. to save
tho suspected murdered. resolves to
wiring from the woman evidence that
will clear him. How we'll she succeeds
In shown In the never 70 be forgotten
duel OF woman's wits In the third act.
the big ecene of the play. Tho happy
and thoroughly sweet ending furnished
tn tho fnGt act IN striking evidence
of the drama lists skill
Collectively and Individually, the
players gave a superb ana finished per
forr1anee, that was 10 nearly Hike the
original presentation ~ q stock com =
pany ever has given In Richmond.
Blanche Walsh herself was no more
convincing or satisfying In the role
OF the devoted wife that was Catherine
Proctor last night m the scenes with
her husband she was tender affection
a,e and sympathetic. and in the big
scene of the third act in the interview
with the woman. her acting evoked
tho most intense enthusiasm and ad-
mirat!on.
When Fitch wrote the play. II is
doubtful indeed whether he foresa~
that the stereotyped leading feminine
role would be almost ovsrshadowed by
that OF the Woman IN the Case" Hell
en- Ware soon proved this so conclu-
sively that Miss walsh's Jealousy
caused her to speedily leave the cast
We had been led to expect great things
OF Miss Viola Leach In this part IT
was not new to her. for she had AL
ready played Il three times in stock
productions Miss Leach not only I'D
not disappoint. but pleasantly sur
prised her audience by the splendid
Characterization of Claire Foster. the
woman whose evil machinationA
against the man who stood between
her and the one she loved. nearly
caused his convictions. She played
with decided ease and naturAlness ana
shared with Miss Proctor the numer-
Gus curtain calls after their nne work
In the third act.
Mr. Dix was the husband and played
with distinction. adding to the fne
Impression he has already MADE. Mr..
Hohi, as his friend and attorney. had
the most important part yet assigned
him, and performed II with entire sat
fsfaction and credit. Mss Tracy ~ the
mother. gave one Of her usually COM
mendable character impersonations and
Messrs. Haines, Ripple and whitecar
were thoroughly capable IN small roles.
Miss West. the newcomer, was on just
long enough to show herself charm
ing ingenue
Tho scenic artists skill was evil