Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-11-11
TOSEE BLACK CROOK.
his Gorgeous Spectacle to Be Presented
IN Richmond This Week.
DELL BIGGER and "THE ENSIGN"
The Genial Coionsi's Experience ON the
Ship which Furpishes the story Of
This fiay-Dramatic Notes

The coming 70 the Academy Monday
and Tuesday OF that famous spectacle,
''The Black Crook" viii recall 10 the old
simers OF the Black Crook OF 1856. with
Its academic ~premiers. It's fuii-skirtea
~coryphees. and Its am~oly-draped q "a
rantes. and those who cav last year the
spec.acu,ar carnival at the Academy Of
Music. New York. with its succession o
scenes. are moved 10 reflection on the
change In the tines. Prior 10 the initial
production OF Charies Barras's spectacle
there had never been a regular bale
of any size In this country. Lola Montez
had fitted across the stage. and ram.
Ellsler had danced a few characteristic
steps. but a complete ballet. with prima
assoluta, second. and ba!lerini. was I'M
known. The little the public had seen
M women in tights was confined to the
Performance OF "Mazeppa." In which
either Aaah Isaacs Menken, a Kate
FISHER. or n Leo Hudson was dashed to
the hack OF a wild, untamed BarDary
steed.
The present revival is superb-in TACT,
a is said TO be superior 10 the initial pro-
duction. The aliegorical bailets are All
Gorgeous. and those with an illustrative
slgnincance are most entertaining. Inc
Europeon ~speoialties are novel.
No play ever produced tens IN suCh d
vivid manner the old story OF right ana
Justice prevailing az does the SLACK
Crook" 1t Is a good sermon. and In !.
are oxtolIed the virtues OF "S;alacta
ma the bravery of Rudolph" "Hert-
zors' uhe Black Crook sells his soul ior
eternal NE, and endedvors 10 drag INTO
Ierlition Rudolph, so that ne uiertHosl
NAV live longer. He is foiled by the iahy
Queen (Sialacta). and In the END virtue
triumphs and the WICKED are punlsheu'
IL Is an impressive story. ana empeii'sheu'
as IL IS. with all It's wealth or gorgeous
scenery. beautiful costumes. and nth-
some dancers representing fairies)' II nus
ranked among the high-class theatricai
attractions TOR over a quarter OF a CEN
fury.
Tbe main incident Of "The Ensign
the naval drama which has attracted so
much attention. and which Is TO appear
Mt the Academy next Wednesday ana
Thursday. is Captain Wilkes's SEIZURE OF
the Ambassadors Mason and Sidell on
board the British mail steamer Trent.
which act but for the prompt disapproNai
of this nation would have brought about
war with England. The story Involves n
romantic love affair. and has only this
historical episode for a basis. Probably
the strongest scene In "The Ensign Is
the one wherein occurs the Introduction
Of General Robert Il. Lee and Jefferson
Davis. Competent actors play the parts
and the counterfeit presentment or these
%well-known historical figures has at
tracted widespread attention. They have
not IA line 10 speak. the author believing
that the time is not yet ripe for making
speaking parts OF the heroic figures OF
the war. but the marvellous likeness pre-
scented has created a great deal Of favor
able
This engagement will derive no small
degree of interest from the fact that
Colonel John Bell Bigger. Clerk of the J
House OF Delegates. and one of our best
known and most popular citizens. was
I'm n way identified with the war vessel !
"San Jacinto." around which this exciting
story OF romance and chivalry has been
woven. for a considerable time. The fol-
interesting description Of the YES
eel was furnished by Colonel Bigger upon
81 am in possession OF a synopsis OF
the naval drama called The Ensign"
This play is founded on the subject of
the detention of Messrs. Mason and
Slidell. our Confederate commissioners, |
who had reached Havana on their way
10 England on an important mission In
the interest Of the Confederacy. Captain
wilkes. OF the United States steamer
San Jacinto, determined to effect their
capture. and the British commander de-
termined TO detain the San Jacinto IN
the harbor OF Havana until the Confede-
rate commissioner could get safely away
Mt sea on q British mail-steamer. Then
comes the scheme. to accomplish which
IS laid by one Blythe, who, 1t Is stated.
has been dishonorably dismissed from the
United States navy. and had become a
lieutenant in her Majesty's service. or
this Incident / kntw nothing personally.
but only possess such information as his
tory records about this interesting event;
hut OF the United States war-steamer
San Jacinto / do know something, ana
I shall be pleased to look at the repre-
sentation ofsher on the stage of the Mo-
zart Academy when presented TO view
in the drama, 1.-THE Ensign" bringing
back to memory a cruise ! took upon her
rs clerk to Captain Thomas CraObe, on
her first voyage across the briny deep.
OF those who steamed away TO the as
tant parts of earth upon this new
war-steamer along with me. the follow
ing | know are yet enjoying the bless
tngs of life: William Sharp, OF Norfolk
city twas passed midshipman); W.. Z.
Wheeler, OF Portsmouth Second assistant
engineer): Charles ii. Manson. OF Column
bla, S. C.. third assistant engineer).
"-Encountering a severe storm, some part
the machinery OF the San Jacinto pc
came dlsarranged or was broken, and 1t
was thought that we would have to run
INTO harbor at the Madeira Island and nave
I fixed before proceeding further. but
or other the work was patched
up at sea and we went puihing along IKE
a NississIpp,-r river steamboat, in view or
81. Vincent. in Portugal. but
,topped not until we anchored In the
of Cadiz. in Spain, after being OUT
twenty-five days. The San Jacinto was q
and must have had some then
new kinds Of machinery or engines as
in my diary a copy of an acrosuc