Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-12-22
W. II. CRANE AS The SENATOR.
The DISTINGUISHED Comedian Charms a
Large Audience at the Academy.

Mr.. william II. Crane presented David Lloya
and sidney Roseuields comedy, 4" The senstor'
at the Academy last night, before brilliant
audience. Knthusiasm was manifested 10 an
unusual degree, and there we're seyeral IccaHs
after each act besides the epasmodic oursts Oh
applause which punctuated tue enuIe psl,s9, ~.
ance. Tho reception given 20 inc sctor anu , VIC
play was altogether most fAttering, and ptV'-
porous and successful run IL assured
{" The Senator" as unfoided last night, Is nov
without faults; but, for all that " Is a InOss , -
lightful comedy II depicts tns nis ,'s', sysr
man nt Washlngton--his private ne Do,ng oYo.
Ia the foreground. with faint eshoes coming ovsa
aud anon from within the doors OF the senatc
chamber. But II IL, after all, sketcn rstu ,'a
than a picture OF Washington NE, aul w. ~,
there il faint attempt at charncter-drswihg,
the authors have confined their efforts chleny
20 the weaving Of little romance around tns
ngure OF an earnest, honest man anu
ssatirizins the io,lies' c the 'o'Oi17 the
atmosphere Of the national capital. lhe pay
starts out tamely; the nrst act IL uninteres,ins
and merely serves as sort OF prologue or iil,lU-
ducton TO the main story, when Is ,s sntrd
act The fourth act lie devoted to bringing 70 a
happy conclusion the several love anaus anu
dsmissing one or two unpleasant poOple W. W.
arc not at homo in the healthful atmospneto
which surrounds Senator Rivers. There Is On
abundance OF wit and sparkle In the comedy
and the numerous salies and eplgratns pu. III
tho mouths Of the various characters give II
delightful favor. .,.
But the character OF Hannibal Rivers, the soma
tor dom mates all others, and Mr.. cranes per
sonAllty Is, after all, what makes the play sue
cess. His abundant and spontaneous humOr
comes 20 the surface In every line and perVaues
the entire play. Many actors have ineuacoaoie
mannerisms which are manifest In every roe
they undertake. but with Crane Il Is dl1ereht
he holds the mirror up 10 nature as nearly as an
actor may in comedy that ia necessarily sohe
what OF a caricature. and, subduing bis own ssu'
gives US creation. That Is what hannlOal
Rivers IL In his hands-a creation, ana one that
IS impressive, refined, and artistic.
Mr.. Cranes support Is excellent, ana the re-
suit II performance such as one seldom sees
The stage effects are very good, and altogether
II ~ a thoroughly complete production.
"The Senator Will run tonight, tomorrow
night and Saturday afternoon, and on sat
urday night Mr.. Crane will put on The Ameri-
can Minister
AT TIE THEATRE.
The engagement Of Larry the Lord" closed
at the Theatre last night. There was very
fair house at the evening performance and quito
a crowd at the matinee.
Tonight j. X. Emmett VIII give single per.
Torrance Of Fritz In Ireland delightful
comedy in which the older Emmett won fortune
and ronoWn. Young Emmett is said TO possess
the characteristics OF his father in a marked de-
greo and sings With hts fathers sweetness the
songs which have charmed 80 many thousands
of play-gOers.