The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-12-31
MiIr at the Opera House.

Manager Olivier has determined to usher
in the new year with the finest perform
ance ever given in Stanton. Min ranks
with The first tragedians OF this country
and the plays selected are the master
pieces Of Shakespeare. To accommodate
all purses the prices have been put so low
that as a matter of fact better perform
ance viii be witnessed in Staunton than
could be seen in New Y ork for the same
money.
In noticing Miln's Hamlet, " the lack
sonyille, Fla, Times says
There could hardly be a more eloquent
or decided verdict of the cultured public
taste of Jacksonville than the contrasting
audience of the past two nights at Iark
Opera House. The theatre was filed
almost to Its full capacity last night by an
audience representing the intelligence,
culture and best social elements OF the
city to greet the tragedian, Min, in
Hamlet" Very few actors OF prOmi-
nence have had the good fortune to be so
variously judged by the critics. The most
Numerically opposing views have been
expressed Of him, and that by Judges OF
equal competency. While he has been de-
n0unceG by some he has been almost
liercely lauded by others. His Hamlet
has been the shining mark at which arrows
and plaudits have alike been aimed. His
audience last night was neperfectly COM
petent to discriminate, and III the lace OF
the unqualified appreciation which he re-
ceiyed at their hands likewise their feet,
it is patent that Jacksonville is squarely
arrayed On the side of his admirers. lie
had not to win his hearers he had them
from the first few W0rd1 anq first appear
ance, R.G, what was more, he never lost
them. lie was twice called before the
curtain, and spontaneous 0utburStS OF APP
plause were frequent and long.
Miss Adele Payn as Ophelia was cold
and distract in the first scenes, atfording
only the poorest Of support until the mad
scene, when she most unexpectedly and
wonderfully developed into the true ar
tiste. Il such an entirely different type
! of madness as that Of the gentle SORROW
stricken Ophelia could be compared with
the narrowing fortunes Cf Clara Morris s
rayings, Miss Payn would by no means
suffer With the comparison. Throughout
this test scene she was admirable, invest
ing it with a touching and realistic char
acter which lifted it above criticism.
The play for Saturday night is 'OthellQ, =
and the Denver, Col, NsIra thus speaks OF
Minis appearance in that famous drama
| A large and fashionable audience at
! tended the ShakesDerian drama last even
! ing. Olympus could not boast Of enough
gods to make it disagreeably noisy, and the
great play had nothing to disturb its pre-
| Sentati0n but the we'll earned plaudits OF
the house.
MI Min frequently TAXES the tide role
u OtlellO, but last evening appeared as
Iago, the most diabolical character Of al
Shakesperian creations. Having no op
portunlty to win the favor of the audience
by the popularity of his part, he depends
wholly upon his dramatic skill and linesst
for success, and makes of "Iago" rendi
ton to study rather than to applaud. /
was a wonderful piece Of acting last even
ing. Having no cause for oriticising Mr.
Min in his former visits to our city, VIZ
can afford TO say that last nights playinl
was marred by the too frequent use of hi
: chest tones, which Erendered his line
, obscure and'hard to follow in many III
stances. But his facial power, tinesse 9
his diabolistn, the laugIable villainv OF n
duplicity as he tCGk the house INTO ~
confidence, and his consistent exit, snap
ping his fingers at his Toes and r0intin
, to the depths where he expected 20 NEE
them, was all a masterful play OF III
actor, and was followed with continue
. bursts of applause.