The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-23
THE POPULAR PLAY.
BUSINESS MEN WANT SOMETHING
TO CHEER THEN UP A BIT.
Elaborate Senic ProGu lions Always take
Ihe Opera Season In Richmond During
Cbrlstmss-stage Notes.

During the past few years the taste OK
the American public for theatrlcals haS
deteriorated no little. From all Sues
comes the cry: I'VE want something that
will amuse and please the eye. instruction
IS MOI asked for" Living pictures ana
spectacular plays never Tail 10 dtttdcI
large crowds. What Is the cause OF 'Ill7
Last season the theatres il the lal SCI
northern cities did an excellent Duslhesa,
aud the managers mad 10 trCuple III VIZ
Ming the patronage OF the best pa! ms
element. The only reason can dSSls"
for this change Is the depression IN Hldn-
cial circles. After q hard Gay WI
the business men would 80 20 see pay
that would divert their attention from w
ups and downs of the day. Inc cage
eye OF every manager saw an once tne
demand. and they Immediately began -
supply plays OF no artistic value 49,.
You will ask why was Mr.. IrNlhS 70
successful with his Shakspcarc anu lneio-
dramatic performances. Mr.. lrNhis >
success is due TO his power oil preS'hilhS
pictures that are wonderfully eNlfdE4-
CANT but not always true 60 nature. He
seems 10 nave no consideration Tor tN-
pense when mounting a play. it'e ne
shows mis- wisdom; for he, as well as ihf
leading dramauc critics. knows tldt 10
acurg alone would never give hin the
popularity ne now enj 'ys. Ills Mcrch6h-
OF Ncl ice, Bickct. Lyons Mai and le
Bells are maEniticently staged and the
actors playing the most subordinate parlS
DO themselves gre at credit with suth
surroundings.
l remember a few years ago a certain
actor held a prominent position ia one
Of the leading organizations now on the
read. After gaining quite Iepuld. ION
as A subordinate, he lowered the last
as a star. Unable 10 furnish the proper
scenery. ne proved failure ana - now
back with the original trOup.
Such plays az 1iJ2. The Passing NOV
me Little Trooper. Black Crook ana 10
dasco are meeting with success Wherever
they 80. ,.,.., .,.i,i
begin at the Academy OF Music to-InoIr0"
ui.bt and continue through the week. ihe
Grau Opera Company has been very sue
cessful this year, ana the Ieputd'.pII VI
the leading artists WdrIdim M ~ ,,i,,it
of Arst-rate Productions. me equipment
Is said to be unusually complete.
cial matinees will Le given iuesudy'
Thursday and Saturday. Inc Teptt tpIi -
is as follows: Mohu4y, , nICc ,r,d.da,,
day matinee, Fra Dldyol0' uesIly
niCht. Tar and Tartar; Wednesday, 800
nemiau Girl: Thursday matinee. Tar ana
,rartar. thursday night. Amorita, fIl-
day night. Gondohers; saturday nldll"ee'
NT3rth9. Saturday night. PAM Jones.
RiXford's Imperial Vaudeville Company
viii begin a three nights engagement
at the Richmond Theatre tomorrow
night The play is one Of the best OF us
N De o Ko we and and Smith deserve much
credit for the strenuous efforts they have
nut forth I'm trying to cultivate me 'iSle
nf theatre-goers. Rob Roy, their latest
production is now having a,,p nfnomT[e a,I
ran at the Her&ld-Squdre IhedIr NV
Sortk Mir. smith always inserts enough
history to make his writnss ip ,o gf t5c
and Mr. De kOVcn cOmpo-es 10 Hl IIIt
h"Gp 'rbc opcra is fun Of catchy solos
ana duets. which the small boys nave al
READY begun to whistle.
C;ismonda. a new drama in i've ac'i' py
victor Sardou. was pres ,nted Tor the
nret time in America al the fIllh-AForue
'rheatre on December llth. Inc scenes
Of the play are laid in Athens in Ii5l. ana
the story lmfolds itself in n very inter-
eetine manner. Fanny Davenport as
Gisnonda. was somewhat passive, que
r(esibIv TO the Unconditional lines.
,Iodieska is having unusual Success
abroad Her en@agoment in Lenders,
Austria. has exceeded her fullest eNp'c'd-
Mons, and she VIII give eighteen perform
auCes. ,.-.. H.,
eior. Jr.. is now being rchearsct by the
cadets OF Boston. 1nis play VII doubt
IDS be as GOOD as is 'll32' and yobas2o
by the same writer.