Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-09-13
AS MEL0DRAMA, THE Bat
IS JUST ABOUT BEST EVER
Thrills and Suspense, With
Which Play Abounds, Nicely
Synchronizc With Humor.

Since the departure OF "LiShtnin' =
from New York. THE Rat" is enjoy.
ing the distinction OF being the mos,
popular play with the most number
rf performances IL it's credit in that
city. And. now. IL looks as though /,
VIII continue on and ON indefinitely
| oven as its rival attraction did be.
iore u. This season the road is hav-
iEE its first opportunity of witness
ing this startling mystery play, and
an admirable company is to be see,
AT the Academy FOR the remainder ut
IN" week in thie popular piece. The
critics and advance notices have ken,
its secret. for II would be more than
a PITY I" give away the nix punch
~ IN" finish And. so. though only /,
bit can De said about '''rhC Bat" IL is
all in the highest praise.
Everybody knows that when Mary
Roberts Rirheart'S name appears II
mean" an interesting story. article.
ana. now, play. Even some OF IN.
t-known movies are Ia her credit.
50 when one learns that She WAS
chiefly responsible for The Eat" i,
is a guarantee OF a highly entertain
inE evening. And the name Of Avery
ii"pwo"d. with whom sh. Joined
hands To produce the piece also fore
taStS something decidedly gu; Of tn"
ordinary.
The Rat" is the most thrilling
thriller ono can possibly Imagine IA
his Widest dreams. sober or other
wise. Everything that can concuiv-
ABLY happen proceeds To do SO. and
Il lot more besides From tho moment
the curtain FIRST rises. ana 40 hear
the maid complaining that tn" lishrs
keep going out during the frequent
storms. our intcrcS; is caught and
ii. ana. as The "la. uufOlds We arr.
~ rooted To- Ia, spot. Every one
Is :" Keyed up that. when a door
slams or "A curtain mys,criously
mor'e. ono can hear Easps all over
the house.
The Eat is jus, abomt tho clever
est mclodrai,..l imaginable, with the
thrills aud suspense nicely balanced
with iauI hs-iInd much az this laugh
ter sounds a bit systcriyal
The production OF "'rhe Bat" now
playing at the Academy. is Il first
class one in every way IN. ten
characters are well played and the
settings artistic and pleasing. l.iz-
zic Evans. as Miss corncla Van Cor
dan, that dear Old lady. :" iul Of
energy ana humor. was a delight to
see. Her unboundcd PEP ami witty
sayings. when others w-I, frozen
with terror. was dclightfuliy done In
fact. We loved h.r from the FIRST few
minutes. .Iogcphnc Morhc. who
played the covering natG. supplied
much Of the abumdau; comedy
throughout the play. and made the
most Of each opportunity. Lucille
Morris, Bernard Thornton, Joseph
lioiicky ana William l.. Thornc also
were well cast
II one wishes To so to "A piay for a
nice rcstful evening. don't 20 To see
The Bat" Eat. Il h. is out 70: a
good time and doesn't mind being on
needles and pius until ia" curtain
finally dcsccnds. then. by ali means.
go. The plot gets wound up right at
the start and apparently gets more
and more mysterious until one is all
worn out trying To- hear everything.
see everything and attempting 10
solve the mystery. II Is about the
best evenings entertainment likely to
come this way for many many moons,
for plays like this don't appear very
often It's regular dimc-nOvci
thriller, SO don't miss il But. go pre-
pared To live a wild two hours or so
with III" players. an;, 20 s;aggcr out
At the end. "all in"
II II 4;