Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-13
THE RICHMOND STAGE,
SALE OF SEATS FOR THE BooTH-BAR-
RErT EaGaGEMEsT.
Over $4,000 Realized Yesterday -E'ile
Rhea at the Theatre -Toboggan-
ing at the Academy.

duCbion gtsttIuhy lhOluibb 'h VIZ
mond Theatre. This was a procedure
with but one precedent in the history oil
this city.
Nine o'clock was the hour fixed for
the sale to begin, but it was ten minutes
later when the auctioneer, Mr.. Il. %.
Cook, pade his appearance. Usually
when seats for frst-class performance
are to be sold there is n rush when the
doors open, but such was not the case
here. People knew that they could only
bid when an offer was made, and they
rested contented at home until the ap'
pointed time.
DOORS OPEN.
When tine doors opened there were not
a half dozen persons present, but they
soon began to come in, and by 9:2O there
were some two hundred on band, repre-
sentng almost all grades of society and
various professions. On the stage were
Mr.. Cook, the auctioBeer ; Russell
Wyatt. the treasurer of the Theatre
Mr.. William II. Stable, manager;
several attaches of the house, and one or
more representatives of the city press.
Mrs. Powell and Miss Ella Wrenn occu-
pied seats in the box on the right OF the
stage, and the former superintendent the
Job Mr.. Wyatt had large amount OF
cash on his table to make change, and
the presence Of waste basket as a re-
ceptlcle for the cash was suggestive.
THE SALE BEGINS.
Mr. Cook made q brief speech ex-
planning the nature Of the sale. The
first bid was from Mr.. L. B. Munford,
who modestly offered 81 forthe privilege
of selecting seat, in addition to which
he would have had to pay S3. Major
Patton raised it TO g. % several other
bids were made and Major Patton
became the possessor Of seats D
and 6, row l, orchestra cir
Gle, paying Sl.7j bonus for each
Mr.. Andrew J. Berry secured the
next choice at $3.50 per seat and took
the four next to the left Of Major Pat
toms seats. Mr.. w. A. Crawley was the
next successful bidder ut 50, and took
seats 7, 8, 9, 10, l3, and Il. The price
now went down to 81. Is, and after few
more had been bought to $500, and
later 10 81. 80 and 1928.
About 10 o'clock, when g. % was the
ruling price and the best seats were be-
ing marked off rapidly, those who had
been standing aloOf waiting for the
prices to wane put in their oars and the
prices were kept pretty steadily up to
81. 80 and S2.75 until the choice seats
both in the orchestra and dress circles
had been taken. Then they fell to 1925,
and continued to fall until at noon only
81 was being bid.
THE BOXES,
About a quarter to l o'clock, by spe-
cial request, the private lower boxes were
Offered Mr.. John Pope bid $25 bonus
for one of them in addition to the fixed
price of $50, and Mr.. Barton II. Grundy
advanced the offer 81. Mr.. Pope bid
$50 and Mr.. Grundy (for Mr.. John
p. Branch) went up to $50. The
same gentleman secured the box on
the opposite side OF the stage for s.
less, making the total cost OF the two
Sl25. The second box was for Mr.. Car
ter W. Branch. The boxes on the next
floor were offered, but no bids were
made. and Mr. Cook again turned his at
tention to the sale of the choice for seats.
AMOUNT REALIZED.
The sale embraced all of the desirable
seats both down stairs and in the dress
circle, leaving a part OF the two back
rows in both places. he sale of seats
and boxes aggregated g, 33S.j0.
Many of the seats were purchased for
speculation, and they sold freely few
hours later at an advance of from 81 90
to So.
The house will no doubt yield between
1900 and 5000.
SEATING CAPACITY OF THE THEATRE.
Few buildings are more deceptive in
its seating capacity than the Richmond
Theatre.
The claim is made that it seats COM
fortably 1000, and in addition to this
there is the standing room where some
additional seats can be placed if desired.
On one occasion no less than $500
tickets were sold and room was found for
all.
:. FrOu From" at the Theatre Last
Night.
That Mile Rhea is an artistic OF ac-
knowledged histrlonic ability no one can
gainsay and that her conception and
impersonation of character are original
and beautiful no one will deny. In this
city her reception has always been warm
in whatever roic she appeared, and last
night she was greeted by a comph-
mentary audience. The play was "frou
Frou." which, in style, ranks "Ca-
mile" The principal character, Gil
berte, is, as her sister describes her to
be. ga noisy, bustling, busy little fairy
ever rustling, like the leaves stirred
bv a gentle wind" She is young and
fippant, though.less and childish. Mile
Rhea is mature and quiet, thoughtful
and womanly, and were she not the
clever versatile actress that she has oft
proved herself, her unsuitebility for the
part would have been plainly apparent.
But instead, she took the role as natural
" as others she attempts, and through
out the performance had the close
attention and kindly sympathy OF
her auditors. From the beginning OF
the performance to the close, when, as
she is about to die, she asks to be decked
ont beautifully, as in by-gone happy
davs. in her white dress, covered with
little roses, Gilberte is the same little
Frou Frou, and Mile Rhea was the
same pleasing and lovely actress. In
the last act many people in the audience
shed tears.
The several gowns worn by Mile Rhea
are fine specimens OF the dressmaker's
skill.
Miss Adelaide Fitzallen as Louise, the
unselfsh and sober-minded sister. as
well as Mr.. Edward Bell as Henry Sorto-
rvs. the husband OF the future Mr.. j.
Il. Armory as Baron de Cambri, and
Mrs. Ella Wren as Baroness de Cambri,
were very good in their respective parts.
Tonight ''Pygmalion and Galatea "
will be given.
"robogganinG" ut the Academy.
Mestayer's "Tobogganing" is great
1t was played at the Academy last night
before a crowded house, and applauded
from beginning to end. The piece is in
three acts and the second one is the most