The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-05-10
ARTISTIC AMATEURS.
The Chimes or Normandy Last MI

lie Ou1uek u NOfmuuuJ kNiSut
Every seat in the main body OF the
Richmond Theatre was occupied last
night. From O'Clock until nearly hall
past that hour q steady stream poured into
the Theatre. The fashion, beauty, and
manhood Of the city had its choice repre-.
sentatives in the throng, and most bril-
liant audience was the result.
Here and there, dotted about, were
beautiful women in full evening-dress,
their escorts in cloth and immaculate linen
something unusual at the theatre; some
thing tllat made the audience marked in its
appearance, pleasing, and attractive to a
great extent.
What did this mean?
1t was the occasion Of the presentation OF
the Chimes Of Normandy by company
composed OF the best amateur musical
talent Of Richmond, ladies and gentlemen,
from the social world, who had come for
ward to lend their time and talent for the
purpose OF raising funds for the benefit OF
the Retreat for the Sick and the Old Wo-
mems Home-a good purpose truly-and
the attendance was worthy OF the cause.
At $3.50 o'clock the hum Of conversation
died away as the orchestra opened, and the
curtain went up, disclosing picture pretty
enough to please prince. A score OF
Richmond beauties faced the audience,
costumed modestly and tistefully, looking
bright and fresh as new-blown roses, and
singing as merrily as birds after shower
In May; their bright eyes beamng with
pleasure and cheeks glowing with excite
ment mean while. Instantly burst OF APP
pause greeted their appearance.
Tho rllaU Uapf smoothly pOnSi1eripO o.
everything, and the great wonder was that
amateurs could acquit themselves so well.
Somewhere great credit was due.
You can Judge for yourself when It Is
stated that the opera was given under the
management OF Mr.. and Mrs. +. w. Hoff;
that Mr.. S. w. Keen was stage director,
and Mr.. Jacob Reinhardt musical director.
The audience voted their appreciation
and delight in vigorous applause and fo-
raj offerings in great variety and profuslon.
The leading characters did so well that
it would be hard to indiyidualize, but per-
haps it ought to be said that Miss Belle
Pleasants as Serpolette, with all the work
before her that her part brought, never
tired, but grew better as the play pro-
gressed, making a decidedly favorable i'm
preston. Mr.. William II. Grants Gas
pard was astonishingly good, and he won
favor at the hands of the audience. Mr..
and Mrs. Hoff were in excellent voice, and
acted their parts well; and Mr.. S. W.
Keen. Of Washington, as Henri, was very
fine. The part OF the Baile was accepta.
bly, rendered.
The performance lasted until 1910 this
morning, but tonight 1t will commence al
O'Clock instead Of $3.50, and the play will
will 90 more smoothly. In fact, better
presentation OF the Chimes will be given.
A full house will be present. The follow.
ing is list OF the dramatiS perSOnR, the
chorus, &C.:
Serpolette. Miss Belle Peasants, OF
Rock Island; Germaine, Mrs. Z. w. Hoti ;
Gertrude, Miss Mary NJ. Jones; Jeanne.
Miss Pearl Tyler; Manette, Mrs. III. A.
Tabb; Susette, Miss Fannie w. Archer
Henri Marquis De Cornyille, MIR. S. w.
Keen; Jean GrenicheuX, Mr.. Z. W. Hoif +;
Gaspard the Miser. Mr.. W. III. Grant; The
Baile, Mr.. c. OBJ. Cowardin; The No.
tary, Mr.. NJ. B. Curry; Registrar, Mr..
James Branch; Assessor, Mr. C.. W. VIM.
Peasant Girls: Misses Eva de Treville,
Belle Pleasants, ROsalie Pleasants, Maria
Selden, Daisy Adkins, Lou Adkins, Lizzie
Brock, Sadie Tareton, Helen Garnett,
Maggie Smith, Gertrude Rives, Maria
Albert, Page Aylett, Helen Halsey, Isabel
Halsey, Mary Mcdonald.
Villagers and Sailors Messrs. j. Il. Hax-
all. Thomas Boiling, NJ. b. Curry, L. A.
Cary. rutherford Rose, j. b. Johnston,
W. w. Scott, G. r. Myers. w. c. Lefebvre,
Levin Joynes, David Edmond, Robert
Archer, Randolph Boiling, c. b. Ryan, {.
F.. Wortham, Jr., w. +. Wickham, ID. n.
Walker, James Harris, Richard Pegram, j.
L. Carson.