Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-24
RtNNYMEDE NOT A SUCCESS.
The Frederick Wnrde Organization
Not Seen to Advantage.

MI Frederick Wdrde revived Mr.. VIII
liam Greer Harrison's play "Runnymede.
OF Robin Hood and his Merrie Men" at
the Academy last night.
Tie play Wa originally produced some
wccke ago % Brooklyn. and being voted
dismal lHuro was withdrawn. Mr..
Ward". however. decided to revive the
piece. and TO this end altered the cast
somewhat ANA pat IL in active rehearsal
Tor a INST presentation in this city. In
fortunately, Mr.. \. G.. Deltwin, who WAS
TO nave played the part of Cardinal Lang
Zen. was taken seriously i'll, and a num-
Der of oh lnges had TO be made in the
cast at the last moment. To what extent
these changes initiated against the sue
cess Of the play ii Is, Of course. difficult
to estimate, but certain ii is, that the
performance last night was dull, tiTesome.
and uninteresting.
Runnymede,' as a technical drama. Is
frail. Its movement, indeed. is not more
INDECENT than that OF other pastorals.
With all the pastorals time ambles. But
1t is entirely lacking in massiveness of
dramatic signification or in the element
Of opportunity for the art OF acting. Char
acter. poetry. philosophy. humOr. and
suggestion ii contains: but IL contains no
single scene in which its persons can am
ply put forth their full histrionic powers
with essentially positive dramatic effect.
In Mr.. Harrison's "Runnymede" the
clock has been put forward and other
liberties have been taken with history.
As "A drama the four acts are nothing
worth. A line here and there. "a situation
of promise. these are all IL has 10 show.
Mainly the characters dribble on and
dribble of aimlessly, clumsily: having
much yet little to say, and less than lit
tie to do.
Its charm resides more in being than
in doing. and. therefore it is more a poem
than play. and. perhaps. more picture
than poem The play is mounted with
very much that Is beautiful in scenic
art. md all the sensitive care of Mr..
Frederick Warde's refined stag manage
ment
The following was the cast: John Of
AnjOu. afterwards King of England,
Grant Foreman: Stephen Langton, the
Cardinal Archbishop. Frederick Warde:
Sir Richard. at Lea. ii. ID. Byers; Robin
Hood. Earl Of Huntington. Charles SUIT
ton; Cedric, a Saxon Thane. otherwise
Frar Tuck. Charles ID. Herman; Little
John. J. Landers Stevens; George, a
Green. Ernest c. Warde; De Bracy.
Harry {. Barton: Bots Gilbert, Charles
Clarke; Governor Of Staines Prison,
George Fullerton. John, the Archer, IL.
Miner, Marian Lea, Miss Fanny Gil
lette; Majorie ,Iosselyn. Miss Fanny Bow
man; Abbess. Mrs Isabelle Waldron.
Gilmore's Band will be at the Academy
for matinee and evening performance
to-day. The following programme will
be given in the afternoon:
Overture. "Robespierre," 0itolff) Ba-
dlnage new. Victor Herbert) Jewel
Aria. Faust" (GounodD Miss Ida
Klein. Suite. Peer Gyht," 1.-TWO move
ments) (Greig) solo for cornet Polka
Briliante.' ArbanJ Mr.. II. l.. Clarke;
overture. william Tell" (Rossini.)
violoncello solos (a) Simple Aveu."
(ThomeJ (b) Mazurka. PopperJ Mr..
Victor Herbert: Hungarian Rhapsody.
40. . 0-iszt) songs. Miss Ida Klein;
Twenty-second Regiment March, (Nictor
Herbert.
Tho evening programme will be:
Overture "Tannhauser." (WagnerJ
Spanish Serenade Lolita OangeyJ
duet for cornet and trombone. (Campana)
Messrs. Herbert L. Clarke and Ernest
H. Clarke: Grand Aria, Roberto"
CNeyerbeerJ Miss Ida Klein; scenes Nea-
politaines. Massenet) a. Allegro, La
Danse." CD Lent ct ReligieuX. LA Pro-
cession ct rImprovisateur." 90 Allegro.
La Fete". violoncello solo, "Serenade.'
(Hertel.J Mr. Victor Herbert: (a) march
His Highness." (b) "Ahi Cupid"-cornet
solo. Mr.. H. l.. Clarke-from Prince Ana
Mas, (cD THE Belle of Pittsburg," 1.-TWO
steps,. new Victor HERBERT; song THE
X SIS of Spring" written expressly for
the New York Herald Easter No. 1851
Victor Herbert,) Miss Ida Klein; solo
for piccoo. Fantasie, Come Back TO
Erin" (Norrito,D Sig De Carlo; Grand
American Fantasia Victor Herbert
Eugene Robinson's spectacular comedy
drama. "A Ride for Life will fill the
last two days of the week at the Acad-
envy Atkins Lawrence will have the
leading role. He is a favorite actor in
heroic parts The chief scene in the
play introduces a mechanical locomotive,
which is praised highly as realistic
piece of stage construction.
The Tuxedo Quartette will be rendered
benefit concert at the Theatre Friday
night very attractive programme is
being arranged for the occasion. Mana
ger Leath has kindly lent the house for
the occasion.