Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-01-30
AMUsEMENTs.

MR.. JOSEPH H. KEANE AS RIP VAN WINKLE
Had stranger to our city arrived here last even
ing and stepped into our Opera house, without
posing programme, or any knowledge of what
troupe was performing, he might very reasonably
nave supposed (had he ever soen him. that Joe
Jefferson himself was upon the stage, dcIighting
Wilmington audience with his famous rendition
Of Rip Van Wrinkle. Personally, Mr.. Kcane bears
great resemblance TO Jefferson, aud has frequent
~ been taken for him, while on the stage, in this
character, the resemblance is most complete. As
Kip Van Wrinkle, Joe Jefferson became famous,
and IN the same character Mr.. Keans is the equal
and prototype of Jefferson. He has entirely mas
tered all the difficulties and obstacles in the way
OF successful rendition of this character, and in
manner perfectly free aud natural, portrays the
various phases of the careless, good humored vag-
abond, the touching pathos Of the poor outcast,
the half-irightened surprise of the wanderer on
the CSttskills who has unwittingly fallen into the
clutches OF Hendrlck Hudson and his spirit band,
and the genuine astonishment Of the decfepld,
rheumatic old man, who is filled with wonder at
the changes wrought in his native village during
his nights rest. To the end he retained the in
est and received the constant applause of the au-
dence, aud as the curtain fell ON the happy, con
tented old man, restored to his home and family,
genuine expressions of delight and admiration
were heard Oh every hand.
The support was excellent. Miss Mary Clai e,
as Gretchen, Rips wife, (thOughIher attire was
rather too fancy for the washtub conducted her
sell In spirited aud effective manner while Miss
L. Kiehl the wife of after years, acted with be-
coming meekness and humility. A finer piece of
child acting than that produced by handsome
Master julie Reed, as little Hendrick Vedder was
never witnessed on this stage. Mr. George A.
Cragg, as Cookies was very humorous and anus
ing. Mr.. Jos. Nagle, as Derrick Won Beekman,
Mr. 7. A. Fitzgersld, as Nick Vedder, Mr.. c. Lew
Is, as llendriek VeddeT Gin the last act) and Miss
Emily Leicester, as Meenie Van Wnkle all acted
well their parts, and added greatly TO the salts
factory character of the performance.
Tonight, the same play will again be present
ed, when we hopo the house will be crowded to
its fullest capacity The prices are reasonable,
ana the company in every way worthy Of sup
port. .i.. f.4'.. -,
JOHN b. GoUGH
will lecture at the Masonic Temple tomorrow
night, ON the Lights and Shadows Of London
Life" Lovers Of good lectures should not fail to
be present, as rich treat ID surely in store for
them Between seven and eight hundred resery-
ed seats had been secured up to six O'Clock last
evening, and the indications are that the audience
will be large. The lecture ls for tie benefit of the
Young Mems Free Library, Of Wilmington.
VICTORIA q. Woodruff
lectures at the Institute Hall, on Saturday night
Her subject will be, "The Social lS9eVontiop--The
, Naked Truth, or The Situation AeFiewed, which
any reader of her interesting paper, WOodluIl 4
CIgftns Weekly, will agree she is entirely capa-
Die OF handling. The attendance, on this Occa-
sion, Will doubtless be large.