Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-16
SOME STAGE ECHOES.
News Of The Week Among the Plays
and the Players.
THE ATTRACTIONS AT HOME.
The BaIdwiDs at the Academy of
MuSic-snra Bcrnhnrdt in New
York-"Thc Scarlet Lettcr-1ossip
of the TootIlghts.

Mrs. BALDWIN, the white Ndha'''i'''' -
ring the entire week. The matinee GIRL
fanatlcal creature, receives little respect
from the Baldwins, for they announce
the dlscontinuance Of matinees during
their lengthy engagement here. 30
Washington's Birthday. with its histori-
cal afternoon performance, will not be
augmented by that attractive feature this
year.
The entertainment given by Professor
and Mrs. Baldwin IS presented to the
public rs an example OF and practical
duplication by word, manner, and action
Out without any claim to spiritual, SUI
pernatural. occult. or superhuman agen-
cles OF any sorO Of the deception Of
the worlds greatest mystery workers. the
fabrcations and inventions Of seers and
soothsayers Of the past ages, and the de-
lusions and trickery often practiced in
modern media.
Mrs. Baldwin. who has accompanied
her husband I'm his various trips all over
the world, will give 4 feature she de-
scribes as "Somnomancy." which means
Impressions mentally conveyed TO her
while she is IN a hypnotic trance. II
is limited that the Baldwins are firm
believers In spirltuallsm. theosophy. and
kindred theories, but they positively dis
claim any supernatural or occult aid in
their wonderful duplication Of mystic
manifestations. All they claim is TO give
a really superb entertainment, and IL the
audience wants 20 Imagine anything be-
yond that, why. that is their own af-
fair. in this feature Of sOmnomancy
Mrs. Baldwin comes on the stage mes
morized and bllndfolded. She actually
sees into the brains o. her auditors, and,
after requesting them 10 think OF ques-
tions. she directly and correctly answers
them, and then repeats the question.
Many OF the questions asked are of al
most vital Importance, and her replies
give great relief and consolation. But.
whether the questions are serious or hu-
morOus, the sensation produced Is GER
tafnly profound The Baldwins have
beaten the wonder-workers OF the Orient
and bewildered them just as much as
they have bewildered the audiences Of
America, England, and Australia. They
have appeared three times before the
royal family at Sandringham Palace and
Marlborough, likewise before numberless
and have accumulated considerable wealth
by means OF their wonderful work.
The French version OF "Grismonda."
Sardou's Greclan drama of the fifteenth
century. was unwrapped to the New
York public by Sara Bernhard and her
company at Abbey's Theatre last Mon
day evening. Fanny Davenport gave the
same piece a magnificent scenic produc-
ton at the Fifth-Avenue Theatre last
season. or course. the New York critics
had to draw comparisons between the
two stars, although the old adage, COM
parison is no criticism" still hangs
In a conspicuous place upon the walls
OF their dens They hemmed and
hawed, but the American star appears
to have the majority Of them upon her
side.
1.-THE Prisoner of Zenda," Mr. Roses
dramatlzation of Mr.. Hopes novel OF the
same name, in which T.. II. Sothern
has been so successful, was revived at
the Lyceum Theatre, New York. on
Monday evening, with James X. Hackett
as Rudolph. 1t met with public ap-
prevail and has started In TO be another
record-breaker.
The most noteworthy engagement OF
the week was an elaborate stage produc-
| ton of DeKoven & Smiths sterling
opera. comique. robin Hood" at the
Broadway Theatre. by the Bostonians.
Since the last appearance Of that organi-
cation in New York they have made
several additions TO the cast. Harold
Blake has succeeded Edwin Hon as
Robin Hood. and Helen Bertram- Henly
has taken Camille dArville's place as
Maid Marion.
Oscar Hammerstein, a veritable jacl-of-
ali-trades has dropped the weary cares
Of owner. manager, and costume-de-
signer Of the Olympia Music Hal. New
York, 10 write and produce spectacu-
| lar opera, called Marguerite" 1t was
given its initial performance at that plea
sure resort last Monday evening before
an audience that occupied every inch Of
available space in the building. II was
a success. so the press says.
The first performance. on any stage
OF Walter Damrosch's grand opera. "The
Scarlet Letter" at the Boston Theatre.
Boston, last Monday evening. marks an
epoch In the history OF American opera.
The first opera by an American on an
American subject was written by George
i. Bristow. and was produced i'm 1866
In New York with success. The next
opera with an American story was Ar
ditrs La Spia." founded on Cooper's
novel. 1.-THE Spy" This work. which
was performed at the Astor-Place Opera
House. in New York. in 1876, fell fat.
and was only given some three or four
times. From then no large work on a
native subject originated I'm this coun-
try until Mr.. Damrosch's opera was writ
ten. The only other grand operas by
a native composer are W H. Fry's LEO
nora" founded on 1.-THE Lady Of Lyons"
and another opera by the same mu-
stefan, called "Notre Dame" which was
Indebted to Victor Hugo's famous ro-
nance for its plot. The frst-named
was given in 1855. and the second in 1864.
and neither outliyed its earliest perform
ances.
The opera has as a foundation Haw-
thorne's powerful psychological novel.
1.-THE Scarlet Letter
In adapting the novel to the operate
form, Mr.. George =. Lathrop, the
lberettst. has diyerged from the original
in many Instances in order 10 make a
more perfect stage movement. He
omits the child Pearl. She IS supposed 10
have died before the opera opens Many
interpretations that are essential to give
clearness 20 the work have also been
introduced. The music is described as
Wagnerian. but full Of fire and energy.
There is 10 prelude or overture, the
curtain rising with the first note from
the orchestra.
The cast is worthy OF mention: Hester
Prynne. Fraeuein Johanna Gadsn:
Arthur Dimmesdale. Herr Barron Berth
aid. Governor Bellingham, Herr Conrad
Behrens: Rev John Wilson. Herr Gerhard
Stehman; Roger Chilinsworth, Herr
Wilhelm Martens; Captain. Herr Otto
Raberg; Jailer. Herr Julius Won Putlitz.
IL 1,iic-, 1arrY In her ..NIer,nira >,