Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-17
JOHN l. PLAYS HERE.
THE GREAT puelLlsT IN HONEST
HEARTS AND WILLING HANDS.
There Is Packed House and Great En-
thrsissm-He Thinks Richmond
Beautiful City-U. 8. Mail.

John L. Sullivan was the attraction in
Richmond yesterday.
He arrived in the city about half-past 8
o'clock in the morning and put up at MUIR
phys Hotel, but kept his room most OF
the day and was very exclusive.
He was fired.
To Dispatch representative, who had
few minutes conversation with the great
pugilist, he said that he had most pleasant
recollections of his former visit to Rich
mopd, which was some years ago, ana con-
sidered ii O very beautiful city.
All the evening q large crowd hung
around the hotel hoping TO get sight OF
the hero of the fistic arena. and towards
night the crowd increased greatly. ABOUT
half-past o'clock Sullivan emerged from
one of the Eighth-street doors OF the build
ing and started for the Mozart Academy OF
Music.
WALKED IN TRIUMPH.
He was dressed quietly, marched with
his hands in the outside breast pockets OF
his oyercoat, and his progress was tn
umphal one. At the Academy doors another
large crowd had assembled.
The audience that greeted Sullivan's first
appearance on the dramatic stage In Rich
mond was a success in point of numbers.
but female forms divine were few and FAR
between, and several times before the cur
tain rose on the first act there was an
effort to get up concerts in the gallery by
whistling and stamping. ,,,,,,.
The play, Honest Hearts and Willing
Hearts, is q hotch-potch Of song and
dance, impossible sensational drama, and
n prize-fght, and has no claim to literary
merit. o
HOW JOHN L. APPEARED.
Sullivan proved himself O comic actor,
for the reason that in his innocence he dld
not know his acting was comic. He has
comparatively few lines TO speak through
out the play, but when he did speak he
was received most good humoredly. At
the end of the third act the audience evil
IDENTIFY expected to see HIM pitch inspector
Francis and his dilapidated guard out OF
the window, but were disappointed. Ihe
play would have been more effective If he
had at this point initiated his prototype in
dealing with Sir Charles Coldstream
Mr.. Duncan b. Harrison as John DAILY.
brother of James DAILY, the character taken
by Sullivan, has the heaviest work. to do
as regards lines, but his reading is very
strained.
THKIR sUPPoRT.
Mr.. Griffin as Tiddy Hinton, Mr.. Shell.
don as McNab, Miss Nelson as Emily Por-
guford, and Miss Ottillie as Nora DAILY rem
dered their parts very acceptably, whlle
Mr.. Collins as Arthur Dare showed that he
was very good actor.
At the end of the second act Mr.. Harri-
son came before the curtain and stated
that If certain remark that had been
made in the gallery was repeated the au-
thor of it would be compelled to leave.
SULLIVAN THE BLACKSMITH.
Sullivan's appearance in the third, act
dressed as O blacksmith called forth loud
applause. and it cannot be denied that he
presented splendid appearance physi;;
caliy when he stood with arms folded and
allowed the Others to talk. At the end
of the act he was called before the curtain
and q speech demanded. He said be
thanked the people for their appreciation,
and added: Il hope to deserve 1t In the
future as l have in the past"
IN HIS OWN SPHERE.
The sparring scene in the fifth act was,
of course, Sullivan's great scene. Here he
is pitted against Tug O'Brien, hired tug,
personated by Joe Lennon, o Boston
pugilist. Three rounds were fought In
which to all appearances both did their
best, and the third round was ended by
the tug being knocked down and "toted "
off the stage face downward.
Before the fight began the master OF
ceremonies, with an inviting wave of the
hand to the audience, announced that the
fight was open to all corners, but no one
in the audience seemed disposed to accept
the invitation.
ALL WE'RE PLEASED.
On the whole the performance seemed 10
he about what the audience expected, and
4 a 4 haa alr
is amateurish to the last degree and rs
stolid as manakin except when 5parrlng.
Then he seems TO enter with great enthu-
siasm into tho work before him.
LUDIcRoUs SERENITY.
When Mr.. Harrison rebuked the gallery
there was a sneaking hope In the, lower
part of the house that that gentleman,
who is as big man as John L. physically
would be answered back and would add to
the fun of the occasion by proceeding 20
clean out that part OF the building. The
gallery. however. thought discretion the
better part of valor.
The stage spectators of the slugging
match were half dozen half-grown boys:
The two seconds. Nora and the mother OF
James Daly, and the composed manner IN
which the latter watched the progress OF
the fight, were the acme OF ludicrous Sc
renity.
The scene in which Teddy pulls up John
DAILY and McNab from the yawnlng abyss
into which just retribution and a very
athletic young lady had hurled the latter,
would have been intensely realistic II ne
had had q windlass to help him, but, as IL
was the feat was a physical imposslbility;
Honest Hearts and Willing, Hands -"
will be repeated at the matinee this after
noon and tonight.
II is understood that Sulliyan's pro;
gramme tor to-day embraces ride around
the city. He met number of Richmond
gentlemen at Murphy's last night about an
hour after the play.
u. s. Mail at the Theatre.
The U. s. Mail was presented TO crowd
ed house at the Theatre last night.
The play is mixture Of the variety show
and comedy, and the company is good
one. The songs and dances are new and
were enthusiastically eRcored:
There are some very good voices IN the
company and the choruses were strong;
Miss Georgie Parker both in her songs and
dances was deserving Of the praise and
encores she received, and Messrs. L. Rick
etts, David Jones, and Jerdons were good.
The "U. S. Mail" will be repeated to,
night and at the matinee tomorrow and