Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-28
AMONG THE PLAYERS
A GLIMPSE OF THE THEATRICAL
WORLD As IT IS SEEN TO-DAY
Goss,p of the PIay-Houses-News from
other Cities-what Rtchmono rev"
pie VIII See This Week.

We the people of Richmond. have had
but little food for serious thought ~ INC
theatres recently. For a week or TWO past
we have seen nothing new chat is worth
speakine) and have had to give our Well
earned dollars and our perfunctory ap
plause to plays that are too familiar 10 DO
thoroughly enjoyed.
Few men of that large class who hnd
their chief enjoyment at the playhouse
care TO see an ordinary play tne
second time. They may drop INTO the
theatre If they have nothing else 10
do merely to while away an hour OF tne
evenino and they may even Voucnsaie
snrne faint applause, but they do not ieei
,he same keen sense of enjoyment tnat
moves them when they see play Ior ,he
first time. Possibly Othello or hanlel.
or some other classic WORK, may eIoT
upon an audience and give more anu
more Measure with each successive
nsrformance-that is If played by nne
nctor-but the plays of to-day, whether
thev belong TO the bloOd-and-thunder or
tho bread and buttermilk school. won't
stand the wear of more than season or
two. The craze of the day Is sensation;
and nowadays q playwright VINO wouiu
write a play that was without i've morse.
steam engine, red-nre, or sohe.n,Is eiso
10 touch the popular fancy. would soon
find himself without an occupation. Ana
az these modern dramas depend chiefly
upon some sensational feature Tor success
thew grow stale and commonplace as soon
as the gloss Of novelty wears on.
GOOD ACTORS IN OLD PLAYS.
Mr.. Sothern, who was here the week be-
fore last night, might have given US some
thing new (for he has two new plays, the
Dancing Girl and the Master OF Wood
harrow. but instead of that he PLAYED
hackneyed Chuniey and the highest BID
der. and Mr. Morrison, who closed his en-
gagement here last night. gave US BIS
familiar spectacle (Faust) instead OF a new
one which he has.
But Richmond is not the only place
where the theatres are redolent with the
odor of roasted chestnuts (Iye roasted
many a theatrical chestnut myself, Tor
New York il now suffering from dearth
of novelties.
There's Mansfield. capable actor, who
has sufficient versatility TO undertake an
extensive repertoire. He has just stopped
ut the Garden Theatre. in New YORK, Tor a
run and has again brought forward Beau
Brummel, neutonlc counterfeit OF the
oid-time English swell. but rs little like
him as is an arrogant Prusslan oihcer, OF
Uhlans of today like a modern London
dandy. Mansfield is also soon to appear
as the disgusting Baron IN "A Parisian
Romance" and in that equally repelling
play, DIR. Jekyll and Mr.. Hyde"
New York is quite gay. Attractions are
plentv and audiences are large. Money
| flows into the Golfers of the theatres IN an
unbroken stream and managers smile ana
look happy. The following is Gotham's
bill for the coming week: Italian opera at
the Metropolitan. The Country Circus at
the Academy, Francis Wilson IN Inc Lion
Tanner at the Broadway, The CITY Direc-
tory (but, happily for New Workers, not
the same Directory that put Klchmond au-
diences TO sleep recently a. the Bllou.
Uncle Celestin at the Casino. Love IN an
dem at Days, Blue Jeans at the tour-
teenth- Street Theatre Gloriana at Herr
manns. Squire Kate at the Lyceum, Hoyts
Trim 10 Chinatown at the Madison-Square
The Broken Seal at Palmer's. Billy Crane
in For Moisey at the Star. Jane at the
Standard, Agnes Huntington at the Union-
Square. and other attractions too numerous
to mention at the other theatres.
MEsTAYER's GRAB BAG.
This week, happily, will give us some
thing new at the outstart, for the Theatre
will Give stage-room tomorrow night to
Mestayer's COMEDY Company IN The GRAB
Bag. -,
This company is facetiously termed the
kings. queens, Jacks, and aces of comedy
by the young gentleman who does the
press work for Mr.. Mestayer. Let us hope,
however, that this is not al exact descrip-
ton. for all pokerites know that a Sc
auence of this kind IL hard TO fill. Ii Is a
| fact. however. that Mr.. Mestayer is this
| season surrounded by an unusually az
tractive company. The Grab Bag. which
| is represented to be highly amusing
comedy is satire on prohibition. Miss
| Theresa Vaughan heads the vocal roster OF
| the organization and sings her own charm
ing creation, The Fiddle and l." and
| that beautiful gem from The Tyroleau,
| 1.-The Nightingale" Big jolly, and "a
Young as ever. william Mestayer finds a
most congenial berth. and from his first
| entrance until he performs an obese
waltz al the tall of the curtain he has his
| audience with him. Frank Dalrd IS a
capable second to Mestayer.
The rest of the company is said to be
composed of good material. The engage
ment lasts until Wednesday evening, and
will include a matinee on that day.
THE LITTLE TYCOON.
Bob Graham's clever company, which
presented the Little Tycoon here before
packed houses earlier IN the season. will
follow Mestayer, and will run the balance
of the week.
am certain that this announcement will
give pleasure to many. for this opera Is one
that has an unfailing charm. The cast re-
mains the same as before.
General knickerb0cker. *. +. Graham
Teddy. '.Jo-eph hlealey
Alvin Barry. Robert Dunbar
Rufus Ready. .George II. brolerlcA