Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-19
THE FRENCH COMEDY
THE SKELETON or THE REHEARSAL
BROUGHT TO VIEW
Bsruhardt and Victor Hugo-Living x1e'
turst--Notes Musical end
Dramatic.

-
vandom. in the pages Of the New Re-
view disclose some interesting ana IN
structive facts. We have evidently pceh
cherishing a false idea OF the actors ana
the power OF their work. as work exerts'
Not by any means are they the cnthusi-
asts for art whom glowing eulosists nave
described. Rehearsals are not what tney
were, NJ. vandom asserts. and the time
is grudgingly given. As for the perfume
tory nature Of the actors iabors at these
all-important times. one little s'ory
sneaks volumes. at one OF the rehear-
saIs of Ruy Bias, and during one OF the
long speeches OF the hero, Madame BERN
hardt (who was playing the QUEEN enc
day perched herself on a table, crossing
her hands in her lap. and allowing her
legs to dangle in the air. VICTOR huso'
who witnessed the proceedings from one
OF the boxes. did not comment upon II
aloud: but, reckoning to one OF the scene-
shutters standing at the wings hahdeo
him a slip of paper for the actress on
which were written the following woros'
"Une refine d'Espagne. honne'e CT re-
spectacle ne doit pas CONNIE ca asseoii
sur une tablev Our stern iisciplinarians'
Mr.. DAILY, Mr.. Daniel Frohman. ana Mr.
palmer. for example, who insist upon
"ai,-round acting as on the night" will
omen their eyes at this laxity-eyen IN the
case OF a star. But II. Vandom has
greater shock In reserve; for. says re.
ouietly destroying the last remnant Oh
faith i'm the Wanted management or the
House Of Moliere. land Madame benz
hardt was not the greatest ohepoer In
that respect. 81,
IA for the keen interest taken by all
Paris in the dcings OF the company the
wave of excitement which carries every
citizen off his feet, the thrill or expec'a-
ton with which any novelty Is awaited:
IL seems that 1.-THE glorious traditions
and 1.-The noble records and all the rest
of IL have much less TO do with the IN
terest aroused than very unblusnin8
working OF the social oracle. For Two
thirds of the time formerly devoted 10
preparing for the great battle are now
spent by the actors IN social entertain
ments. either as hosts, guests. or paid
guests" And these are the ways OF the
illustrlous comedie Franchise. One was
not unprepared for q skeleton in the cup
board Of the house in the Rue de Riche-
lieu, but that the actors paradise is a
cUdIDfl-EOUSc, al OsSuaiSb q AANA''H'~
surprise.
Always enterprising. always u2-to-date.
always appreciative of the artistic, Man
ager Leah has successfully negotiated
with several attractions that, In addition
TO very strong histrionic features. Will be
supplemented with different series OF what
are known as Living Pictures" The
first set of these pictures will be seen In
connection with Robert Gaylors company
this week. and are said to be the original
ones from the Empire Theatre, London.
At last the right thing seems TO have
been done with the tableaux, for which the
public appetite appears to grow by what
1t feeds on. Grouped entirely after IA
nous and beautiful works OF art, when
well designed and executed, they repro
ducs with great force the masterpieces
which are more or less familiar to all
Of us. They surpass anything that has
yet been achieved in the way of tableauy.
and are continually breaking their
own record. The Empire Living Pic
lures" are purely artistic, wholly de-
lightful, and unrivalled; they possess
moreover. no qualities that would be
calculated to offend the most fastidious
For the exhibition OF these pictures the
stage is completely draped with some ar
tlstic material, and the groups are shown
through Il large frame. which occupies
the centre of the stage. The effects are
gained with electric and calcium-lightS
fitted in the frame. The aperture is
overhung with curtains which are drawn
and withdrawn by two pages as the pic
lures are placed behind.
The tendency will be- / think, In the
future to present series of dramatic
pictures of connected and progressive
interest-a play, in short, in dumb-show
This has already been tried upon the
other side OF the Atlantic with immense
success. Who will be the first TO turn
to account the pictorial possibilities o!
such universally-read romances as Ivan
hoe, Kenelworth. The Talisman, Tale
of Two Cities, and dozen more.
Robert Gaylor Is TO appear at the Thea
tire tomorrow and Tuesday in a revised
edition of his comic play, Sport Meal
lister" Mr. Gaylor Is known as an &C.
centric Irish comedian, possessed of man.
ner.sms that are strikingly unusual. and
n voice that is used with a ridiculously
funny effect In the telling of stories and
dialect conversations
The first and last acts, which are given
up TO q laughable representation OF the
haps and mishaps of its quizzical. pugna'
cious, and witty character. Is very clever
" portrayed by Robert Gaylor. The Sc
cond act Is devoted TO vaudeville and
other introductions that tend rather tC
beighten than to disturb the interest Of
the funny story.
The specialties, which are quite nu
merous in this piece. are presented by
Mr.. Gaylor, Joseph Kelly, Miss Alice
Cambell, and Enc Hustled. O'Brien anc
Carroll give ballads and sidewalk witt
cisms. Two very pleasing novelties VII
be introduced, including the babies
Minuet" and the famous Loie Fuller
dance. which will command great dea
of attention. The dance is an exact repro
duction OF Iloie Fu'ler's, and Is said to %
fully equal to that given at the Broadwa,
| Theatre by this famous artist.
"a Night at the Circus" with jolly Mel
| lie McHenry, whom everybody knows
| and admires as Electra, the dashing CIR
Gus rider and Madelaine Milan, d de
mure little Quakeress, twin SISTERS, VII
be the attraction at the Academy mex
| Friday and Saturday evenings. The sah'
| old plot is rejuvenated by the introduction
| of catchy. new songs and artistic ensem
| HES. making a wealth OF dash ant
nlouancy. with enough Of sense ana non
sense in any one OF tho three acts u
satisfy the most impecunious ticket pur
| chaser. Nellie McHenry Is the HE or I'M
| comnany. but the arteries through whici
course the fun and merriment are ne
| clever assistants, numbering a dozen o.
| more. prominent among whom may d
mentioned J. ii. Bradbury. John webster
Billy Barry, J. Rogers, Alice Pehnoyer
and TAYLOR twin sisters.
| The Soubrette Labor Union VIII no
strike this season. sxo,
| Otis SINNERS debut as star 10 'Ae'
| for october LIST in Chicago
| Julia Arthur has a new play py al
| italian author. In which she expects u
| star next season. ,,,
.oThe Great Brooklyn Handicap,
| racing play by Alice i. Ives, Is 10 OF
nroduced in Philadelphia at the Empire
| Theatre early In September. Fourtee'
| horses will be used in the race scene.
| The well-known playwright Madeieih
| Iucette. the author OF John Drew's la'es
| success. CHRISTOPHER Junior Is now IL
| paris with her husband. Mr.. j. ii. Ryiey
| While in London she procured commis
sions for new work from two American
managers. and is said 10 have concluded
| negotiations for the production OF TWO
| her nlays on the London stage.
! nsLn.. Maptall who will again be man