The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-09-08

MISS DELLA FOX.
servatlon of tho works of Others Tho
Lyceum theatcr has such stanch ellen
tcllo and Mr.. Sothcrn is SO popular in New
York city that it Is possible that even
Tho Victoria Cross may not provo n
failure although from nearly every artis-
tic viewpoint it is wrctchcd. 1t is n pot
pourri, not play, and Mr.. Potter has
wandered about aimlessly with his scanty
little thread of plot just as he did last
winter with Our Country Cousins" The
story becomes involved to pcrplexing de-
gree, and the action halts ut the most
thrilling points to admit of the intcrpola-
ton, or rather Interpolation, of bits of
unfunny, machinc-madc comedy
1t would be useless to cnumcratc the
plays which have furnished the suggcs-
lions for most of tho episodes in 1.-The Vic
toria Cross" Besides it would occupy too
much space. But tho foiling of the female
villain in the last act is such u palpablc
appropriation from the great scene in ''Di-
plomacy'' between Countess Zicka and
Henri Bcauclcrc that it makes itself i'm
mcdiatcly apparent to the vcricst tyro
among thcatcr goers. Each play written
by Paul NJ. Potter has caused his admir-
ers to make excuses for his work-for he is
really brilliant MAINLAND to hope for
better things, but somehow or other they
don't seem to como. OF course in this
category do not include his beautiful
Sheridan, or The Maid of Bath" That
was gem; but, after all, it was merely
the result of very close study and use of
Shcridan's work. At the time of its pro-
duction this was not known, but it has
since developed beyond cavil.
Mr.. Sothcrn's work ms Ralph Seton, lato
of the Ninth Lancers, was practically pcr
feet. This young actor, who originally
possessed such marked mannerisms that
even his warmest admirers feared that he
would never rise above mediocrty has
year by year dropped his stage tricks and
modified his 'gawkincss" until now he
is absolutely natural. His part affords him
very little opportunity for striking work.
but every speech is uttered rs though nc
werc not on tho stage in the presence of
ali audience. Sothcrn's fathers name
gave the young man his first hearing us n
star or that there can be no question.
but 1t is moro than probable that the son
will leave Il greater namo than tho sire in
the theatrical world when the grim reap
er shall see fit to cut him down with his
slcklo. OF Mr.. Sothcrn's supporting com
pany little need be said. 1t is on the whole
an acceptable and competent organization,
although Miss Grace Kimball, the leading
lady, while showing considerable improve
mcnt over last years work, is still far
from being ideal She is as artificial as
ME. Sothern is natural, and hcr enuncia-
zion Is anything but clear cut. Still she
offends less than formerly in these dircc-
tions, and hard work and u winning per
sonality may yet mako of her q fair &C
trcss
Rowland Blackstone, q usually excellent
player, who has contributed some very
unique bits to recent stage work, docs a
ridiculous part in The Victoria Gross"
In suprcmcly ridiculous manner.
Shenandoah, the most successful WAR
drama ever produced, has been revived at
the Academy of Music under the personal
direction of the author Bronson Howard,
who has polished up the always bright
dialogue and thereby greatly improved his
already great play. Several spectacular
features have also been added in the way
or horses and soldiers, all being introduced
logically. The result has been that "Shen-
andoah" has caught on" with the New
York theater going public as firmly as
when 1t was first seen in this CITY Miss
odetto Tyler, tho young woman who has
received untold columns of advertising in
connection with her engagement to multi
millionaire Howard Gould and tho subsc-
quent breaking off of tho match, plays tho
principal female character in sympa-
Ghetto but convincing manner Sho makes
an entrance on horseback and then does
- flying leap to the ground" Most leaps
are OF that character, but she does it that
way just the Same. So says her press
agent.
Della Fox, the very short ex-assoclntc
OF that very long comedian, De Wolf Hop
per, is now tasting the sweets of being
full ,iedged and successful star. At the
Casino, where She is appearing every night
In THE Little Trooper" an opcrctta
which Is the joint work of mt least six
men, that legend, standing room only
that never fails To warm the cookies OF
the coolest managerial heart, has been.
hgurativcly speaking, on exhibition every
hight since the opening. Tho Little
Trooper" has only a little plot, but that
little is very funny, and the best fcatiirc
of tho skit Is that its humor Is evolved! ~