Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-23
wARDE IN THE MOUxTEBAxK.
The Popular Actor Appears nj the
Academy Before n Large Audience.

The romantic drama, called THE
MoIntebank," one OF the most fanclful.
delicate. and pathetic Of plays, affords a
golden opportunity TO Frederick Warde.
Tho value OF the play does not reside
in its teaching. but in It's dramatic pre-
sentation OF strong character. individual
experience. and significant story. The
effect produced by "The Mountebank" is
that of moral elevation. Its auditor is
touched and enobled by spectacle OF
stern trial. pitiable suffering. and stoical
endurance. In the purpose that presides
over human destiny-if one may accept
the testimony equally of history and OF
fcton-it appears TO be necessary first
To create strong characters and then TO
break them; and the manner In which
they are broken usually involves the ele-
ments alike of dramatic effect and Of
pathos That singular fact In mortal ex-
perience may have been noticed by the
author OF this play. His drama is forci-
BILE exposition of 1t.
'The Mountebank' was set upon the
Academy stage In such a way as 10
strengthen the dramatic illusion by the
fidelity of scenery.
The acting OF Mr. Warde who ap-
peared. of course. as William Belphegor,
the wandering mountebank. is conspicu-
OuSly marked by two OF the loVeliest
attributes OF art-simplicity and sincerity.
lie conceals neither the face nor the
heart. Every movement that Mr.. Warde
makes upon the stage is clear. free, open,
firm, and of obvious significance. Every
tone OF his rich and resonant voice is dis
tinctly Intended and distinctly heard.
There are no flaws and starts" He has
formed a precise ideal He knows exact
~ how to embody and to utter it, and he
makes the manifestation of il sharp,
defined, positive, and cogent. His mean
ing cannot be missed. He has an un-
erring sense Of proportion and symmetry.
The character that he represents lis
shown. indeed. all at once. as an unique
identity, but 1t is not all at once de-
Veloped. the manifestations of ii being
made gradually TO proceed under stress
of experience and of emotions. He rises
with the occasion. His feelings are deep,
and he is possessed Of extraordinary pow
er for the utterance of them-not simply
vocal power. but the rare faculty of be-
coming convulsed. inspired. transfigured
by passion, of being swept along by ii,
and OF sweeping along his hearers.
Mr.. Warde's support was excellent:
special need of praise being due TO Miss
Fanny Bowman, as Henri: a. ID. Byers. as
Fanfarando; A. c. Deltwyn. as the Duke
or MOntDasOn, MISS fdnfN blllttlt, dS
Madeline. and Miss Lucia Moore as
Mademoisele Flora.
1.-THE Lions Mouth" will be given at
the matinee. and "Runnymede' tonight.
Tomorrow evening and afternoon Mana
ger Leath presents two performances OF
grand concert.
The Gilmore concerts. as laid our and
directed by Victor Herbert, rank among
the very best given in America. They are
OF like order as any of the large Orches-
trail concerts. of equal scope, and 1t is
said by certain people prominent in mu-
steal circles that the playing Of Gilmors's
is quite as brilliant as that of the best Of
the big orchestras.