Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-09
CHAT OF THE STAGE.
The Present Season One Of Unusual
Success In theatrical Affairs.
ATTRACTIONS FOR THIS WEEK.
ROLAND Reed In the Woman Halter
ana the Famous Black Crook-The
Life of Billy Ward-Damro.b,. Bi~
Venfure-IicrnhaFdts New Play.

Richmond has become a pennant-winner
In the theatrical-neid. Since January LIST
the sluggish tide OF failure which so
threatened the first half Of the season has /
/ disappeared. and in Its place food-tide |
/ Of prosperity has set in. Not before In |
the history OF the Academy of Music have
such large audiences assembled within
the walls nor have the box-oifice receipts
been so large as in the past six weeks.
"Town Topics" on New-Years day. set
the pace, and in quick succession follow
ed Lillian Russell, Richard Mansfield. AL
q. Field, Irving and Terry. Donnelly and
Girard the Kirmess, Camille DArville'
and "Ths Old Homestead" all OF them
appearing before audiences that tested
the capacity Of the house.
Manager Leath has for the remainder
of the season list Of the strongest at
traction upon the road. The most note
worthy OF them Is the engagement next
week OF Ada Rehan, supported by Au-
| gustin Days New York cast. The name
/ OF Ada Rehan at this moment unques-
| tionably is the brightest and most auspi-
/ c!ous upon the roll OF American actresses.
/ No other American actress at this period
has shown herself possessed Of an equal
degree OF personal distinction. intellectual
character. technical equipment, versatile
/ ty, and the great power 10 charm Many
others are able and accomplished, each
/ In a special field. Miss Rehan is unique
/ and distinctive and pre-eminent, for she
/ has succeeded in every line excepting that
/ of high tragedy, which, as yet, she has
not attempted and she ranges with ease
from the joyous levity OF exuberant farce
10 the fine and fluent comedy OF manners
/ and to the Imagination and sensiblity or
| the poetic drama She has done honor to
| the American name, and Is essentially
American. She belongs to this land, and
to this time.
Roland Reed, I'm ID. ID. Loyd'5 four-act
| comedy, THE Woman Halter" Will be
the opening attraction for this week at
the Academy OF Music The impression
that Mr. Reed and his charming wife, lsa-
dore Rush, made here not many weeks
| ago IN THE Politician" is no doubt still
| fresh In the memories OF those who had
the pleasure OF seeing them. His engage
ment is n brief one. being for only to-
morrow evening. There is nothing in the
I world so catching, not even the measeis
/ as hearty good humOr and that IS what
The Woman Halter" Is brimful Of.
! The plot is a very simple one, and that
Is one OF the merits OF the play. for II
does not require very deep reasoning TO
discover that there must be oceans OF fun
/ ia the adventures OF a pronounced old
I bachelor and hater OF women, who at tho
same time engages himself 10 two wO-
men. OF course. there ID the inevitable
| coming together Of the ladies,
the unfolding OF condolences In
strictest secrecy. and tho merry asides as
each believes the other 10 be the dupe.
| Then there is the very natural desire OF
| the perfidious creature to be married 10
the woman he finally chooses, I'm secret.
and 10 escape from the wrath Of the Tilted
one as soon as possible. After IA hot search
for clergyman the marriage takes place.
but while tho newlymade husband Is
waiting for his bride in hotel parlor he
Is mistaken for n lunstic and carried OF
TO a private asylum. After a variety OF
adventures everything 10 explained and
the happy husband goes OF with bis bride.
The scenes in the asylum are the best
I'm the play, and simply bubble over with
fun. The kidnapped man. Samuel Bundy,
which is played by Mr. Reed, supposcs
everybody he meets in the place to be
lunatics, while he Is regarded as o most
dangerous and violent case. Mr.. Reeds
method is so well-balanced that every
thing he says or does provoSes laughter.
while his excellent makeup helps the
character greatly.
Eugen. Tomrklns's company in THE
Black Crook" follows Mr.. Reeds engage
ment at the Academy OF Music on Tues
day and Wednesday evenings. with
matinee on the latter day The coming
to this old city Of that famous spectacle
will recall TO the old-tlmers the BLACK
Crook" OF 1876. with its academic premers
its full-skirted coryphees, and its amply
draped hgurantes. Prior TO the initial
production OF Charles Barras's spectacle.
there had never been a regular ballet OF
any size in this country. Lola MonteZ
had fitted across the stage, and Fanny
Ellsler had danced a few characteristic
steps, but n complete ballet, with prlma
ass1luta. second and ballerinl, was IN
known. The little the public had seen
OF women in tights was confined TO the
performance OF "Mazeppa," in which
either Adah Isaacs Menken, Kate
Fisher or a Leo Hudson was dashed 10
the back OF a wild, untamed Barbary
steed. The sensation can be imagined
when all at once the stage at Nblo's
Garden, New York. was filed with what
seemed TO be myriads OF women in short
skirts. In trunks, and In breeches. IL was
a beautiful spectacle, and II appealed 10
the senses as no theatrical performance
ever had before. The present revival is
superb; in fact, 1t is superior to the In
itial production. The allegorical ballots
are all gorgeous. and those with an Illus
trative significance are most entertaining.
The European specialtics are novel, and
IN point OF true excellence outrank any
thing as yet brought to this country.
A great amount Of interest has been
manifested in the benefit that is 10 be
given Billy Ward, the minstrel. who,
owing TO a severe attack OF rheumatism,
Is. with his family, stranded In this city.
Next Friday evening. February 18th, Is
the date that Manager Leath has, with
his usual generosity. appropriated the
Academy OF Music for Gr Wards use A
sketch Of Mr.. Wards life would not be
amiss az this point: William I. ward,
as he is better known. was born in Dub
lin, Ireland, just thirty-elght years ago.
His father. Dr. Ward. emlgrated 10 this
country with his family when Billy was
years Of age. Young Ward was sent 70
boarding school, but he had rowing
spirit that proved the better OF him One
day a circus came 10 Stamford, Conn,
where he was al school. and In It's al
Turing attractions he saw. as he Imagined.
a bright future. The name OF the circus
was Calls New Orleans Theological Ex-
position, and Ward, with his imaginations
strengthened by tbs length OF the name.
enlisted that night as a "horse-waterer."
He was subjected to many crueties by the
harsh attaches, and but for the kind at
tention sf Tim Hayes, a well-known
clcg-dancer, he would have left In dis
gust Hayes taught him how TO dance
and In a short time he blossomed into a
finished song and dance artist Return