Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-09
THIS WEEKS PLAYS.
THE reNclNc.MAsTER. IN OLD KEN
TrcKY, AND OTIS SKINNER THE BILL.
DIR. STAFFORD to Lecture TO the Poor-mr'
Leath VIII Retain Both the Richh'ono
uou.cs-Dramntic News.


Leath VIII Retain both the Richh'ond
Houscs--Dramntic News.
The whitney Opera Company may oes
seen at the Theatre tomorrow night IN
Smith a De Koven's bright, tuneful' ana
popu,ar opera, 1.-The Fencing Master
The story tells OF the adventures OF
Young girl, Francesca, whose father ~
the official fencing master at venice ana
in his disappointment at not having
son 10 succeed him, has educated her
az a boy. Upon the retirement OF the
father Francesca takes his place as mas
,er-at-arms. She Is in love with For
tunio. the rightful heir to the throne
of Milan. and accompanies him on peril
lous Journey which he has been induced
TO undertake by the scheming usurper
Viscentj. Duke OF Milan. Francesca
illustrates Fortunlo's pan TO carry of
an heiress, is challenged to a duel. dis
armed. and confesses herself woman.
Fortunio, with characteristic changea-
bleness. transfers his affection to Fran
cesca. succeeds to his titles and estates,
and "all's we'll that ends well" The
prlma donna OF the company Is charming
and vlvacious little Dorothy Morton, and
she is supported by the following list OF
principals: Miss Bertha Bayliss. Miss
Jenny Dickerson, Miss Marion Langdon,
Miss Ellie Kamman. Mr.. Oscar Girard.
Mr.. a. NJ. HolbroOke, Mr.. David Tor
renee, Mr.. Harry Brockett. Mr.. Walter
West, Mr. II. Arthur Leiblee. together
with q large chorus ana an augmented
orchestra under the direction OF Signor
a. Tomasi. All the scenery, costumes,
and property used In the Metropolitan
production are carried with the company.
I'm Old Kentucky" a new production
that Is described as one OF the most Gre
ditable Of recent American plays. as wei
as one of the most original In It's treat
ment and striking in character and dra-
matte interest, Will be at the Academy
next Wednesday and Thursday. the
story of 'In Old Kentucky" tells OF n
feud between the Brierlys and Lindsays'
two families in the mountains of Ken
lucky. The work is said 10 treat OF Ken
lucky life as 1t actually exists. ana 20
have the true Blue-Grass flavor perme-
ating It's every scene and situation. what
Is said 10 be a faithful reproduction OF
feature of the play.
For such n charitable object as the
"Poor Of Richmond" and with SUCH an
intellectual and interesting subject as
Hamlet" elucidated by an orator o.
such immense knowledge OF Shakespeare
as DR.. Stafford. IL will be strange indeed
if the Academy Is not crowded TO the
doors next Friday night. DR.. STANFORD ~
a profound thinker. an absolute master
Of expression, and one Of the greatest
living elocutlonlsts. In appearance ne
somewhat resembles the late EDWIN
Booth. and his delivery savors OF the
POLISHED fneness of that actor, allied WIN
the robust fercencss OF SalVlnl. Ihoush
Dr. Stafford Is more universally known III
the North, where mere announcement.
OF n lecture by him is sufficient to crowd
any hall. whatsoever its capacity, he has
many admirers all through the South, ana
his appearance here is an event of such
paramount Importance and general inte-
rest that no endorsement could be eX-
travagant. The "Old Dominion SeNtette
will NAV as an overture 1.-The jolly Rob
ber.'
otis skinner will make his first APP
pCarance in this city as star at the
Theatre next Friday and SATURDAY wheh
he will present a successful new pay
by civ ic Fitch. entitled His Grace de
C:..i,nont." and Victor Hugo's famous
tragedy. The Kings Jester" 1t VIII
undoubtedly be brilliant event Mr.
skinner his arrived at his present i'm
portant position in the theatrical world
through the sheer force Of his fine dra-
matte ability. assiduous labor, ana
earnest. artistic endeavOr. Though still
a very young man, he has had long
experience as AN actor. occupying
commanding position for several years as
leading man with Lawrence Barrett. the
famous Booth-Barrett combination ana
Mr.. Augustin Days company. Last sea-
son he was starred in conjunction with
Madame Modieska- and showed his cnpa-
bility for enacting roles by his splendid
iupersonation of "Shyloclg" Mr.. Skinner
has surrounded himself with a splendid
company Of actors. the list Of names in
GLIDING Fred rick Mosley. Il. Payton Car
ter. Frank l.. Sylvester. Wordsworth
Harris, J. II. Bradshaw. John Burgess
Weeks. w Norwood Wordsworth, Mark
Fonton, Miss Maud Durbin, Miss Sarah
Truax. Miss Rose Shuman. Miss Pamila
Keith. and Miss Maud Marean.
In these days are rumors and rumors
Of rumors, and there Is good ground
for the existence of the song. the burden
of whose euphonious refrain Is f dunno
where e are" For instance. with Mr..
Leath and the intention he Is supposed
10 harbor of throwing up his three-yearS
lease on the Theatre. II IS first he GOES
and then he doesn't, ana one says one
thing and one another. And so, too, with
Messrs. jefferson, Klaw O. Erlangers al
legged intention Of securing n theatre in
variance over the details Of what the
managers do intend. did intend. or may
possibly be about TO intend 10 do. Ii seems
10 NE that the existing regime is the
only one that can be conducted with profit
TO the management, and more or less
satisfa elton to the general public. 1t has
been demonstrated over and over again
that the competition which. as a rule, Is
the life Of trade, holds adversely in the
case of Richmond amusements, and re-
suits invariably in disaster to both of the
opposing factions. 1t is an incontrovertible
fact. moreover. that under Mr.. Leath's
direction the quality Of theatrical attrac-
tons has improved, and has still an up
ward tendency, as evidenced by the book
ings for next season. Mr.. Leath has no
intention Of reinqushing his lease on the
Theatre or the Academy. and expresses
option that is his to renew both leases al
expiration.
Arthur +. Clark. business manager Of
the "Bostonians.' tells a new story about
Richard Harding Davis. the popular
writer Of magazine short stories. Davis
occupied section in a Pullman-car and
the newsboy was bound TO sell him a
book He deposited half a dozen paper
covered novels at the young novelIst's
side. They were not touched. On his
next trip the boy picked out the literature
Of Bertha NJ Clay and Rose Nouchette
Carey and left a bundle of Views of the
Yellowstone Park as n bait. But Mr.. Da-
Wis remained unmoved Don't you want
to read the jungle book, by Rudyard
Kipling?" II have read it, replied Mfr.
Davis gazing out of the window. maybe
you have not seen "Trilby.' by De Maui
rier?" persisted the youth. 81 have read
it," responded Mr.. Davis. The newsboy
glared increduous hatred at Mr.. Davis
and put another book under his nose
1.-THE Exiles.' by Richard Harding Da-
Wis" II wrote it," replied Davis. Say,
Gull. don't get gay with me-" the news
boy observed, contemptuously. and slowly
picked up his wares.