The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-06-16
p,,,,.ac,ps,ia Theatre

Romeo AT - rh'is"S'F ,r1
,,,.,,,, ,,s rh,sdclih,s Telegraph '""e"'l
'''''' ,,,.o whcr, fore ar: thou, koneo'
.,,,'s,> weeks ago there appeared III
No. r"',rt;.inc, columns or morning CO.
no 49,, thr following unique paragraph,
t.m' i,,,nE IN the Nc3iCdl depository. i new
a,,,hnr;tv in matters OF high ART
az" =. Il.>inr heard that John = ES'lin IN
,,.,,s /, a,lopt the stage as profession, we
tncl called npou 10 say that we hcicNc .ll.s
man IA possess the most wonacFiui u"SN
frrnius in the world. lie appears TO DC
~. RI, ct master Of every passion! "l tue hu.
,,an sn,,j. and can exhibit at Will The m"sl
'.rr.,n f,rl;urs in the sweetest uttcrance. |
Sr riyr vent by one loud outhurSs el furious
n,Ssion 10 all the stormy feelings OF inc hu-
,n,n heart. We speak from our own kho"
LEDGE 81 the man. having heard nun our
Selves. ,,,o,,.
soon after appeared the announcement
TINT Mr.. E>tlln would appear IL '"e Ar"u.
cmy OF Music in shakespeare supi'ille
tragedy OF Romeo AMI Juliet. WIN Il HUM
hrr nj N,l.known amateurs IN the cast.
uayinc once divulgcd his plans 10 the pun.
lie o,lr "moSt wonderful tragic genius
followed il up by telling the people through
f.anuen; advertisements who and what Tins
man Shakespeare was, win caoict eA'i"N'9
from his PLAYS, rs 4 iorelaS'c OIL lne Ssl"'tu
treat in store. Last evening tne inos'
wonderful tragic genius mace DIS 4tous,
and the Academy Of Music was tlicu 10
Overlooking. Nature abhorS vacuum, ana
the atmosphere Oh the occasion OF Mr. Est
Inns benefit aud first appearance" penc-
tra1ed every nook aud corner OF the build
inc and filed the spacious auditorium Is
full rs il was ever filled (wlth arr before,
Indeed. the only displacement sustained
hv the air we breathe was caused hy 'he
presence of about two hundred people,
who were scattered all over the house;
The handhils and advertisements mao
nromiScd the audience the "overture ana
other choice selections from the opera OF
Romeo and Juliei,' by " select orclcS-
ira" The orchestra, however, was non
7ucenttS. and ShakSpeare'S 1" sublime TRACE
DIV" was rendered without any dilu,lonS
hv the strains of Gounod or Beilini. When
the "tracic genius made his entree, he
was greeted with hearty round of ap-
nIouSr. which, before the close OF the first
act. became so continuous that the gc-
MUS was slightly incommoded. lie per
severed, nevertheless. and ut the close OF
the act was called before the curtain by an
audience whose enthusiasm made iuil
amends for lis meagrcpesS. and who had
by that time come to see that they were
cnioying about the rarcSt tragic treat tilat
had ever been given III the Academy.
During the progress of the second act me
audience was even more uproariouS than
during the first. the earnest rlauditS being
mingled with loud cries Of "hi. III =" 90
if. old boy - and the Ike. At the close OF
the aci 1.-The tragic genius WAS again
called before tie curtain. and embraced The
opportunity to apologize Tor the non-!p-
pcarance Of the promised band. but ms
first SvllahlcS we're drowned by Stcliol'ian
cries Of "iolldcr!" and rs fast - :" the
genius" lifted UP his voice the audience
did likewise, until tue climax was caHpcd
hy cry of ''loudcr, old puddin' bend -
" Alas, poor Romeo, he l>aiIcady dead
CXclaimS McrcuIio III one OF the earlier
scenes, and in sooth such was fairly his con-
GitiOn by the time ne should nave mace
II, er!r;!nge in the 1ir,t scene OF act I1rG
There was delay Of full five minutes be:
fore Romeo" appeared, after "lybalt
had exclaimed:
:. Here comes my man.
" Wherein the ID is your III II: - roar
cd small boy in the third tier.
Romeo. where art thou?" GraWlcd out
n venerable octogcnarian opposite, woo
had copy Of the play in hI> hand. and
was a>S;!uol>ly following the tragic
genius" through his part.
"iierc DC come-,' finally exclaimed one
Of the anxious walters, as "the genius y
rushed upon The stage from the wrong di-
rcction, Il perfect picture OF despair.
TIE audience became ccStatlc ut this
point, and roared like mad. The Interest
dcepcucd as the play =, o@rc>Sed, ana Wncn
tie scene in "JulIclsS" chamber came on.
another climax WAS reached. just rs the
genus" WAS pouring out his heart 10 MS
mock love. an enthusiastic youth in the
family circle hurled Il handful OF coppers
at tuc cnamored "RomeO.' This slightly
disconnected him, as did likewise a bundle
Of dry leaves which quickly followed il.
But the ndignity was not corsummItcd
until, ~ "tbc genius was about stretch
Ing his two hands towards heaven, he was
greeted by an enormous cabbage, which
fell at his feet ana Sln0te HIM on the toes
Then the thing became monotououS, ana
'RUmeo" turned upon his prosecutors,
Wheeling up to the ioot-light>, he eXclaill.
ed, pathctically:
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm Il sick
man -
$50 YOU are :" came from one of his all-
ditors.
:" I'm not fit to he here" he continued.
"That's SOL was the ready response.
Ladies and gentlemen, / have been
STUDYING this pant 80 hard that | haven't
had time to cat" put i'll tie tragic
genius again.
go take Il drink ~ shouted a man in
the family circle.
And so the fun progressed until another
rare point WAS reached Ill the tragic DEATH
scene IN the last aci. An. an oh
oh ~ EASY easy came from al! parts
OF the house, rs The unfortunate lovers
were letting themselves down; and when
they were stitt and stalk on The llD0r, the
enthusiastic youth in The family circle who
had thrown Tie handful OF cOppcrs cried
out Justify
Set 'cm up again !.
But they were not to be set up again.
They had done their duty molly, and were
in n the death, aud tina, is all that was re-
Quircd.
Perhaps the best solution Of the unique
entertainment that could be given was
made by 4 sympathetic auditor, who, during
one Of the waits, mounted the Stage, ana
commenced
Ladies' and gentlemen, | once knew a
man in a lunatic tsl lum-''
:. i.stlIn. Estlin! Estlin's the man -
cried Il dozen voices i'll chorus.
GbBE.S,