Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-27
MRS. BROWN POTTER.
APLEAsAaT CHAT WITH HER-HER vIR
GISIA BLOOD.
Appearances Last Hight at tho Academy Of
Music in the Play Loyal
Love-

Music in the Play Loyal
Love-
Mrs. James Brown Potter arrived in
the city yesterday early in the afternoon
and went at once to the Academy of Mu-
sic to rehearse "Yolande," which will
probably be produced in conjunction
with Loyal Love" tonight While
she waited for the orchestra-rehearsal to
finish a Dispatch reporter had plea
SAINT chat with her. Mrs. Potter was
neatly but simply dressed. A skirt of
blue serge or flannel, with black jacket,
and o blue hat trimmed with black vel
vet, and partly wrapped in brown veil,
completed her attire. She wore no jew
elry. A LOT of lace at the neck and a
couple of ribbon-ends hanging from her
waist relieved the plainuess somewhat.
In height Mrs. Potter is above the
medium and in figure 1.-THE and slender.
She weighs about $50 pounds, and is
fairly plump.
When asked about her stage life Mrs.
Potter said that she was fond OF it. and
had met with very complimentary re-
ceptions in most OF the places she had
visited.
FIRST TRIP SOUTH.
"Do you prefer playing in the North
or South ?"
"This is my first trip South" said
Mrs. Potter, "and Virginia is the first
southern State have been in, but feel
more at home in the South, because my
sympathies incline With it, you know. "
"You are from New Orleans, | be-
lieve?"
"Yes, from New Orleans, and nm
going as far as that place on this trip"
"Have you ever been in Virginia be-
fore you went on the stage !? "
"Oh, yes, at several OF your springs in
the summer"
"What is your favorite character ?"
outlet, and I'm so very sorry |
couldn't give it here. ." she added, warmly.
81 had intended to, hut one of my
troupe who would be needed in 1t became
i'll.
HER MANNER.
In conversation Mrs. Potter is fasci-
mating. Herrehned and quiet air would
never lead one to know she is an actress.
There's nothing dramatic about her and
nothing naughty, and she speaks with a
timid hesitancy which could be expected
III a girl entertaining her first beau. But
her face lights up with smiles sweet and
almost sad in expression, and her whole
manner parMkes OF strong cordlality
toward and interest in the person to
whom she is speaking.
BEAUTY.
In appearance she is not the beautiful
woman that the fancies of some have
painted her Hundreds of women in
Richmond are quite rs handsome as she
is. Her crowning attraction might bc
called her abundance OF hair. 1t was ar
ranged yesterday in curly clusters around
her brow aud rolled into knot visible
below her bonnet behind. The color il
u rich brown, and it possesses a lustre as
if the sun shone through it. Her face IS
pale Her nose is prominent and deli
cate and her tips thin; but the beauty
of the face is in the eyes-so tender and
expressive.
HER SIGNATURE.
The reporter asked Mrs. Potter for
her autograph, which she willingly gave,
writing her name Cora UfQuhart Pot
ter" The chirography is bold and cha
racteristic, the tail Of the G extending
under tue first two words.
Airs. Potter was q Miss Urqubart, a
connection Of the family Of that name in
Isle Of Wight county, Va. Her husband
lives in New York, where he is in bust
ness,
Loyal Love"
Mrs. Potter opened her engagement
at the Academy last night in "Loyal
Love" romantic drama in four acts by
Ross Neal, The audience was one Of
the largest and prettiest that ever as
sembled there. As to the performance
opinions differ and while the people at
large were pleased and satisfied yet the
critical Judgment that expected much
was disappointed.
On the stage Mrs. Potter is handsome,
and well might some writers call her
beautiful, for her clear-cut profile and
lovely gowns with little paint and pen
cling and powder could easily make her
so. But she hardly loses her person
ahty and therein lies n fault, for in fail
ing to merge herself into the character
she assumes she fails to be an actress
what she processes to be.
The piece is Spanish and Mrs. Potter
takes the part of Inez. maiden who
lived in O cottage and married the
Kings son, Pedro. Gonzales, a courtier,
steals the wife and while she is in his
power he gives her drink which would
have been fatal but for the faithlessness
of a servant. Anyhow itproduced sleep
and Pedro rushes in at an opportune
moment, takes his wife in his arms, and
has "the heavy villain arrested. Such
is the plot in brief.
Mrs. Potter did not come in until the
second act, and during the whole OF it she
appeared to disadvantage. The third act
ended with climax which reused the
audience to a slight degree of enthu-
siasm. The fourth act was much better,
and Mrs. Potter played with such effec-
tiveness as to bring forth hearty APP
plause. Itis true Mrs. Potter had re-
call after each act, but this seemed TO be
more in tribute to her reputation than
an acknowledgment Of thorough satisfac-
ton.
1t could be imagined with no great
stretch that "Loyal Love was written
TO bring to the front three characters
Inez, Pedro, and Gonzales-sun, moon.
and say star OF great magnitude and
that all the other characters were lesser
lights. In truth, the cast was OF poor
quality except the trio named. Mr.. Kyle
Bellew PEDRO is an excellent actor and
speaks his lines well. Mr.. Henry Lee as
Gonzales is also fine.
Mrs. Potter's chief weakness is in the
use of her voice. This is almost entirely
!