Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-09

at the Academy. last night, for the first
time on any stage, is sick for lack OF
exercise.
The story runs like this: Norah. an
Irish colleen, lives in an humble cot
taEc. in Limerick. with Patsy. her
t%elve-year-old nephew. She is loved
by Jerry. temporarily driver OF the viii
lage bus. but erst&h!le OF Cambridge
University and the grandson of an NJ.
4. Her friend. Kathleen. Is married to
the honorable Sronrey Brooks. cap
tain in the army.
Jerry presses Norah for favorable
answer. but with true Irish perver-
si,y she holds him at arms length.
although already hopelessly in love
with him. She will never marry cab
driver. The man of her heart must
have faced danger. met his great deed
and become u hero. War is declared.
Here is his opportunity. He departs
for the front with Captain Brooks. with
Norah I'm the role % half-tearful com
forter to the distraught Kathleen.
After months letters come announc-
ing the return of the soldiers full OF
honors for brave deeds performed on
the field The JOY of Norah and Kath-
leet is short-lived. Newspaper extras
announce the sinking Of the ship on
which tho men sailed. War has eX
acted from the wife and the beloved
. It's primmest price. Kathleen breaks
! scene in which Norah and Kathleen
pray for strength to live the future
with courage--to he worthy as women
Of the Victoria Crosses that were won
by the two soldiers for doing their
great deeds"
| But In some manner the soldiermen
escape death NO sea can keep down
an freshman" EXPLAINS the captain.
Wife and husband and the lovers are
: reunited. and the final curtain finds
everybody tearful,y happy. Clever
use is made of tho spiritualistic ex-
periments of Theresa. an eccentric
| seamstrcss. to bring about II dramatic
entrance OF the returning heroes.
AS o6rah the colleen" about whom
I the action revolves. Miss Patricia Col
I lingo had magnificent acting part. to
I which she did ample Justice. Her
I Norah was n deliciously capricious
body with the winking humor and the
( open quality of mind and heart that
| is associated with the best of the Irish.
Z Twelve year-old Reggie Sheffield
gave marvelously prccocious inter
/ probation OF Patsy. It Is Patsy's in
, herit"d love for the heroic that sets
terminating through the whole play
the idea Of service and fealty to coun-
try. and he liz at all times central
+ heurc. ReggieS Patsy was finished
piece of acting. IT any criticism is due
it is on the score OF over-precocious-
ness.
| AS Jerry, Richard Dix gave COM
mendahln performance. His work was
FAR above his performances Of the open
ing week. \ scene In the second act
between Patsy and the Earl of Crewc.
a retired army officer. gave w. a.
I Whitecar. as the Earl, the opportunity
for what WAS perhaps the most effec-
tive piece Of acting in the entire play.
Theresa. presented by Miss Mabel
Strickland, waR thoroughgoing char
acterization The character Ia one of
the most important in the play. and
Miss Strickland made the most of IT,
Miss Marie Baer gave a som wi, a I
colorless performance as Kathleen.
showing up particularly weak by con-
trast in the stronger scenes with Miss
Co!lnge.
y large and obviously sympathetic
audience was on HAM! to see "Cpllecn's s"
premiere 1t sat through tho first act
without demonstration. with the sec
ond act came a quicker tempo. and the
effective closing scene brought a storm
OF applause. Miss Coliinge was called
I back again and again. and finally stillet
the clamor with a little curtain speech.
The crowd clappcd uproariously for
the author. but Mrs. Cushing. who with
her husband. occupied orchestra seats
gratifcd tho audience only 10 tho eX.
tent OF rising in her seat and smiling
her thanks. H. J. J.