Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-05
REALMS THEATRICAL.
A GREAT DEMAND FOR GOOD &C.
TRESSES AND AUTHORS.
Prospects for Season '94-S-Forthcomins
Tours Of Bernhardt and Rejsne-New
Players Coming Attractions.

Is never quite sienceu, hsre ID ""''
| hour or so-somewhere near to In the
morning-when It's roar and hustle may
| be said to be reduced to soothing muir
muir. Something Of a similar kind may
| be- affirmed about the theatrical season.
| IL is never wholly at standstiii' but
| there Is a brief period when rivalry
| ceases, the leading houses. as RUE close
their doors. and for short space the
| public habit Of seeking amuseneht ''
| theatres reaches its lowest ebb. ferhaps
I shall not be far wrong II place inns
point at the end Of July and the begin
| ming oe August. Even those theatres In
the larger cities. where summer opera mas
| reigned supreme during the weeks tha'
| the country has been on the gridoie' nave
| now closed their doors for a snort pc
| Rod. to go through tho ranovatihg pro-
| cess which precedes each cycle. vas.
| amount of speculation is being induiged
,n as 10 the probable outcome OF the APP
| nroschIpa season. 1t Is a fact that all
! through tho country bookings are lighter
| than for many years. which Is attrlbu-
| tnbls 10 the small number Of attractions
| that are to venture upon the road. Last
| season was so disastrous from money
| making point Of view that many man
| ayers have not the necessary funds to
enable them TO take out companies. while
| others who have, are waiting for the turn
of the tide before they invest In any
theatrical enterprise.
| On all nheatrlcaD sides one hears the
| cry for authors and actresses. Never, 1t
| is safe to say, were the rewards Of the
theatre so alluring. Never, IL all that
| the music-hall authorities say or their
| rivals be true, was there less briskness In
| the theatre world. And yet not merely
| one Isolated manager but nearly every
| one OF them, Is buttonholing whom he
meets, on the right hand or the leit lest
| a good thing In player or play pass I'M
| noticed by. With the exception or three
| managers whose names at once spring
| to every lip. It Is a question Of living. so
| to speak, from hand to mouth. NOBODY
| save these fortunate and ultra-shrewd m
| dividuals, has more than single play
| upon his shelves. Nobody, not even these
| brilliant exceptions TO this disturbing
| rule, knows to whom to turn, outside OF
| the tiny circle of Plnero. Grumpy, Jones
| and Haddon Chambers, with perhaps the
| literary additions OF Henry James. j.
| NJ. Barrie, Bronson Howard. and oscar
| wilde. Famous names are bruited aproad
| and banded to and fro. az about to 90
this and intent upon that. for such ana
such a house, or such and such a
nan. Mrs. Humphrey Ward, Thom-
| as Hardy, John Oliver Hobbies
| /. ZanzweIl, all are down in the pubic
| prints for plays But little seems 10
| come OF It save empty talk.
| And still there remains the question OF
actresses-actresses, that is, who can leau.
| What an opening there Is Tor them !"
| needs but one illustration to make ciear
| I mean. of course. the metoric career Oh
| Mrs. Patrick Campbell. Four years aso
| this remarkable woman was UNKNOWN.
| To-day she Is talked OF, discussed ana
| elevated TO the front rank OF celebrities
| over two continents, at the very least.
| She has a fash OF genius that goes with
out saving. and to genius nothing Is i'm
| possibIe. Still her brilliant rise points
| several homely truths. one is, that medic
| critics abound. Another is, that anything
above mediOcrity almost instantly wins
| its way TO place with the highest. Ana
| vet q third that the stage to-day, over
| stocked though IL be. has room for many
actresses yet, If only they be above the
| mediocre class.
Madame Sara Bernhardt has purchased
| from Mr. a. w. Pinero the French rights
play has been done into French for her
| by Mr. Charles f. Roche. the translator
| of the "Pasquier Memoirs
Madame Sara Bernhard will make an
other American tour this season. she
will open at Abbeys Theatre. In New
| York. with her new play, ''Izeyl." melo-
drama in verse, which affords her mag
nificent opportunity for barbaric display.
| scenic sumptuary. and emotional. IL
.slx~ ltiaV n
"Clito." by Mr.. Wilson Barrett and Mr.
Gr1lndv. inasmuch as its Infamous heroine
| sets out 10 convert a prophet, much as
that imrna culate young sculptor attempted
| to lure Helle from her evil courses. and
with the like result. lzey falls a victim
| "a his influence, and becomes his dis
chile. a step which leads to such horrors
as at Madame Bernhardts hands we ma
aesthetcally appetizing, and eventually the
| poor frail heroine, tortured to death en-
| Joys the momentary consolation or the
| PROPHETS love, and in the odor of sanctity
| expires.
MADAME Sans Gene" the other novelty
| from Paris due shortly in Ibis country
| is all of comedy compact. 1t VIII De
presented by Mile. Rejane, who has Gre
ated such a stir In theatrical circles on
| the other side of the Atlantic, but has
never been seen In this country. a
| daughter of the soil and the wash-tub.
| the heroine rises to be the wife or a
| marshal Of France, and her behavior at
| court, her contempt for etiquette. her
| fearless utterance OF the truth. even 10
| the great Little Corporal himself fur
| nish scenes rich in dramatic contrast.
| and opportunities for the employment
! Of Mile. Rejane's exceptional comedy
| gifts.
| The bulet-proof cuirass, about which
| we have heard so much of late, and
| which has become quite conspicuous
| feature in the variety halls, Is no modern
| invention after all. but can be traced
| back to classical days. Four centuries
| before the Christian era :he Athenian
| General lphicrates clad his troops In
| coats of thick linen soaked In vinegar
| and salt, which completely resisted the
| enemy's arrows.
An excellent likeness Of Mrs. Ray Logan,
| the talented elocu,ionist of this city, ap-
| pcared in the last weeks New York ORA
| matte Mirror. In spite OF the announce
| ment at the foot thereof Mrs. Logan Will
| not be seen on the theatrical stage, but
| will continue on the entertainment plat
| FORM and will tour through the North
| next season as a member or concert
| company under the direction of the New
| York Entertainment Bureau.
The harbingers of the approaching sea-
| son, which, by the by, promises 10 be one
| of the most prolific for many years In
the matter of attractions, may be seen
on the bil-boards controlled by Manager
| Leath
The striking novelty Of naval drama
| Is easily accounted for when 1t Is stated
that there has never been, strictly speak
ing. but one play of this character sub
mtted for the pubiic's approval. Man
| ager Jacob Lifts excellent production OF
The Ensign is the original step In the
direction of the development OF this
| splendid field for the dramatist, and tho
instantaneous and continued success OF
this play indicates that II Is destined &c
| outlive most of the concurrent pieces OF
whatsoever character. Its historical fea'
lures are deeply interesting. and the skill
full blending OF familiar characters In oui
history with a pretty romance OF the
ciVil-war period render the production
doubly meritorious. The vast equipment
OF scenery seems almost extravagant
but. of course. makes the production ad
| ditionally praiseworthy, and doubtless the