Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-02-24
LAFAYETTE PLAYERS
STAGE GREAT PLAY
AT HOWARD THEATRE
"DvER THE HILLS TOiTHE POOR
HOUSE" POPULAR ANDREW
;BISHOP A LAADING STAR-A
GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION

The Lafayette Players az New York
have been entertaining large and ap
preciative audiences at the. Howard
Theatre, formerly the Rayo. this week
with their dramas, lover the, Hills to
the Poor House" and Damaged
Goods" They were up to their usual
standard of excellence. The play is a
decentralization of that famous poem by
Will Carleton. The story tells OF the
financial embarrassments of Charles
Saunders, brought about by an extray.
agant wife who is dOmiciled in tic
Saunders homestead. Mrs. Saunders
signs away her property rights with
out knowing what she was doing. be-
ing so advised by her son. Dick Saund-
ers is falsely accused OF being II horse
thief through the double dealing OF
James Watson
Finally all break up and the widow
goes to the 'poOr-house to be ultimate
ly reinstated to the old homestead by
Dick Saunders, who is cleared Of the
charge against him and who is the Te-
cipient of -bountiful prosperity. An
drew Bishop as Dick Saunders was a
popular favorite and he carried out
the part assigned to him with faith
full reality. He is star" of the first
magnitude. ]. Lawrence Criner as
Charles Saunders was a decided sue.
cess. He knows just how to work iD
any part assigned to him. His disgust
with his wife, his profession of love
for her and finally the desertion of his
own mother, done with feeling of re-
gret and repugnance that made him
feel like criminal was a fine piece
of acting.
VIM. (Babe) Townsend is always in
teresting and amusing. He played the
part of the thug in the play with a
faitlrful reality. He is best in making
love to the fair sex and with driving
shrewd bargains. A. b. DeComathiere
as Judge Joshua Billings, could NOT be
improved upon. He is peculiar char
acter with a charming manner and
with an ability to portray the parts
assigned to him with a realism that
commands admiration. Walter Robin.
son, as the retired well-to-do farmer
was success. Harry Platter as Eban
Halt kept the audience convulsed with
laughter, while Isabelle Jackson as
Sadie March was dream, so to speak.
She is an actor of the most pronounc.
ed type and she has all of the wit viva
ciousness and "spunk" needed in the
characters assigned to her. Intuitively,
she graSps the strong points in the
character assigned to her and brings
them out.
Edward Thompson as the Sheriff
must have been on the job before. He
was a success. Goldie Cisco as a love-
sick girl seems to have been naturally
fha ~ Iyn4 DOH IL
Saunders, dubbed by the widow as
Maria was also a noted success. She
knows the ways Of the married woman
and right well did she play the part T.
is difficult to say a word about Cleo
Desmond In some respects she is
wonder. Her portrayal of mother-love
and affection brought tears as the dis
possession of the deserted widow and
mother was taking place 1t was diff
cult to separate her from the original
character, so well did she perforrn her
part. She ranks with the best actresses
in this country and her display of her
transcendent powers held the audience
spell-bound and caused universal CON-
ment, long after the curtain had been
rung down and well pleased patrons
were enroute to their homes.
Mr.. Babe Townsend, who likes to
talk. although appearing to be basI.
full young man appealed to those pres
ent for support. He called attention 20
the fact that NJ. Charles A. somms
had gone to great expense to have
them come and present this high-priced
drama, upon which a royalty was paYl
He was not sure, they would do more
than "break oven byf no urged all
to tell their friends about the enter
tainment in order that this high class
type of entertainment might be contIn-
ued in this city.