The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-02-25
New Comedy of
Southern Life
Here This Week

i AC1C i LILO w SIN
Having launched Mra Fsske In the
most successful play of her distin-
guished career. "Erstwhile Susan.
the young producing Arm OF Madison
Corey and Joseph Ritter, In associa-
ton with Harrison Fiske. will present
at the Academy Tuesday and Wednes-
day and Wednesday matinee two
plays OF absorbing Interest on the
sams program There will be the new
comedy OF Southern Iife, "A Niger
In the woodpile." by Harris Dick
son and Lord Dunsanys mastery one
act play. "A Night AT an Inn"
Mr.. Dickson has already won fame
for his series Of "Ole Reliable" sto-
ries In the Saturday Evening Post,
and In this his irst play has crystal
lied the wonderful knowledge he ees-
eesses Of his own people and times In
vicksburg, Miss. Lord Dunsany Is
now the most discussed writer of the
day. He IL at present an officer In
France with the Inniskillings. and ro-
nance was lent to his military career
by his being severely wounded In the
Dublin riots
The players selected for the two
productions make list OF dist.n-
Eu.shed and excellent names In the
comedy will be: Willis p. Eweatnan.
Laura Walker Frederick Burton.
Nellie Fillmore. Arthur Alhertson,
Kenneth Hunter. Henry Crosby VIII
A. Jordan. J Fred Holloway Frances
Stirling Clarke Esther Cornell and
Margaret Vale In the one-sct play
will be Harry Lambert, Robert vi
Wan, Tracy Barrow Gerald Prtng
Alvar O'Rr'en. Coates Gwynne and
Francis GIllen.
"a Niger IN the woodpiie" ia a ro-
nance of the Southland In modern
surroundings. Mr. d ickson has
realized the ambition OF many South
ern writer's to cut slice of life out
OF the now ana abandon the ante
intra and post bellum periods OF the
great people down there with tho Ma
son and Dixon line erased. He is most
competent for the ofTfciai Job Hi
short stories in the Saturday Evenins
Post Under the general title OF "Ots
Reliable" are now accepted a. gos'
pei by Northerners and southerners
alike He Ia the most noted snterpre-
ter OF the heart OF the negro and
most authoritative exponent OF his en-.
shaved attitude towards the white
man. who IL now writing for public
consu m ption.
War, and the lapse OF years. and
q generation of changes have never
Altered the Southern Eentleman't
prescription for a mint julep. because
q tuiep is a tuiep, that's all. And thu
wine OF life Ia taken with the same
old ingredients down South IA ''Befo
dc wah" 1t IL only IN the variation
OF the application OF these cardine
principles to modern circumsta noes
that Mr.. Dickson may Be said to have
advanced He. like many another
writer. has decided to forget the pas
ana give us the present pictures o.
delightful existence IN the land Of
balmy thoughtfuinesa He has -.
iscted tho locale In his own birth
place and present home. vickshurg
Miss,. ana the audience may, there
fore, move comfortably along with
the romance as this native writer will
unfold II, without question OF III
realism and truth
The story simply told. Is that OF q
young man. who unlike the accepted
type Of southerner. shows a disttnc'
energy In plishing his desire e
accumulate a competency by moderr
methods He Is about to realize hi.
lim and needs a certain sum to con
web oe intricate financial association,
looms up to defeat him. Mr. Dick
son then unfolds with clearness ant
yiriiity and interlocking influence
which reach out and control even thu
J, minor banking institutions Of thu
country. II Is clear exposition. oper
to the average comprehension: one
that does not have to be analysed and
chalked on the blackboard.
A sinister figure that OF sleek
clever financial agents. manipulation o
big operations. steps between him ant
his life's happiness. In more ways thar
one. He Is blocking the young mans
financial operations and at the same
4 the youngster and the real incentive
y OF his ambitions. the love for the
beautiful Betty Spottiswoode, hi
u .nlayrnate and sweetheart.
lust as the financial agent seems
fo be the victor In the tense story
the young lady herself saves the da,
for her girIhood's sweetheart, and In
4 doing so exhibits the same sterling
qualities of self sacrificed loyalty and
bravery. which made the woman OF
lhe south the ideal OF civilization dur.
ing the ominous DAYS Of the Civil war
II is a story Of love and romance
md through II runs the delightful
comedy incidents for which Mr.. Dick
ION has already won the laurel wreath
A. fame. He runs the Eamut OF laugh.
81 .cr in his shrewd. fine and true de-
sneation of that worlds greatest hu-
norist. the Southern negro.
"a Night at An Tnn."
Quite different but equally as ab-
Y sorbing is the Lord Dunsany master
niece. "A Night at An Inn" II Is q
svift. vivid story tense and master.
Y mi saved from the gruesomness of a
j. ]. s,pusher handling by the fantasy OF
NE great Irish prose-noet. 1t would
.eem from the plays OF his wonder
] hrain. that Dunsany studied the fairy
Soik lore of the Gael with willing
{ A. from the lips Of dear old. cron-