The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-22
PLAYS FOR CHRISTMAS.
ROBERT MfNTELL VIII PRESENT
TIfREE rms rms HEER.
There VIII be Two Performances on
Christmas-Day-"fr Friends - VIII be
Seen the Last of the Week.

Robert Mantell. who IS an exceedingly
clever tragic actor, VIII begin an engage
ment or three nights at the Academy
commencing tomorrow night. lie viii
present THE Husband" tomorrow night.
which, by the way. was produced mere
last year for the first time. "MOnbars''
VIII be the attraction Tuesday night. and
on Christmas-Day he Will repeat this
play al the matinee. and will conclude
his engagement Christmas-night with
''rhe Corsican Mrothers."
ON Friday and Saturday, with a matinee
on the latter day, Milton ROyles. will
present at the Academy that exceedingly
strong drama, entitled, Friends"
Alfred 4. Farland, the phenomenal
banjoist. who played here last season 10
crowded house. Will return 10 Rich
mond. and give one OF his wonderful re-
citals at the Richmond Theatre. on
January H.. 1896. Fariand plays
the works OF the master composers with
as much facility and expression as tine
ordinary banioist would THE alissis-
sippi Sawyer" lie IS the Padcrewski
OF tho banjo.
Speaking OF Mile Yvette Cuilbert's
recent appearance in New York the
Herald has the following 10 say about
her:
\ frail young woman. ~ distinguished
bearing. and dressed az charmingly and
as simply as any young comtesse Is this
same ivette Guiherf. Her hair Is OF
a reddish hue her nose slightly retrousse.
her mouth, large enough 10 display n
row Of giistcnng teeth. while her eyes
are light and searching. Not a beau
tiful woman. YOU say. Tistcpi
After two minutes. yon will swear that
nothing so bewitching. so seductive. has
over been painted or chiselled Her
magnetism Is tremendous. The moment
she parts her lips. the audience is SPELL
bound Her personality permeatcs the
audience-rool like a powerful perfume
And though you do not understand n
word, you are convinced that an artist
Of prodlgious talent stands before you.
IT makes no difference what she sings.
Whether it be witty or a pathetic lay
that she Is chanting. the effect r. the
same. Not a music-hall singer at ALL
but an artist so great that you wonder
how il ever happened that was not born
within the very walls OF the house OF
Moliere. \ vendeuse AZ the magasin du
printemps. forsooth
Well, well. I suppose it's all true But
] wonder whether all vendeuses al that
derful French. Such diction as Gull
bert's You cannot hear. even az the
Theatre Francois. For does not Sarah.
the great. 'grasseyer" her RS. even in
Racine? Yvette. do declare. IS the
greatest mistress OF the art Of diction
upon the French stage.
You may not know the exact signlf-
canoe OF every word she utlers. for
much In these songs OF hers H. the Pa
risian Argot OF to-day. Nevertheless,
you viii catch every word she utters
Some good Partisan friend will tell you
the meaning afterward Bear IN mind.
however, not 10 ask n female friend
Mile. Guilbert sings, you say. so to
the point. and tell us about her voice
Mile. Guilbert does not sing-she chants.
Mile. Yvette r. n sensible young wo-
man. who scrutinizes herself as closely
and as numerically as she does others.
Remember. she "a not a rnusic-han sing
err. In the common, vulgar acceptance OF
the term. She Is the most gigantic histri-
onic satirist OF the day and she Il quite IA
milar with the fact that hers Is not
a fine voice. Accordingly. she chants
her music. II II half-speech. haif-song.
but not singing. strictly speaking. But