Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-10-14
THIS WEEKS PLAYS.
ALABAMA, YOUNG MRS. WINTHROP
AND A NIGHT At THE CIRCUS.
Mile. Rhen, Empire Gowns. and Napo-
1eon--Hcnry Irving on Acting
Notes Of tho Stage.


Notes Of tho Stage.
Three leading, frst-class attractions
may be seen at the local playhouses 'n's
week Alabama" will be at the Academy
tomorrow and Tuesday. while Young
Mrs. winthrop will hold the boards AZ
the Theatre for the first half or the
week, and Miss Nellie McHenry. In "A
Night At the Circus" will play return
engagement at the Academy Wednesday
and Thursday.
Alabama" Is a dramatic poem, simple
and sweet, Astounding in interest ana
puslng with truth. 1t Is an idyl OF the
South The play impressed me so
forcibly when I saw 1t produced In New
York that begged Mr.. Augustus Thomas
to tell me the story OF It's conception ana
writing, and his reply Is OF such general
interest that It will not be superfuous TO
reproduce 1t.
Alabama was a growth" wrote Mr..
Thomas 1.-THE seed was an old gateway
I saw some six years ago near Talladega.
1t was an old stone gateway, from when
the gate had gone. and but one post Oh
which was standing. on either side p't
Of crumbling wall marked the limit OF
the estate to when the gateway had once
been the entrance. Both posts and the
bits OF walls that fanked them were
beautifully covered with creepers. AT
that time II impressed me particularly.
because II was like a stone marking the
grave OF some former pride and plenty.
| don't know that l thought Of the OLD
gate again until January, one night while
lying in my room at the Lambs CLUB
In New York. Down stairs Clement
Bainbridge. who was playing the plano.
began. with great feeling. the ballad
Down on the Farm" In an instant
could sec in the darkness OF my room
that old gate that l had seen in Alabama.
Clement stopped playing. and went home;
the club closed for the night; but i
couldn't sleep, that gateway was con-
stantly before my eyes; 1t vanished only
when / would light the gas. but 1t re-
turned the moment the room was dark
again.
"You have at times had n tune sing In
your head through every pastime and
duty for three or four days. 1t was
the same with me. except that my visitor
was a picture, not n tune ana on that
night there was that picture or the Ola
gateway precisely as we set II IN the
third act OF Alabama. AS l looked at II
I seemed to see a white-haired old man
come through and pause. dreafnIy IooK-
ing off a moment later Il little girl OF
lG came after him and slipped her arm
through the Old mans with caressinS
tenderness. / lighted the gas-the pic
ture disappeared In the dark. however.
the gateway came again; the Old man
walked through il and stood still; the
little lady Joined him. The next day the
picture of the night seemed Il reality 10
me- | felt that | had been with Two
people who had a history And 50 ielI
TO thinking BY eventime l knew thein'
| knew their story. their poverty the
memories that made the old man sad,
the recollectiOns that made the little glrI
dear TO him. ! knew the hope that gave
the radiance to her face; l knew her
lover / wrote the story as one-set
piece but it was not complete. Bach day
| asked Clement cambridge 10 play that
tune on the piano. 1t invoked that pic
ture every time, and every time
got 10 thinking Of it new
complication arose and a new char
acter joined my little group After "A
week of wakefulness and wretchedness
| had my story There were dozen peo-
ole in il, and all nice fellows. My play
was soon completed, and l am proud that
il has met with the approval of the
press and public. One writer called 1t a
dream and he did not know how near
he came TO the truth
Bronson Howard the author OF "Shen-
andoah," "The Henrietta" "Aristocracy,
ana many other great successes, is the
author of young Mrs Winthrop the
beautiful society play which Will be seen
at the Theatre tomorrow. Tuesday, and
Wednesday evenings. This admirable
comedy had the unprecedented record OF
running two years at the Madison-Square
Theatre in New York, playing 10 enor-
nous business. Mr.. Palmer was hnally
obliged TO take 1t off TO make way for
some OF his other productions, but Messrs.
Wegenhals & Kemper secured from him
the sole rights TO the play and have given
il a superb production. which Will make
a tour Of the great cities of the country.
IL IS this production which viii be seen
here. The company includes Collin KEN
Der. Enrol Dunbar, Robert McWade, VIII
liam. Miss Lansing Rowan, Miss Una
Abel. Miss Lillian Schoyelin, and Mrs.
Annie Mortimer.
Miss Nellie McIIenry will be seen at
the Academy Wednesday and Thursday
for the second time this season, In "A
Night at the Circus" Her first appear
ance here was on the oath of August, ana
on that occasion l had this to say or the
star" her support, and the play:
Who is there that has not at one time
or another been under the spell of Miss
Nellie McHenry's work in that merry lit
tie play which has grown TO be 50 closely
identified with her name? The Richmond
theatre goers are delighted with the viva
cious little lady, as tens or thousands OF
their cOuntrymen have been before them.
In sooth she has not lost one whit of that
charm and freshness which have always
marked her style. and as for "A Night at
the Circus" in which she appeared at
the Academy last night, II goes as mer-
rily as ever. perennial IN It's gayely ana
its bloom. a familiar whirl of pretty
songs, dances. and merriment succeeding
each other with charming variety. Miss
McHenry. as Mile. Electra and Mile.
Milan, is in as happy vein as ever.
Her contagious good spirits. her merry
abandon, and unhagging brightness DO
not seem 10 have diminished by one de
gree Mr. j.. III. Brddbury's portrayal of
signor Bonanza, manager Of the Imperia!
circus, was full OF breezy vigor. The
numerous specidlties were clever and d.
vertng and the company universally
capable. The piece was we'll staged.
| should Ike to cali attention to what
seems TO me a remarkable result of a
talented and beautiful vomans artistic
work | mean the revival OF public In
terest in everything pertaining 10 the Ma
poleonic era, It's dramatis personae, its
dress and manners, and its influence upon
the affairs OF Europe and the world.
Six years ago no one, except In the
schools. was thinking or saying mucn
about Napoleon or the Empire. At that
time one OF Americas favorite actresses
bought play written By an American
author. Albert Roland Haven, entitled
Josephine, Empress of the French
With royal grace, she wore the Empire
costumes. She imbued the character OF
Iogephiue with ~, much WOma nlinpss and