The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-09-28
THE LIONS MOUTH.
A Splendid Production of the beautnu'
Romantic Play.

KOfnnnftc
Before n large and cultivated audi
ence last evening Messrs. Warde anu
James presented at the Richmond thea
tire n splendid production OF ne IAoiL .
Mouth y n beautiful, romantic play by
Henry Guy Carleton. Tragedy the night
before had stalked with stately men.
Scenes Of strife among ambitious men
with nations in their CRISP gave place TO
glowing pictures of moonllt groves, Whtre
lovers wandered. breathing their vows IN
poetical measure. with youths extraya-
CANT metaphor. and youths first ecstacy
of passion. The night air seemed heiyy
with the fragrant odOrs Of balmy south
ern breezes. and sweet sounds seemed
to greet the ear, IA OF clear waters splash
ing against the sides of softly gliding
gondolas. while the moon smiled down
on lovers and plotters and baters, Hood
ing all with magical radiance. If this
had been all. The Lions Mouth would
have left n more satisfying feeling, for
il is these scenes Of romance under Ital-
ian skies that are the best of Henry Guy
CarletOns play. Too soon the theme
changed and emotion was hc9ped upon
emotion until the sympathies. from eX-
cess OF use. refused 10 be swaycd any
longer. The actors brought their talents
originally 10 he1r upon their roles and
succeeded in interesting their hearers in
themselves.
Mr.. Frederick Warle has already
proved himself able 10 sustain fiery. i'm
pnsSi1ne roles. and il was this style that
much Of his work in The Lions Mouth"
demanded. But he came firth in an
othtr giiSe also, that at the lover, AID
showed himself an adept in that tricky
art--naking love. His romantic impcr-
sonatiOn was received with constant
tokens Of approval Mr.. LOWS james APP
pcarcd in Il role of a far different type,
that Of n shrewd but brutal schemer.
whose assumed gIisc Of monk but
served to heighten the effect of his evil
nature, so stcalthiiy concealed. He
shared the applause with Mr.. Warde.
Several others of the company acquitted
themselves finely, Miss Edythe Chapman.
in particular. commenting herself to the
approving thoughts of the auditors by
her graceful impcrsOnai0n of the DOge's
daughter. Miss Alice Goodman. and Miss
Fannie Bowman also won favor. and
good work was doue by McssrS. Beverly
Turner. Howard Kyle aud Charles Her
man. Charles Clarke. Charles Charters
and others. \ large audience was pres
ent. The stage settings were beautiful.
their superiors in ltichmond at any time
being the effects Of the National Opera
francesca da Rimini'' will be produced
this evening. 1t is n grand play, and
will be splendidly acted.
TIRE OPERA.
The Deshon Opera Company will oc-
cupy the Richmond Theatre the latter
part Of this week. beginning Thursday
evening with "Ermine.' Friday, Boo
cacio" will be presented. and Saturday
evening will see Patience. Mr.. Selke,
that able critic of the Petersburg Index
Appeal, speaks most approyingly of the
Work of Frank Deshon, Claude Amsden,
Walter H. Ford, Miss Katherine Rose,
Miss Corinne Burton, Miss EveIinc Ward,
Miss Frankie Francis and Miss Mae
Sylvester in "Ermine,' which was pre-
scented at the Cockadc City last Friday
evening. He writes at length of the
merits of the opera, and cites Mr.. Deshon
as an equal Of such artists as Fran
els Wilson. Closing his comments on the
comedian. Mr. Selke says: Mr. Deshon
came before the audience. He will be
missed as u most entertaining friend