Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-10-21
PLAYS THIS WEEK.
Rice's Surprise Party and Henry ~ 10
Be Presented HIRE.
MODERN STAGE DANCING
I'll. D;.o.,,,,s Critic Gives His Views on
Recent Jnnovstions-New Prou""
ton. and stage Gossip.

Rice's Surprise Party" in the big
operate extravaganza 1872 Is announcer
for presentation at the Academy OF Mu-
flc Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Inc
success that this entertainment mas
achieved has no precedent in the history
OF amusements This Is due not only 10
the glitter and charm Of its rich stage
embellishments. but to the catchy quah'y
Of its music. and in a measure 10 us
theme "li92' Is irresistibiy droll' the
character OF Columbus alone being crea'e'
seriously. The Madison Square scene per-
mlts OF the Introduction OF numerous
speclalties, and as Manager Rice's brain
is always active IN dcvlsing something
new, it is quite possible for any one who
may have seen the play In New York to
find all the freshness and diversity OF
new entertainment on its present2-
ton In this city. The original New YORK
company will be brought here, numbering
100 people. accompanied by It's own orches-
ira. and enriched by a carload Of special
scenic, mechanical. calcium. and electri-
cal effects. "li92" Will be found TO fairly
| oyer-run with novelties. which include
1.-THE Daily Hints from Paris" THE
Casino Girls" "The Spanish Ballet" The
Red. White. and Blue DaEce," 1.-THE
Tramp" queen Isabella" The Frau
len," and The Chsppies."
Henry "" the latest addition to the
repertoire of Messrs Warde and James,
the eminent tragedans, will be the
feature of their engage ment, which VIII
| take place at the Academy during the lat
ter half Of this week.
Henry "" IL considered by the most
erudite Shakespearean scholars as his
| greatest work. 1t abounds In beautiful
| poetry, and contains an aimost-e4ual
! comedy interest with the tragic.
When the Roman satirist laid down his
| rules for dramatic poetry. he could never
! have anticipated that in after ages there
! should arise no splendid an exception 70
them in the genius OF Shakespeare. The
/ ancents had no idea OF tragi-comedy'
/ and such is Henry w. which the great
critic, Or. WarburtOn, pronounced equal
! in excellence 10 the most admired dramas
1 Of the master-pOet, and possessing an
heroic spirit and dignity OF sentiment
/ that elevate 1t IN a very high degree.
II 10 these we add its accurate dclinea-
. ton of character, It's dramatic incident
and exquisite comic humor, where SHAH
| we find a drama in which these peculiar
/ eNceilencies are 50 admirably combined
The action Of the play commences at
an interesting period Of English hi tory
/ Henry ". declining into tho vale OF
I years, broken with sickness, and agitated
! with rcmorse, resolves to eNpiate the
| murder Of hi1 sovereign By crusade
TO the Holy Land. From this resolution
he is diverted by the sudden incursions
Of the Welsh. under owen Glendower
and the revolt Of some OF his principal no
bility, particularly the powerful house oil
! Northumberland, at the head OF which
is Harry Percy, the renowned HOtspdr
From these events arise the tragic Incl
dents Of the play. while 10 the "nlmble
footed. madcap Prince Of Walt6' We are
I indebted for cur Introduction TO those
| joyous companions Of the Bears Head
Poins, Gadshll Bardolph, and The mimi
table Fa!stah.
The characters Of the King and th'
| Prince of Wales possess all the merit OF
historical truth, and In the nrst scen'
we are presented with a faithful picture
OF King Henrys mind, but what Il noble
contrast does the first scene In the thirl
act present, where Prince Hal, havins
shaken OF his dlssolute habits, Ike
dew from the lions name" prOpitiate'
his father b. q. vow OF hiial duty anc
obedience. There IS no part OF th'
writings Of Shakespeare where t1'
language IS more flowing and majestic
the sentiment more dignined and appio
pirate the characters represented VIII
more mastery effect.
Hotspur IS indebted for some Of hi
most entertaining qualities 10 The irnagi
nation Of Shakespeare for to mis- acknow
lodged lofty, heroic, and generous spIit
the poet has added a ludicrOus impatienc'
and a petulant ana caustic humor whici
vary the character and render it hignl,
dramatic and entertaining.
The character Of Falstaf IS a rich COM
pound. Ills many Caring aad positive vice
are 50 sOltenod and rendered neutral by
his abundant agreeable qualities, tnat -"
lose sight of them in the merrim-n
they provoke, and, in-tead Of turn.nl
from him, as the drunkafd and jester
the coward and braggadocIo, We are read
TO hug him, vices and al, Ak an ineN
haustible fund Of pleasantly and humoE
Mr.. Warde VIII play Prince Hal; NJ
James. Falstaff: Guy Lindsey Hotspui
and Beverly Turner King Henry.
Henry "" VIII be presented Thurs
day evening; on Friday. "Iicheleu' q
the matinee Saturday. Henry ~" vii
be repeated, ana the engagement VA
close Saturday night with Richard Ill.
IN view Of the numerous farce-oomed
and ultra-variety companies that hay
lately been seen on the boards Of Oh
local theatres. and the prospective en
gagpment Of Rict's Extravaganza Com
pany, in which We shall Dr. treated
various and numerous terpsichorea
flights OF fancT l may, perhaps, d
permitt5d 10 say word or two abou
modern stIge-dancing. The "pctticoa'
dance" the charming dance Of muititud
nous skirts and petucodts, became va
carried some two years ago by sWaIi
Of ugly spraw!ers, who seemed - TAX
their steps more from the acrobat hn
the clown than from the b1li"t-schoo
TO see young ana pretty lady "straf
ding" about the noor like the pantC
mime sprite Of our b1yhOcd's day3.
doing "cart-wacels" Ike a structure nh
e was not, TO my mind, Il graceful or r'
fined exercise, and, | suppose, Unite
? intelligence. want Of refinement. ana va
sarltv Of treatment killed the shri-danc
. / which. by the way. was taken lnto III
I | fashionable dTas .ng-rooms and di-mlsse
| In disgrace And now the pretty skIT
g | dance has been banh-heI. in favor OF III
| serpentine-dance, which. in solemn tEuti
is no dance al all. The scrpent!ne-ddnc
as | see II on the stage, Is dance 4
r arms. not feet. The arms are turned mi
gyrating windmills. and the poor legs III
e left in the iurch and made 10 look cl
tresslngly ugly l should describe IN
E hiehly-colorel and polychromatic 1anddns
, as a chromotype. or wheel OF color, or
Zoetrope, or wheel Of life. ] cannot, II
I The life OF me- see where the art or q
dancer comes in, or what talent Is =
l CURED TO twist about drapery in IN
. fashion.
D.: Dolly, the country htchen-mald, WI
trundles her mop at the scullery door
II. indeed she ever does trundle that us
y full article nOwadays-would be as usetl
in all matters OF effect as the serpentir
u dancer: and the village idiot VINO go'
2 about the country in u sheet surmounte
by lighted turnip, and pretends TO be
e ghost. would probably be Of as much Sc
vice 10 the stage as the gyTaung 3!
). VINO has suddenly changed the eXerci:
Of dancing from legs 10 arms. Dancin
l Ike all other arts, goes through warrior
:, periods of changes and transformation
Perhaps We shall get back IN time To Il
n short white tulie skirts, the point an