The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-05-09
Makes HIT
With a|CHh0kDtRS
the Play, Secs Initial
Performances.
Patricia Coiiingo, Of Pollyanna Fame,
Leading Iady--Miss Strickland Fine
In Humorous Role---Irish Comedy

Colle@n.' q charming little Irish
comedy in three acts, was presented
by The Price Pisyers' at the Acad-
envy of Music last night, the occasion
being the initial night of the play.
Mrs Catherine Gushing. writer of Col
| leen." "Pollyanna." and other popu-
lar plays. occupied seat six rows
OF the house, witnessing this. the first
/ production of her play, with great
/ interest.
Despite the fact that the wednes-
day Clubs Musical Festival was a
strong attraction in Richmond last
night, the Academy was almost filled,
practically all of the seats on the
lower floor being occupied and
large part of both balcony and gall
lery.
Colleen" will no doubt make a
successful run when it is turned into
the finished product. Mrs. Gushing
last night expressed her pleasure at
the attendance and in talking with a
representative of this newspaper said
she was much gratit1ed at the manner
in which the audience received the
play. She viii, of course make some
charges. which she believes will make
siiV pay as popular as any or the
others which have helped to make
her famous.
Third Act Is Best.
1t Is in the third act Of Colleen
That one catches the best part of tho
irish 'humor injected into the play.
Indeed. this act Is about as good a
piece of comedy as has been seen here
in years. 1t Is replete with quick Irish
wit, brought into existence by new
{ oh q "a y~fS ..34L
tho writer's clever wit takes advant-
age of every opportunity.
Patricia Collinge, was OF course.
The BEST part OF 1t all. She Is always
natural in her movements on the
stage her voice Is delightful while
her aptness to play any part assigned
to her makes Colleen" seem real life.
"Norah," the Irish maiden, captivates.
and Miss Collinge Is forced to respond
to many encores
| Master Reggie Sheffield, playing the
part of heboyish nephew OF ''Norah,''-
| catches the Irish brogue better than
any member of the company. He Is
| perhaps trifie too large for his part
| in the play. though his real age Is
| about that of the character he Ia in
tended to represent and he Is very
good actor. indeed. Reggie caught
40 first night audience and won
|
comedy
| Miss Strickland Great
| Pr badly the best of the other char
| acters was Miss Mabel Strickland.
who enacted Theresa" searnstress
lThis particular role was that of an
| aged Irish dame who believed in
Spirits" Miss Strickland caught the
| humor OF her role and played 1t with
sue h Jvident relish as to force the
| apt oh .NF - ~
the play. 1t brought roars of laugh
ter from the house and smiles to the
I face of Mrs. Cushing. who recognized
at once how well Miss Strickland was
doing her part.
/ Mr.. Richard DIX. as Jerry the
I beau of Norah. was suited for the
, leading male role and came nearer
the intended dialect than any of the
! other men In the cast He Ia we'll
built and has the necessary dash of
! the hero lover in his manners and ex-
pressions.
II there ~ any criticism to be
launched against rhe opening presc n
tation of Colleen" it is In the failure
Of part Of the cast to properly speak
the musical Irish brogue SO important
to the success of the play. AS the
Price Players have only had few
weeks In which to prepare this first
cused. 1t takes good actor to at
tempt the richness of the true Irish
tongue. Colleen" however. will have
its existence dependent nnon this
feature.
Story of Colleen
There is the usual plot In Col
leen." It Is the story of the young
man expelled from college. who falls
in love with q poor Irish girl as he Is
on his way home. He becomes a cab
driver to be near her. his people not
knowing his whereabouts. A war
breaks out arg 'Norah" inspires him
to deeds of Yalor, He, OF course, wins
the Victoria cross and rs then re-
ported dead, along with Captain. the
Honorable Godfrey Brooks" the
! husband Of "Norah's friend, ''Kath-
leen." The soldiers are saved. how
ever. and turn UP In time to afford
Theresa" sight of what she be-
! lieves TO be the Spirits she has long
been trying TO commune with. Thus
comes the best part Of the play in
which Miss Strickland, by good act
ing. comes nearer robbing Miss Col
hinge OF her place as the never for
gotten chief attraction, than any of
her colleagues.
/ colleen" will take well. 1t Is not
as strong as Pollyanna, though 1t has
more humor and certainly deserves a
place among the best of the new
! com edies