Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1879-03-04

GOOD TEMPLARS ENTERTAINMENT
| The best dramatic entertainment given in
Charlestown for years, is the general verdict
| of those who were present on last Monday
evening when "The Dead Heart" was pre-.
scented by the Good Templars. Mr.. Harrell,
as Robert Landry, the principal character of
tho play, had .a.fne opportunity to display
his tragic powers, and the character was
we'll played. Deprived of his love-thrown
into the dungeon of the Bastlc. and un-
tombcd after seventeen years-his appear
ance upon the stage-chauged into an old
man by the weigh. of sorrow and the weary
years of prison life-loaded down with
chains-blinded by the glare of the sunlight,
and deafencd by the shouts of his deliverers
after years of dar kncss and silence, he starts
into life and consciousness at the name of
Catherine, and it was in this scene We think
Mr. Harrell did his best acting. The duel
scene with Latour was also made very effec-
tive by the spirit and force of his fierce de-
nunciations of the traitor. In his scenes
with Catherine, Mr.. Harrell brought out
fully the pathos of the text of the play, aud
altogether played his very difficult part in
his usual excellent manner. Mr.. S. G.
Young, as the Able Latour-the villain of
tho plot-was perfect in his part, and tho
fact that he knew his part perfectly inspired
him with confidence that enabled him to
throw his whole force into the play-his in
terview with the Countess St. Valerie where
he tells the astonished and heart-broken
woman that Landry lives-was superbly
acted, and the stagger, reel, and fall in the
duel scene were terribly real, while the
bitter words that struggled from the lips of
the dying man were Kissed out between the
closed teeth with power that brought down
the house. Jacques Legrand was we'll
played by Mr.. Thomas Redman He has q
good voice, while his stage action is easy
and natural. 1t was evident that he had
bestowed great deal of study upon his part,
as he entered fully into the spirit of the
play. His painful interview at the gate,
where the mother pleads to see her son, was
a very fine piece of acting. Mr.. Whitting>
ton, as Toupet, carried the house by storm.
Whether as "Toupet, the Barber" or as
"Brutus Toupet. the Terror of Kings" he |
was equally ready to sustain the comedy
character of the play, and his appearance
was ever the signal for roar of laughter.
Mr. Il. J. Williams, as the Count St. Vale
RE; Mr.. J. c. Holmes, as Arthur St. Vale
rie Joseph Cockril, as Michel; George W.
Henson, as Jocrsse and J. Henry holland,
as Raboul, all did we'll while the officers,
soldiers and mob all appeared at the right
time, knew their places, kept step in march
ing, aud shouted together with one accord,
something not often done by stage mobs
We cDnnot speak too highly of the acting
of Narv vi Catherine She had
a very difficult part to play, and gave uni
versal satisfaction The change from the
merry, laughing girl, crowned with wreath
Of roses by her Coy companions in the FIRST
scene, to the heart broken Countess, mourn-
ing for Robert Landry-the conflicting
emotions that struggle in her heart when
she learns that he lives-the watchfulness of
the mother over her erring sOn-the agony
of the first interview with the restored lover
OF her youth-the earnest pleading for her
son-the scorning of the Abbe Latour, and
the hcart-rcnding shrek US sho secs Landry
upon the Guilotinc-sacrificed' to save her
sou-were all rendered in a manner worthy
of professional. Her stage action e full of
grace and dignity. We we're particularly
struck with her attitude in the beautiful
tablesu that closed the play. Miss MollIe
Harrell, as the bright, spright!y and dashing
Ccrisette, surpassed all OF her former efforts
in this line, and laughed, chartered, flirtcd
and Slapped just as we should expect from
the merry French girl of that period. Miss
Woody, as Rose tile pretty Rosc-surely
Io0Lct her part, aud played in lively and
piquant manner. The costumes were the
richest aud most costly over worn upon our
stage, and added much to the success of the
play They were from the old and we'll
known establishment of Reuben Marshall,
No. Low street, Baltimore, who deserves
great credit for having costumed the play in
such a superb and complete manner The
scenic effects surpassed anything hitherto
attempted in our town. The scenery was
painted by and under the direction Of Mr.J
G. Holmes, to whose taste and inge nulty was
due the almost perfect setting of the play.
The pTompter has the most unthankful place
on tho stage. He doesn't get bit of tho
honor and glory, but comes in for a large
share of tho grumbling behind the scenes.
Mr.. A. D. Barr. who was prompter on this
occasion, certainly filled the BILL" and
always had a word for those who needed it.
The orchestra, under the leadership of Prof
Julian A. Smith, rendered the opening over
ture-'Young America"-in a mastery
manner, and filled in the gaps between the
acts with delightful music. Mr.. Heller re-
ceivcd perfect ovation from the hands Of
''the boys" and having been recalled three
times in his Ethiopian song and dance, closed
the entertainment with his rib>tck ling
speech on "The Progress of Education"
The bands added their music to the attrac>
tions of the evening. The receipts were
about seventy dollars, leaving very slight
margin after paying the expenses, which
were necessarily very heavy
The Good Tempiars have, during tho
winter, given entertainments to suit all tastes.
Their free lectures have been of flrst>clas
character. They gave US an evening of
comedy and minstrelsy, and produced this