The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-11-01
THE STAGE And ITS PLAYERS.
THE Prince and The Paupsr' to be Seen
at the Theatre.
Ia CIGALE NOT A SUCCESS IN new YORK.
Joseph Uaworih will Play Standard Drama
THE Country Circus" Revelation
Tho Metropolitan fIayhouses.

At the Richmond JhehTo mummy nHu
Tuesday evenings the first production OF
Mark Twans romantic story. The Prince
and the pauper." will take place. Tho CHIEF
interest Of the play is conferred IN little Elsie
Leslie. whose age and size exactly suit her to
the parts she has 10 assume. She has a
greater opportunity 10 display her dramatic
ability in this play than she had in her origi-
nal character Of Little Lord Fsuntleroy. Both
as the prince and as the pauper she IS said to
be very effective.
Here is a little girl barely eleven years old,
who Is entirely self-relaDt as star, The
Prince and the Pauper" scored q success IN
the principal cites OF the country last season.
and night and matinee performances were
crowded 20 witness the charming acting OF
little Elsie. most succinct and interesting
dramatzaton Of romantic story. wealth
OF handsome and correct costumes OF the time
Of buI and unreliable king Hal the tighih'
An able company. and above al else the WIN
ming personality and genuine talent OF the
little star herself.
Mrs Abby Sage Richardson's dramatization
OF Marx Twain's curiOusly conceived story re-
tains all OF the interest OF the original WITH
strict regard for the dramatic force necessary
for a 90 "A stage production. Ihe costumes
are said 20 be absolutely correct. the apparel
Of the little prince and the puny pauper, tho
dresses of the courtiers. burghers and the
haunters of the siums and by-wnys. all carry
the spectators back 10 past centuries IN Eng
lands history. The comedy OF the play IS
delicate but enjoyable and In sharp contrast
otAe almost melodramatc scenes at other
times There will be given on Tuesday a spe-
cal matinee for the benefit Of the ladies and
children.
Joseph Haworth. Of whom William Winter
has said The mantle of Booth Is destined
10 rest on this mans shoulders comes Tor
three-uights engagement 10 the Richmond
Theatre beginning next Thursday evening.
Fverywhere this season his success bas been
most n arke1. the demonstrations of approval
being far greater than thO-e lie received while
playing Paul kauvar" and "Hoodman
Blind and he will present this week several
excellent and attractive plays. The repertoire
is as follows: Thursday evening and Satur-
day matinee q revival of +. J.. Daven-
ports romantic drama st Marc the Soldier
of Fortune" Friday. double bill one-act
comedy entitled "Cupds Messenger aud
Booths version of "Euy Bias Saturday
evening the great success The leayen-
worth Case, which is pronounced the most
intense and absorbing drama of several sea
sons The company includes Kathryn hid
der. the original heroine IN Held by the
Enemy and Atkins Lawrence. one OF the
superior actors OF the old school.
The mueh.talked.of La Cigaleo was
brought out al the Garden Theatre in New
York on Monday evening 1t was originally
composed by Audran. Of "tllvette" and
'MascOtte" fame. but Ivan Caryl husband of
our own Geraldine JlmerD touched il up for
Iondoners Cbyot and Daru wrote the
original hbrettO and il was put into English
by r. e. Burnand of Punch" IT deals i'll a
heavy manner with the fable of the ant and
grasshOyper the latter trOlicklng through the
summer and wasting IFS substance in riOtOus
living, being compelled 10 crave assistance
from the industrious former. In the opera
the ant and the grasshOpper are sisters. the
former the prima donna and the latter the
village maiden The liDretto is heavy lugu-
brious and lacking in fun. There are but
three catchy numbers. one beginning with
"One Day Margot." the second gavotte and
the third concerted piece
The hbrettO is of course we'll written and
the music is always agreeable. but neither
impreSses itself upon one That the book is
not interesting may not astOnsh any one, for
the Engl sh comic opera rs woiully dull. but /
if the music be Audrans. then he must be
thoroughly played out. The only feature OF
the performance to rave about is Lillian Rus |
sell her voice was aginifcent-pure. ring
ing and unerring She has never appeared to
better advantage. although it is not possible TO
compliment her on her acting. In Paris the
part Miss Russell sings was created By the
wonderful Jeanne Granier.
Our own Lillian sings better and looks bet
ter but the other members of the company
cannot be compared to the original French
i
try a long time has not mastered English
sufficiently to make himself understood, and
Carl Strietman speaks IN dislOcated German,
which makes the performance somewhat
poiyglot. The opera was put on literally re-
eardless Of expense and nothing produced
on this side Of the Atlantic speaks more
plainly of managerial hberality and less
artistic value.
The Kendals, having been pulled over the
Goals Tor their poor production Of Home"
- L a
Star Theatre for better scenery, and have re-
hearsed so vigorously a. 10 give a good pro-
duction of The lronmaster." which, by the |
way. has been done TO death by the Kendall |
company
At the Windsor Theatre, Leonard Grover !
let loose his Wolves of New York." which |
has pleased Fast-side audiences immensely, |
and which is sure TO make good deal of |
money Tor him before the flowers bloom
again. Taking il as a whole the theatrical !
business ia New oIk continues very bad, |
and but few managers or organizations are |
making money.
c. b. jefferson, Klaw and Erlanger pro-
duced The Country Circus in Phlladel hia |
Monday night at the Wslnut-street Theatre, !
and 1t Is stating II mildly 10 say that the per- |
Torrance created q sensation. The new play |
tells story Of New Engl0nd and of the |
elopement of a Young girl with circus ad- /
vance agent to become "A performer in the /
magic circle. In the third act there Is shown |
u parade of a circus in which about three /
hundred men clad in costly costumes forty !
horses. twenty ponies animal wagons band /
chariots. an elephant Roman charlOts and /
other attractive features are introduced AS |
pageant this has never been equalled on |
any stage or IN any country. IL surpasseS in /
briiiiancy and color the parades made by the |
Barnum and Bailey greatest show on earth
In the fourth act OF the play n regular cir
Gus performance by artists noted in Europe |
and America Is given IN a forty-foot ring |
which IL eaborateiy set with real canvas /
tent and amphitheatre filled with hundreds
OF men and women. BY the use of a huge |
plate-glass mirror. which Is patented 10y Jei- |
ierson. klaw and Erlauger. the one ring is
made t. look like two. with IA performance
going on IN each. The first performance was
witnessed by prominent managers from New
York. Boston. Cleveland Baltimore, Wash
inaton. Cincinnati and other cities. and with |
out exception they declared it the greatest
spectacle they had ever seen. The Country
Circus" Will DO presented at McYicker's The
atre IN Chicago, November Sth. for run of
two months
That charming. romantic actor. Mr.. Robert
Manteii. Is making giant strides into the in
most hearts OF the play-going public. His
latest production. the "Louisianaup is an
astounding success Romantic dramas are
not usually very well received and il is recog-
milton OF Dir. Mantelps talent that he has