The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-11-05
"EDGfR -fLIfN POE.'
A Successful Production Of the New Drama
bv Creston Clarke.

OF all names IN Apleric9n literature
none appeals more strongly TO the
Imagination thar that of Edgar Allan
Poe. and no haracter IS dramatically
more weird than that or the
erraiIc genius. whose memory ID
spite Of the volumes or eDlo5y
ana abuse tina. have been he3ped upon
him stnl lives in this large
world Of letters IS one OF the gitatese
pOets. -,,.o, ,,o,,,
the cbanlo leOnlike character OF the lAA.'
ts0me painting IL black and detestaple
as his own famous Raven DINERS pdi
doning his faults by virtue or ms seni.
50 and these facts have doubuessiy kept
drlnatists from putting on the boards
sooner this gentleman poet whose haiue
IS so intimately connected ana linked Win
that q Richn ond. ,, H.
Delicate was the task or bienuihg INV
man and poet together upon the stage
Che ideal and the read, FOR so oittn
fancy finds its sweetest dreams are pus
misty fabrics when the line OF acton anu
thought are governed by the stern orc
ta.ion Of facts. Therefore 10 make an
acceptable presentation of That personal
~. which ain agree was charming whether
iiabOlical or angelic IN character was
t0sk Of no mean proportions.
Mr. L. g. Hazelton. jr., has sucCeedes
IN lcgitimately drama tizing roc hiS anu
4 10 lltAf everyone - llb EeN ~
ance at the Academy last night VIII
agree I'm this with me.
PEGS life in all its phases IS a charm
ing story. First We saw MN as 'he
careless. light-hcarted jolly youth, then
the poet I'm his Fordham cottage, ana. last
the self-made genius In the gloom on MS
chilly garrett and after these scenes came
the sad finale. when as a poor homeless,
wretch, he walked i'm dying condition the
streets Of Baltimore.
l the drama in all It's realism
and one fact impressed me. II was thdt
this rising young actor. Creston clarke
who was presenting In tangible form that
character that none have ever before at
tempted 10 initiate was certainly giving
a mastery performance.
Possessed of a mellow voice, that once
heard Is never forgotten. with natural
resemblance TO the best portraits OF Poe,
and with the most minute detail closely
adhered 10 Clarke's Interpretation of the
role is wOderful.
Yes. 1t was certainly in the fourth act
that the Young actor gave 1t his best
WOrkfhat is. from point Of legitimate
dramatic effect He is in his howell Of
"A garnet. haggard. starved. and half
crazy. and as the thunder peaks break on
his ears he calls on his demon, the IRA
ven" Visions Of the terrible fate that
is 10 bcfall him, haunt him and almost
complete his madness then another
moment and over his drugSed mind comes
a vision Of 1.-THE Last Lenorc" the Jewel
OF his genius, and he Is again radianuv
happy. And so on 10 the last until death
SITS its final seal upon his features. does
Clarke exactly portray and not Overdraw
a siSeth Of the life OF Edgar Allan Poe.
THIS is the play as ! saw it-that is. rs
us most agreeable prCminences presented
themselves. or course subsidiary 10 the
vein Of thought and line of action. there
was much that would be better left out.
The line between the sublime and tho
ridiculous Is narrow al best and in the
graveyard scene the intensity Of poe's
passionate love IS sadly marred rv tho
introduction Of the parson accompanied
by ,Shucks and his promised wife. The
audience was cold - fact. the gallery on
more than one occasion robukcd tho nit
by recognizing latent climaxes. where
the critics failed 10 see them
MISS adelaide Prince I'm the dual ch,rac
Ter OF Virginia GLENN and Helen Whit
II an, mas her versatility severely tee,od
bu, she undergocs the strain I'm a rsr,s'rt
aDi. manner and conclusiveiy proves
snat She Is talented actress Tho
uidIna Was or special interest 10 tho Riob
nlohd people. Manager Ic1th urfor-
tulateiy had no fire I'm tho house ana
oVi5,-eluently IL was disagreeablv cold
hahiord Spencer. and O'Rrion ,.ir -,
gin tWo-nishts and matinee ene,a" a.
az the academy tonight. when tbe,, Lii
present Merchant Of Venice. to-,,,o, ~ ~
nidllil'e' Romeo and .uliet" an1 -
'i'c'ro" night Damon and Pythiss, ~