The Washington critic., 1888-04-21

made
CHEAT hit,
having been faithfully rehearsed Tot
two months. Its success was assured
before the performance commenced,
for the people had so long been with
out amusements they were easily
pleased. Night after night the peo.
pie of the Confederate Capital were
treated to light comedy, and occa-
sionally TO q badly sung opera. The
company now produced the latest
plays as they were brought out in
London and Paris, for Ogden had
soon made arrangements with the
blockade runners to furnish him with
the new plays. lie also received from
London q better wardrobe of costumes.
The theatre was now in the full
tide of its success, and its manager
on the road to fortune. The mem
bers of the troupe were fattered with
their easy success, and comedy lost
all charms for them. No sooner did
some of the members get over their
first stage.fright than each bright
particular star concluded that he or
she was a second Booth or Mrs Sid
dons, and could be seen at best ad.
vantage in the heaviest of tragedy.
So fierce was the war waged between
the comedian and tragedian factions
that the company was in danger Of
disruption.
TRAGEDY WAS THE STRONGER,
however, and Ogden gave way TO the
pressure.
So the company left the gentle
waters of light comedy and plunged
into the raging sea of heavy tragedy.
where the lone damsol, with a frantic
And cheeks as hueless as brandy peach.
Cries 'Ilelp, ky.lnd heaven :" and falls upon
On the green baizo beneath the canvas trees:
See to her help avengng Valor, fly
"Ha villain, draw Ter-rator, yield or
die"
Had the soldiers who formed the
larger part of the audience been CON
suited they would certainly have OPP
posed the change They saw enough
tragedy in their own experience, and
each one of them had the material
out of which one could have been
written. Comedy had been diversion
and rest for them, but the heavier
plays of Shakespeare and the drama
lists of his school brought back the
scenes of the battlefield only too
plainly. But the rise of the new
school of .tragedians was soon to pass
away in smoke, for III the midst of
the season the theatre was destroyed
by fire.
What is counted a misfortune by
one class OF people is victory to
another. The ministers and older
citizens. of the Capital had long de-
nounced the theatre and all kindred
amusements as dancing over 81
crater" and untitled for the times.
They now rejoiced that one source of
of their annoyance had been re-
| moved.
But with the soldiers and the ma
| iority Of the citizens ii was popular,
and they determined to have it. With
the promise of their support the ire
| pressible D'0rsy Ogden went to work
with will and soon had =
ANOTHER BUILDING
i'll process of erection. The work pro
gressed slowly for want of sufficient
available labor, and in the meantime
the many strangers in the city had nc
place Of resort, In consequence the
boys in gray would push themselves
into any place that promised amuse-
ment, and their tattered uniforms
made up large part of every as.
semblage.
A marriage taking place in church
came TO be an ordeal to he endured
| only by the bravest, for the soldiers
! would be the first there, and would
crowd up the aisles and into the vesti-
bule in such numbers that it became
| almost impossible for the bridal party
| to reach the altar. Some would even
| make flank movement and secure q
| perilous seat on the window sill
These latter were mostly of Stonewall
Jackson's division, which was noted
for its flank movements. The crowds
! at last became so great that it was nc
| unusual sight to see soldiers stationed
at church doors with fixed bayonets
and orders to admit no one who wore
uniform unless he bore ticket.
10 crafty this taste for amusements
the ladies Of the Soldiers Aid Society
of which Mrs. General Leewas Presi
dent, held a series of receptions ut the
hotels, TO which all who wore Con
fedcrate uniforms were admitted Or
account OF the very high price of re
freshments none were served, bu
there was good music, and sometime
ball was held. But it seemed us i
nothing could supply the place Of til,
theatre, and when in February, 1868
ii was reopened, IL easily took its ole
place in public favor. The first nigh
of
THE SEASON OF 1863
was the most brilliant Of them all
though the altered fortunes Of tn
people were reflected in the toilets
which were now homlier than be
fore.
A prize poem by Henry Timrod o
South Carolina was read by Mr.
Walter Keeble, after which a "pa
seul" was performed by Miss Mar
danseuse of the capital. After thes
preliminaries the company, returnin
to its first love Of comedy, presented
in a style never before attempted
ShakspeaTe's CAS- You Like It," ThG
versatile genius, D'Orsy Ogder
eclipsed himself in the role of OtidRd,
ana Kate EStelle, as hOSdthd, az
lighted the audience, and won fo
= herself fresh laurels.
Once more started ON it's career th
theatre met with no more misfortune
until the fall of Richmond It's orig
nal lessee, Ogden, stood by il TO Tia
last. As the fortunes of the Confet
eracy iluctualed, so did the receipt
Of his house. II all depended the
as now upon the prosperity and ten
: perament Of the people. When tn
Confederates were victorious II larg
, crowd greeted the company, and goo
humor was seen in every face. 81
when the Federal troops gained IL su,
cess, q small crowd and gloomy face
Were the rule,
Ogden has been called the "Founds
of the Confederate Stage, and f.
one freely grant him the doubtfl
7 4. IL