The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-11-03
PoIL-TAx-Andrcw Jlnklns-sl.05.

THE THEATRE LAST NIGHT.-IIernc's
" Hearts OF Oak" was presented at the
Theatre last evening for the first time in
this city. and the very sensible manner in
which the audience was affected by the pa
thos Of the play would indicate that the
company will close their engagement to
crowded houses.
Setting aside any merit or demerit the
plot may possess, Hearts Of Oak as rem
dcred last night, il one mbroken success
sion OF realistic home scenes, made effective
hy clever Stage-setting and mechanism.
While il has little or no depth, the play pos
sesseS throughout with probably one eXcep-
tom the great virtue OF being true 10 nature.
Every detail OF scenic effect has been care
fully studied, and while there seems 10 be
no prctension or attempt at great acting,
the play is admirably well rendered. The
tablcaux, a. they are called, or, more pro-
perly, the scenes in the different acts, are
beautifully arranged and assist very mate
rally i'm illustrating the work as performed.
The 6nal scene represents sunset on the
coast OF Marblehoad, Mass. the gathering
storm-cloud; the signal OF distress the
portrait: the doubt; the decision; the
wreck; the rescue; and thrilling sensation
OF the rocket and life line.
Owing 10 the late hour at which the COM
pany arrived from Norfolk Yesterday after
noon. this scene was not given with all the
usual effects incident to its presentation.
The rain-StOrn OF real water had 10 be
omitted. IL was very fine rs il was, how
ever, and will be improved upon tonight.
The second scene or tableau represented
the interior OF the old mill, representing a
grist-mil in full motion, and the betrothai.
The third Scene-thc home Of "ChryS-
tal," the heroine Of the play, with partial
view Of the mills intensely realistic.
The little baby introduced in this home
picture is the most precOciOus infant OF
six or eight months we have ever seen.
She seems actually TO know that she is
PLAYING 4 part, and won universal adj
miration and sympathy from the audience
last evening. The fourth scene, though pre-
senting a pretty picture OF the lane near
whalers' wharf. furnishes the theatre for a
very unreal piece Of acting. which, to our
mind, Is the one defect OF the drama. IL is
the surrender Of his lawful wife TO his
rival, when Terry DennisOn takes his de-
pariurc for the Arctic seas. y little less OF
the BOwery Just here on the part OF Terry,
Ruby, and Chrystal would probably rem
der the defect OF construction some
what less glaring. The fifth and
sixth scenes were beautifully presented,
especially the last, in which the baby, now
advanced to six years OF age, is personated
by little Maud Thompson. The acting OF
this child is very wonderful. The act is in
tensely pathetic, and there were few dry
eyes in the audience.
A. 4 realistic scenic picture the play i
with the exception OF the Enoch Arden
feature OF the ploD certainly success, and
is we'll worth seeing. The acting OF Mr..
Herne. Mr.. Mainhall, Mr.. Chippindale,
and Miss Katherine Corcoran was very
good. but we were specially pleased with
Mr.. Clarke's impersonation Of Uncle Dayy.
The play will be repeated tonight.
INNER LIFE OF A WAR CORRESPONDENT
The people OF Richmond are promised
rare treat in the lecture OF Archibald
Forbes. ESQ, the famous war correspond
o,t ~ tho 1 opIcu Aesre announced TO Op-