Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-10-02
In THE PLAY-HOUSES,
BaIGnT GOSSIP AND NEWS ANENT
PLAYS AND THE PLAYERS.
what WIN ne Seen Here This Week
Hazel Ktrks--The Grey Mare-Gus
wiIIisms-vsrnona Jarbeau.

comedy viii DO in the ascendant. Thi
week will be marked by the opening of tn
Academy of Music. and Eighth stree,
north. will once more be filed with impol
tunate hackmen and cab-driyers-thos
strange, uncouth creatures of the nigh
whose discordant voices have so ofee
stricken terror into the hearts of i'm
poverished youths on rainy nights. MIR
Edward Hamilton CahilI, the energeti
young manager OF the big theatre of tn
Mozart Association, is rather late in be
ginning bis season but he promises q
atone for his lateness by presenting an ex
celIent list Of attractions during tn
autumn and winter. He has expended
considerable sum in renovating. and re
decorating the interior of the Academy
and has freshened up the scenery apC
made many Improvements behind the cur
tain.
The Academy season will open with (
performance tomorrow night by thai
charming little actress, Ellie Ellsler. .Du
ring recent years Miss Ellsler has been here
quite frequently, playing The Gov
erness," "Merze," and kindred comedies,
but this season she has taken up the PLAY
in which she made her reputation, Hazel
Kirke." The bare announcement OF
play of years ago will be sufficient
TO awake the memories of those who
are play-weary now, but who once
were devotees of the drama, and VIII
doubtless also attract those TO whom the
old play is more novel than many newer
comedy. Indeed, q revival of Hazei
Kirke is not unwelcome 70 any OF us, Tor
there are few who are not susceptible to
the softening influences OF tender and
49, ns,I al
that runs like thread of silver through
Steele Mackaye's lovely little drama never
fails TO touch and stir the sympathetic,
respondent chords of the human heart.
Miss Ellsler will, of course. play her old
part of Hazel, and that old actor. O. w.
Couldock, will be the Dunstan klrke.
MIR. Couldock created this character at the
original presentation of the play, and his
appearance in conjunction with Miss Els
Ter will add much TO the interest of the pro-
drctlon. He is one of the worthiest and
most accomplished players OF the old school
and gives finished portrayal to everything
he undertakes. Mr.. Frank Weston, who
was also in the original cast. will assume
the character Of Pittacus Green, and hr.
Robert Drouet. an admirable young actor,
will undertake the roe of Lord Travers. In
addition to these three sterling actors the
will include several people OF
reputation. Hazel kirke
will be presented With a completeness of
detail equal to that seen at original Madi-
performances, and II is to be re-
GREETED that there will be but one per-
Torrance here.
THE GREY MARE.
The latest Lyceum Theatre success,
" The Grey Mare" will be presented at
The Academy four nights this week. be-
aIn
humorous comedy that made an instan-
taneous hit in New York, and. indeed its
humor Is said TO be mental rather than
physical. Messrs. George r.. Sims and
Cecil Raleigh, the authors of the play,
borrowed from a German original, but
hey have added much 10 it, and the
comedy is instinct with the spirit of Eng
ish country life and full of well-developed
character studies. The story of the play
hangs upon lie which is told by an ex-
,eedingly rigid and upright young physi-
'ian.. by way of an object lesson,
% the young woman whom he is
20 marry. She is addicted TO fibbing
n an innocent way, and he tells the
lie to show her how useless lying is, but in
)rder to support his first false statement
le Is compelled to pile one on top of an
)ther until he is enmeshed ID an endless
network of preyarlcat1ons. A runaway
match furnishes a strong sub.plot, and
hough the perpleXlties of the play are in
Vulnerable they are by no means improba-
Die. The Grey Mare" will be staged
With great care and will be played by an
excellent company, among whom are
George Allison. Francis Nelson, Charles
.. Lothian. Neil Mcleod, John Findlay,
Jennie Remark, Geneyieve Delaro, and
sebecca Warren.
STUART ROBSON.
This celebrated comedian will be as the
academy next week in arepertoire of PLAYS
Which includes Goldsmlth's immortal
comedy She Stops to Conquer" The
henrietta" and Our Bachelors" The
iates are October 10th az 1 18th.
MIR. Robson's magnificent production of
he fine old comedy. "She Stops to Con-
luer," the revival of which was accompa-
ned with so much pleasure to the pubic
md so much fame and peeuniary profit to
Mr.. Robson and his fellow-players, will be
the first night of his visit. As
Tony Lumpkin his position as comedian
If rare humor and an actor of artistic
worth is unassailable.
One night will be devoted TO THE Hen
'letta." which Mr.. Robson retains in his
olio in compliance TO the evident wish of
he public.
GUS WILLIAMS.
That magnetic and pleasing German dia-
ect comedian, Gus Williams, comes 10 us
his year with musical eccentricity en-
tiled April Fool" Like bottle of wine
or like jug of Culmbacher, which is a
,etter simile), he improves with age and
displays more and more of his hilarious,
merry soul year after year. April Fool
3 a comedy which gives our old friend
Jus ample scope for his never-failing
iumor. Ii tells of the mistakes and
grapes Of Henry Moerlein, Jr., who finally
wins wife by personating an old German
professor of music. This part Is one that
uits Williams well and enables him to
discover to the audience the musical talent
hat ls as characteristic of him as hu-
nor. The action takes place on April LIST,
IS might be expected from the name. The
upport is good and includes Gertrude
ILL, Lillian Elma, the well-known SOU
Irette, Frank Girard, and Ross and Fen
on.
Gus Williams will play at the Theatre,
md his dates are Tuesday and Wednesday
lights, with matinee on Wednesday. As
hr. Williams IS prominent member of
be Mystic Shrine, doubtless the local
,hriners will be much interested in has en-
.agement.
vERNoNA JkRBEAU.
Spriehtly Vernona Jarbeau will follow
fus Williams at the Theatre and will hold
he boards Thursday, Friday, and Satur-
lay nights. with matinee the latter day.
She is surrounded as usual by beyy of
,retty girls aud will present something
hat may be called musical comedy, as it
s half music and half comedy.
This fascinating Parisienne, with her
,iquant ways and jolly songs, has always
been popular here, and there is no doubt
)ut that her engagement this season will
% as successful as those of past years.
She first danced her way INTO the hearts of
he ietnesse doree of this city about six
ears ago, when she appeared with the
)uH Opera Company in "A Trip TO
Ifuca." She and Lillian Russell were the
tars on that occasion, and Jarbeau as
onished the staid thermometers who
at In the orchestra chairs by kicking
much higher than was then customary.
But though the audience was mildly
SOUNDED they were also delighted, and
arbeau had their hearts in q sling from
hat moment. Since then, however, high |
licking has become fashionable, and a SOU |
'rette who. can't elevate her pedal extremi- |
les to the level of her head Is not in 1t.
Jarbeau's company is said TO be unusual |
J good this season, and a pleasant series |
entertainments may be expected.
THE NEW CASINO.
The new order of amusement at the |
lew York Casino was inaugurated last !
londay evening. The house was packed. |
nd IN the attending throng were MANY |
abitual hrst-pighters, many who had low |
lly followed the fortunes of the house /
nder its original method, and no small |
lumber OF those who were we'll used To /
audevllle. TIE last-named class revealed |
a N a a or -.