Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-10-28
ACROSS THE POTOMAC"
Presented Last Night Mt the Academy to n
Fine House.


The fve-act war drama. Across the
Potomac" which was presented for the
first time at the Academy of Music last
night was In every sense a success. The
play. which was written by Augustus
Pitou and Edward Alfriend, h beauti-
full romance OF the great struggle between
the States, and In its lines the story OF
southern herolsm and northern valor Is
beautifully told.
In no act or scene Is there a word to
offend the lovers of the Lost Cause"
and the plot abounds In tributes TO the
soldiers who wore the gray. The pathetic
situations and the fearful dialogues ne
cessitated by such a story OF war are
evenly balanced. and the playrights have
fearlessly given the South It's due. There
has been no attempt to tip the scales In
favor OF the North, nor on the other
hand have the authors endeavored To de-
tract from the records of the Union sol
diery. There Is one thing about Across
the Potomac" which Is a relief and
source OF pleasure to the people here.
The william of the plot-and. OF course,
there IL heavy william In it'-wora the
blue. though really he was not so much
In sympathy with the cause as eager to
Although rain was pattering fercely
against the roof OF the theatre when the
curtain first rose. the audience which saw
Across the Potomac" was a splendid one,
and at times. as the play progressed, they
were almost delirious with enthusiasm.
The company which presented the play
last night Is n most excellent one. ana
nearly all OF it's personnel are well-known
to Richmond theatres gcers.
Boyd Putnam, as Captain Ralph Baker,
the Union hero. was perhaps the star Of
the troop. and Miss Amelia Bingham.
as his southern sweetheart, played her
role with marked success.
Henry Napier. who played the part Of
Captain Moan Walker, the Confederate
martyr, Is an actor Of exceptional prom
Use, and his portrayal of the Southern
chevalier was truly excellent. This char
acter of Noah Walker Is taken from the
life OF a real soldier who bore that name.
He was a comrade OF Alfriend's (who by
the way is a brother of Mr.. T. l.. AL
friend) and was lieutenant In Company
f., Twenty-sec0nd Virginia Infantry. and
lost his life leading charge at Chan
cellorsvlle.
Lloyd Melville. as Jack Hanford, the
william" was without question one OF
the leading actors OF the company. Miss
Pierpons who played the part OF bis
| wife, Is an actress Of exceptional ability.
The Walker Light Guard personated the
soldiers OF the drama. and their rendition
of the parts allotted them was very fine.
| The defect OF the play which is well
| staged. lies In the superabundance OF It's
! pathetic scenes, and a slight oyertouch OF
| the melodramatic.
Across the Potomac" Will be repeated
at the matinee this afternoon and to-
| night.
FAY TEMPLETON IN MADAME
l. FAyART."
Ofenbach's opera with dashing actress
| like Fay Templeton In the leading role
| Is A combination which Richmond theatre
| goexs have not enjoyed for many seasons
| They Gill have an opportunity OF again
reveling in the delight of the great French
| composers sparkling music and the
sprightly yivacity of a born comic-opera
| singer at the Academy OF Music next
| Tuesday and Wednesday nights. when the
| FAY Templeton Opera Company begins
| an engagement In one or onenoach
| most successful operas. Madame ia
yart" The company is one OF speciai
| excellence including such clever people as
Miss Annie Myers. Richard F. Carroll.
William Blaisdel, John u. Brand, and
others. The opera will have an elaborate
production. The advance sale VIII COM
mence Monday. and there VIII be no ad-
varce in prices