The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-12-28

The TREATRE LAST NfGHT.-Thc Rich
mond City Guard Dramatic Company, Il
temporary organization composed OF a num-
ber of our young amateurs, assisted by seve-
raj professionals OF Richmond and other
places, made their first appearance last
night. The military piece On Guard was
presented, the following being the cast {:
Denis Grant, an African explorer, John
Archer; Corney Cavanaugh, an adventurer,
Frank Ray; Guy Warrington, W. S. Up
shur: Grouse, an attorney, p. T. Conrad !;
Baby Doodle, A. w. Clayton; Druce, SOL
diers' servant, L. G.. Wilson; Jessie Blake,
Guy Warrington's cousin, Miss Nellie Bah
cock; Mrs. Fitzosbornc, Miss Sallic Par
tington.
Mr.. Ray, an actor OF experience and
talent, had during the day received i telc-
gram announcing the death OF his wife,
and, as may be well imagined, labored un-
der gaeat distress of mind. Nothing less
than a surrender OF personal feeling TO q
stern conviction OF duty could have in
duccd him to 60 through the play as he
did. Without him there could have been
no performance, as at short notice his place
could not have been supplied. His success,
under the circumstances, was remarkable.
In the beginning most OF the amateurs
suffered badly from stage-fright. They
gained more confidence as the play pro-
ceeded, and though there was at times lack
of animation and some halting, the audience
were disposed to be blind to such faults.
Mr.. Upshur made capital lover. He is
new to the stage, but cannot be altogether
Inexperienced in the character he took last
night. Miss Nellie Babcock is very
sprighlly young lady; she acted with cX-
preston and intelligence, and greatly as
sisted the company in maintaining their
equilibrium in emergencies. The old IA
yoritc, Miss Salic Partington, was as good
as ever. She can always be safely relied
upon to do wen what she undertakes. A
detachment OF tue City Guard, under Lieu
tenant Elicit, furnished the soldiers for the
play, and in their manGuvres and bearing
extended their reputation, already de-
servedly high.
A number OF the soldier boys did service
as sailors on yacht, and sang boatman's
song with decided success.
On Guard was followed by the come
dietta, entitled the Little Rebel. Charac-
ters Mr.. Stephen Poppincourt, Mr.. Frank
Ray; Arthur Armeston, Mr.. John Archer ;
Mrs. Winsrove, Miss Sallie Partington ;
Laura lwith songs, Miss Nellie Babcock ;
Kitty 5Ninks, Master Mounts: Walker.
1UC tTkS + fhpArT' etti eti
was. Well perfeFmeA.ln .ti.=o jid "a a.aa,I 2
The music by tte erehe;strsa \; was :i ifirst rate M
tbI9uSt io 1yi;!@nw .s3-"r.} atI i'd. ~ n
| The audience was notlarge; it was above
the AZ eraSe. The attractions e1seH here in
the city 3,ddre& Oft many who. would; other.
! wise have comphmentet thr; City Guard
| with.theit presence >''' -
| The plays will be repeated tonight. and
unacr moreadYaptageoua circumstances
I ,r.yr III = IT. J. : Iz-1! ItLJti
TIE REUNION IT II 81: MAfKs ,tHuRRqqHss =
This event lms been a remMkab le feature OF
the Ghristmas:season. i-Ati about y o. 'cloeE
"Wednesday parents, tsgellers, and children.
TO the number OF five or six hundred,-wert
| assembled in the e=sunday-seh0ol room tt
witness the dlsplasfS an the despoilins 0
1 the Christmas rThereyEeref three o
them eefitaaning somewhere about eiGa
i hundred artces.o The room itself wa
worth a visit, to- see the beautiful! dec
4 orations. After appropriate exercises )!
| wasl aiin9uncadE tia" Santa Claus 'hfmsei
had, ,st,arted Ito visit. the oehllarenro4 :!
MarF's; an accident to one ofl1ls team ~ ga
corapslIed him 60 4iitea pitgglirlid ,'s1nfee,
/ t,it that he would soon be on p,hand with nl
r tnew eo1ipn6g.Is The! doors EorA Aned .anf |
IN ~ Hrsshsx,,n <tso NV, I'm 1hfc chariot n