The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-11-19

~ 'Viii b'Illl ) llNV ACT drama OF Damon
and PythiaS last evening, a new one here,
the audience were rather taken by surprise
at the power and intense ability of Mr..
Warde. The p lot of the piece is too well
known through the historical readers
10 need much recital here. The gist
OF 1t Is that the Senate Of Syracuse, about
to resolve upon making the government of
Kngly form, proposed DyOnisius as the
King, when they--were vigorously opposed
by Damon and few others. Dyonsius
upon his selection, determined to
visit punishment upon his main opposer,
Damon, condemned him to death. Damon
being married, and with son, asked u
short respite of few hours to bid them
farewell. This the tyrant refused, when
i,ythias, by his eloquent entreaty, PEI sua-
des him to it, and himself pledges his own
person and goes to prison as security
Damon thereupon visits his wife and boy
and both implore him to
stay, even at the sacrifice
OF honor toward his friend and bonds
man. True to his word, he starts back
after an agonizing parting from his loved
ones at home, but finds that his horse has
been slain by a servant overly devoted but
too rash. lie seizes a horse of a
traveller, rushes to the place of execu-
to save the life of Pythias who had ascend
ed the fatal block for execution trusting
always that Damon had through no fault
of has been delayed beyond his time. Dyo-
nisus admiring such friendship, pardons
them both. In all the several scenes, en-
b3acing his senatorial opposition to the
decree that enslaved his country, his
parting with his wife and boy, his alice
tionate meeting with Pythias, and indeed
all through the piece, the power the vigor,
the enthusiasm, the exhibition of ardent
passion, Mr., Warlo showed himself an actor
of the highest capacities, whether we have
regard TO his verbal and hhysi;al expression
or to vocal infections and eloquent intona-
tons. The character is one eminently
suited to him, and he shines in it as Nc
Culloch does in Virginius The vigorous
and the strong, the delineations of the
beaver characters seem best suited
to him. Had we never have
seen or heard of Warde, except
last night for the first time, we should have
pronounced him q star, rich in natural
gift, refined by careful culture His role of
Romeo this afternoon will test his versa
tility.
Mr. Henry Aveling as rythias, met the
fullest appreciation and the continued APP
plause of his audience, and is worthy
to be the leading man in support ofhis
chief in the combination lie was entirely
up in his part in its rendition in every
point, and at times rose to the sublime.
AT times a little more of Mr.. Warde's
impetuous fire would not be out
of place. Miss Elmore, as on the pre-
ceding night, did admirably and fully con.
ceived the character of devotion and deter
mined love, as Calanthe Miss Clifton as
llermlone, was far ahead of what would
have been thought of abilities as afforded
by the limited opportunities us the Queen
in Hamlet; and in the parting scene from
her husband, exhibited a power of de.
scHptiye pathos and depth of feel
ing that met applaudng approval.
At the close of the act before the last,
pleasing little episode occurred, as Mr..
Warde was enthusiastically called before
the curtain. As he started to retreat Mr..
Barnett Gibbs arose in the centre of the
house, which seats had been reserved for
the Knights of Pythas of Dallas. and
their families, and fin neat, grace
full and appropriate remarks, most
expressed, rendered the con.
CALCULATIONS of his fellow Knights upon the
success OF Mr. Warde's demonstration and
happy picturings of the "test of friendship"
and wished him unhoundcd success. To this
the eloquent actor most felicitouslv re-
sponded in q few words Not o man, not
u woman in the well-filled house last
evening that does not echo the verdict that
Damon and Pythias, as rendered by the
Warde Combination, was complete sue
cess in all its parts, ranking with the finish
cd productions Of actors Of larger life and
more wide celebrity, This afternoon Romeo
ana Juliet; tonight Richard Ill.