The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-25

" SAJ
Columns have been written in It's praise,
sermons have been preached about Il 10y
the most eloquent diYines, and still the
mention OF the performance is enough TO
Oil the largest theatres. Carl Haswin,
who has played the leading part Of VIII
fred Denver mere than one thousand times,
Is now the sole owner Of the American
rights. and he has surrounded himself with
Il most capable support. The company is
composed OF twenty-five people, and carry
a car load Of special scenery. '"The Silver
King is from the pen OF Henry Arthur
Jones. author Of "The Mlddleman." IN
which r. A. Willard made his reputation.
The great Madison Square Theatre sue
cess. Jane" comes to the Richmond Thea
ire two nights, Thursday and Friday, De-
cember 20th and Goth. with a brilliant COM
panY under the direction & Charles Froh-
man.
Funny Is the correct adjective to afix TO
Jane" It's situations. to say nothing Of
the words. are so ludicrOus that the audi
tor. unless he be almost incredibly grave.
IS kept in constant laughter. This is the
story Of Jane" Charles Shackleton Is Il
young man with prospects. Left a fortune
by his aunt on condition that he marrics
before securing any OF the money, so long
as he is able to conduct all his business
~ lAt"tf'NIiAAN = NJ Eu'Nffuo III AAthltt-
his guardian believe that he has q wife
and child.
lie has involved himself in debt, and has
blamed it all on the extravaganza of his
wife. when Mr.. Kershaw the old guardian,
desires 10 visit him and re1ncnstrate with
the lady. This startling announcement
makes II necessary for the young man TO
provide himself with u wife at short no.
tice.
He and his clever man servant William
agree uDOn the idea that he must borrow "A
wife for the occasion TO carry out the de-
coptiOn. They are not SO happy, however,
in their selection Of the wife. and. each
working on INDEPENDENT lines, prepare fer
the otter surprises that are startling I'm
Their Developments.
william selects Mrs. Chadwick. n widow
Of mature yeats, 70 play the part. and when
kershRw arrives introduces her as Mrs.
Shackleton. She. not ayerse to becoming
Mrs. Shackleton. accepts the situation with
Tie hope Of becoming In reality his wife.
But Shackleton, having thought OF every
thing. and found no better way out OF his
embarrassment notices his bright house
maid Jane. and proposes that she play the
part for a consideration q 800. She ac-
cepts and he no once sends her out TO lit
her dress 10 her new station.
Jane plays her part 70 the perfect salts
faction OF her master and his guardian. but
to the great CONSERVATION OF William.
whose real wife she became that morning.
"The situation becomes mere ridiculous
with each OK the three short acts. and Jane
has the ready wit 70 meet every emergency.
even to borrowing d baby. when the cid
guardian asks after the hopeful heir. whom
his young scapegrace Of 4 ward has pie /
tured in his correspondence. But this dis
play breaks down Williams patience, and
he unScts the whole game.
Jane Is driven to confession. Is forgiven
for her cleVcrncss. and Shackleton. having
been forgiven by his sweetheart. Lucy Nor.
ton. becomes a married man in truth and
receives his fortune"
Jane will be presented with a cast OF
"Chums." tie New York Herald prize
Comedietta. in one act. will precede Jane"
as a curtain raiser.
On Saturday Roland Reed will give that
comedy. Innocent as a Lamb"
Ii Is Mr.. Reeds new play. and has proved
to be n perfect gold mine for him. NJ.
Reed was last seen here in the Woman
Halter" and attracted large and fashionable
He is one Of tie c~leyerest ac-
tors on the stage to-day.
Thomas G. Leath.
The Christmas number Of the Dramatic
Times contains the following sketch Of
Thomas Ct. Leath, Of Richmond.
The most popular and prosperous local
manager OF Virginia is MIR. Thomas c..
Leath. He is the active member OF the
firm OF Branch & Leath, managers Of the
Theatre. and also of Van
Wyck's Academy Of Music in Norfolk.
Mr.. Leath Is also the lessee and
manager Of the Petersburg Academy OF
and manager Of the Southern In
-~erstate Theatrical Circuit, which COM
orlses all the principal theatres in Vir-
dnia, a part Of West Virginia and North
md South Carolina.
Mr.. Leath came 10 Richmond about six
'ears ago as treasurer OF the Mozart
of Music. This was the cheap
house OF the city at that time. The next
ieason he assumed the management and
'aised the prices TO the regular standard. =
, bout this time he associated Mr.. II. G..
5erger with him in the management.
The Richmond Theatre was then the only
ecognized irst-class house in the city, {
'ut In less than two years the Theatre =,
vas virtually Closed, and the Academy :
vas the recognized leader In giving the I
attractions. 4
May l. 1880, Mr.. Leath severed his part |
Iership with Mr.. Berger at the Academy, c
flowing the latter 10 retain the manage y
nent OF that house. and taking himself I
he control of the Academy In Norfolk. q
AINA - 60 ~AAAAN a. :
hen took the management Of the Rich !
nond Theatre aud associated Mr.. James |
(. Branc with him. l
At that time the business Of the Theatre .
ad been virtually killed. but In less than |
ne year he again re-estab.ish. I'd IL as the u
,ading house of the city, which position Q
has continued TO retain. Mr.. Peter y
ackson. who has been with the house 4
Or forty years. is still head doorkeeper, u
nd perhaps is one of the Oldest and best =.
nown doorkeepers in the country. Pro- :
Stein. who has followed Mr.. :
eath's fortunes since his residence I'm =
ichmond. handles the baton In the Z
(and a very competent one IL .
|, too. while young Nose Wise. who has =
aarge of the box office. is noted for a '
Ieasant disposition and his accuracy In 4,
.ttle;nents. -
Up to the time that Mr.. Leath leased r
le Academy In Norfolk no one had ever l.
possession OF tina, house for two h
'asons. as business was not good enough -
pay the rent. Mr.. Leath has now had =,
70 house for 1--WE years. and has renewed la
q lease for another term OF Ave years. ri