Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-09-12
Dramatic.

Our citizens still retain in very fresh fecol-
lection the rare dramatic treat afforded them
last winter in the production here OF Hazel
Kirke by the accomplished company from
Madison Square Theatre, New York. All who
love purity in the drama and excellence in art,
and all those who desire to see standard COM
panies supplant the many indifferent organi-
cations that are struggling through the prov
lnces, will hail with delight the appearance OF
another cast from this Theatre in the repeti-
ton here tomorrow night of Hazel Kirke. to
be followed by the great success Of Esmeralda
on Thursday night. Two years ago the Madi-
son Square Theatre determined on q new de-
parture for the drama. It resolved to see II the
coarsely sensational or even the polished side
Of vice might not be wholly eliminated from
the stage. and yet the interest and drawing
power Of the drama survive. It determined
to subordinate every consideration to the sim
gle and controlling demand for line of histri-
onic work, in which absolute and entire purity
of plot and construction should supersede the
sensuous and make it rather the exponent Of
lofty morality than the gilded exhibition of
social vices, dignified though it might be by
the talent of its delineators and embellished
by the scenic glories of the stage. The Madison
regeneration. It had capital. brains. COM
manding position. worldwide reputation,
and any number of accomplished authors and
actors at command. 1t entered upon its work
with every preparation, even to the most mi
mute detail, made to perfection, and the amax-
ing success which resulted is the talk of the
theatrical world. :.
"Esmeralda," q simple story OF Southern
home life, transported in the succession of its
incidents to Paris, and without the indispenaa-
BILE element of even one "heavy villain" has
had run of over three hundred and fifty per-
formances, and with SO little evidence of hav-
ing in any degree stated its freshness that 1t
fully promises to rival its predecessor, Hazel
Kirke which attained the enormous and I'M
precedented score Of two thousand distinct
renditions. A half-dozen persons complete
the entire personnel. Ebert Rogers, plain old
farmer Of Western North Carolina, lived with
his wife, Lyddy Ann, and their pretty daugh-
ter, "Esmeralda" on poor farm in that Sec
ton of the State, and the young girl loves
Dave Hardy, a neighboring young yeoman,
who has secretly built cottage, and at the
opening of the play is just declaring his affec-
ton for her to her mother. Mrs. Rogers, q
shrewd and ambitious woman, has reluctantly
given her consent, when Northern specula-
tor appears on the scene and proposes to buy
the land, all the time concealing the fact that
vein of iron ore existing on 1t is the secret of
its value. Mrs. Rogers, who Is the controlling
spirit Of the house. is about to dispose Of 1t at
a trifling sum, when Dave. who has observed
the speculator on his quiet explorations. ex-
aiming ores and viewing the land, suddenly
appears on the scene. exposes the reasons and
snatches away the deed. which is ready to de-
liver to the purchaser. Mrs. Rogers then con-
cludes new bargain, which makes them mill
lionaires, and her first act Is to discard Dave,
who would never be a suitable husband tor her
rich daughter. The next act finds the Rogers
in Paris, and the mama planning an alliance for
Esmeralda with French Marquis. The poor
girl clings fondly to Dave. who has secretly
followed them and is living in poverty In Paris
During their stay the Rogers had made the
acquaintance of a young American sculptor,
who, with his sister, were living also in Paris
Dave comes to his studio to sit as model. and
there meeting friend of the Spectator learns
that the original vein of ore on the Rogers
farm was exhausted and had turned up on the
place where Dave had built his little house and
he was an enormously rich man.
In the third act good old Mr.. Rogers has to
induce the Marquis to resign Esmeralda, who
| is literally breaking her heart for Dave. He
refuses when Esmeralda discovers that Dave
| is living in Paris, poor and hungry. She re-
jects the Marquis, defies the old woman, and
| falls fainting into the arms of her father. In
| the last act old Mr.. Rogers makes a stand for
Esmeralda and Dave, and determines to bring
| them together, which he does, when Mrs. Rog-
| ers finds out that her money has long been ex-
| hausted, and that Dave has been secretly fur
| nishing the family. relents, and the curtain
| comes down with the sun gloriously shining
on the little cottage where Dave and Esmeral-
da had gone for their honeymoon. --f
The cast is of the usual excellence of this
Theatre. Mr.. r. F. McClanntn Gilbert Rogers
was for many years leading man at the Boston
Theatre and the other members of the compa-
ny are ladies and gentlemen of recognized abil-
ity and position in the metropolis.
We trust that the mutual happy relations
that developed between this company and our
citizens on the occasions Of their last visit will
be renewed on this, and that they will go away
If anything still more favorrbly impressed
with the appreciative and attentive bearing of
our theatre-goers. All applications for seats
who have not had the opportunity, should 60
| at once to Olivier and secure such as may be
| left. Remember tomorrow night Hazel Kirke,
| Thursday night Esmeralda.
This paper will only cost you $500 year.
You can save TEN TIMES THAT AMOUNT by
| reading GLADKE's advertisement every week.
He sells goods VERY CHEAP. Go and see
| him and read this paper. july18