The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-02-24
DRAMATIC ENTERrA1NMENr AT THE AsY-

DRAMATIC ENTERTAINMENT AT THE ASY-
LUM.--On the night of the 18th, the COMEDY
ST oan OF a Lover was acted at the Asylum. ny
two young ladies and young gentleman IRON
the city, together with several assistants OF the
Institution ard patients. rhe play Is welia adapt
ed to the spirit Of Leap Year, and certainty
those young ladies in the audience VINO nave
been at 4 loss for the manner In which to exer-
else the privileges yonchsafed them, cot'id nave
studied, with profit. the modus operand1 pur-
sued by the fair Gertrude In her endeavors 10
inf,amc the tender passion In the breast OF the
uususceptible Peter. 1t was the best amateur
acting we have ever seen, and long before her
cunning little wiles and articles had cnsnared
the stupid dutci,lnan, the hearts OF hall the
auditors were willing 10 be led captive. There
was nothing in the rendition OF the part, save
tire surro ndings, to indicate that 1t was only
a scene from the mimic world, as it was so per-
fectly naturalist brimfnl OF life and simplici-
ty that we lost sight of the stage altogether
The character of Erncstine is a cross-re be-
tween caprice and dignity, and the young lady
who sustained it seemed to comprehend, III
a remarkable degree, the emotions called into
re QUESTION by the incidents of the play. IT'S
not an enviable part, nor is it part which the
majority cf womankind would acknowledge as
at all prt bable, for not one of them would come
before jury aud solelnnly affirm that an abb
slrd within had been the instrument of their
own humiliation; and considering that little
rebel was. doubtless, Juggling at the conscience
of the injured Erlestine, we were surprised to
see the part so admirably rendered. There Is
nothing in it with which any true woman has
ever had experience, TO take her word for IT,
and consequently it required dramatic talent
to bring it out.
The character of that pcrsoniffcation OF stu
ptty and dullncss of comprehension, Peter.
was taken by one Of Staunton's best amateur
actors, whose reputation is not altogether To-
cal, he having appeared here and elsewhere as
Mrs. farley, the exhibitor of gorgeous collec-
ton of waxworks. The interest of this part
consists more in action than in words. and it
is, therefore, very difficult, but the person who
made the cast was fortunate in having selected
one so capable Of making the best OF n bad job.
The Capt. Amcrsfort, was excelently acted by
one of the gentlemanly assistants OF the Asylum,
as were also Devc and Swyze, by two of the
patients. In fact, the whole comedy was a
rich treat, aud was fully appreciated by both
patients and spectators.
Following the comedy was little farce, ''The
Silent Woman in which the principal was
assumed by another Staunton lady. Silence
is not the distinguishing characteristic of the
sex, and this farce, doubtless, required no lit
little rehearsing in order to present it so sue
cessfully. 1t was an achievement Of which
the young lady should feel proud. as we can
liken the agony she must have undergone
whilst bounl down to silence, to nothing less
than that experienced by the average man
whilst having his photograph taken. The sup
port was capital.