Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-26
DRAMA In WAR TINES
Interesting Account Of The Opening
Night Of The New Theatre.
rrnnop,s PICTURESQUE POEM.
The Numerous Plays That Were Pre-
scented During Tint Period-The
Three Prime FavorItes and Their
Records-Notes and Comment.


kindled fresh valor. when life pulsed with
feverish intensity. when all resources
were eagerly employed. and all energies
were taxed to the extreme OF human ep-
dIrance. when victories followed fast
after lamentable defeats--right here. IN
our capital. IN the heart of this passion
ate tumult, IL so happened that the drama
found such favor and applause as it never
received even in IT. paimiest times.
Hero and nowhere else in the South
here and In none OF the cities OF the
North. 50 far az am eware-a single
company OF players performed nightly.
with very rare exceptions, for forty-one
successive months-that is 70 say. from
November 2. 1861, TO AIril 4, 1866. Not one
member of this company, 1 believe. was
OF northern birth. Some few were Eng
iish, and some few were born under the
French flag. The others were natives OF
our own soil; they came here chiefly from
Charleston from Nashville, from New Or
leans, and from Mobile.
OF course, 1t must not be inferred that
TIE company was always composed OF
the same people. Naturally, new as
pirants passed TO the front, and many
old favorites disappeared; some developed
into stars. flashed for time. and UNI
mately settled back into the ranks; some
succeeded admirably here and elsewhere;
some resumed their amor, temporarily
laid aside for the love of art and did
themselves honor in the field; some
thrived better at other hazards. ana
some-but O precious few, ] admit-slipped
through the lines. In consequence OF
these changes the reputation Of the troupe
frequently suffered, but It was also fire.
uuently thus improved. The actors and
actresses, from first TO last. numbered
100. aad certainly more than half OF these
were the pick OF the talent OF the South
IL Is quite impossible at present to give
full account OF the Theatre OF its COM
pany. 1t is equally impossible 10 give
q general outline without spelling good
story. shall, therefore. confine myself
10 certain details which may just now
be Of interest. Perhaps, after sitting the
mass Of material IN hand, series OF
short articles may be written especially
or this particular period, and. II ever pro-
perry written, these viii doubtless prove
Father entertaining. for the material
gathered from the best possible sources,
being ample as well as exceedingly rich
~ color. furnishes a multitude or curious
facts hitherto Inaccessible; affords an
excellent view OF our little dramatic
world--shsrply realistic on one side. GER
kdlDiY ICnaIllC on llt atutf-NulOW Il
vivid light upon some OF the most orlgi-
mai, some OF the most picturesque. and
some utterly forgotten figures Of the day,
and sets forth the piquant chickering's and
rivalries among the players, how these
people looked, and how they acted, their
triumphs and their failures. along with
the grave points and comic episodes OF
their lives.
FIRST NIGHT 1T THE NEW HOUSE.
Meanwhile, however. you and / will
take a step backward for a moment-a
seven-league-boot step Of thir,y-three
years.
Now, you will bear In mind. II you
please, that on the morning Of the Cd
OF January. 1862, the old Theatre was
destroyed by fire, and that on the 9th
OF March the contract for rebuilding
was signed. You will remember, too,
that In many quarters the enterprise
was regarded as preposterous II not pro-
fame; that the sceptical, as usual, freely
aired their doubts, that the Church put
forth Its thunders. and the war Get about
some barriers; you will also remember
that In eleven months and two days
after the sealing Of the contract the new
Theatre. fashioned after an English
MODEL, and formed Of southern materials,
ana none other. from. the brick Of its
foundation 10 the tinsel OF It's inner
walls, stood open 70 the public.
Here we are. then, on the eth o. Feb
ruary, 1863, IN the current OF the jost-
Inns crowd, crossing seventh street on
Broad The wind ~. keen edge, but
the night is beautif Pee sky is clear
and the etars spark The pagans, you
Observe. are often fa,, ed by the stars.
but for once there l. no need OF them
the entire house was sold three days
ago. When did you see crowd like
this7 Press forward and take II easy.
Hero at the entrance the throng grows
denser; keep cool and keep your hand
on your watch, for the thieves, 1 confess,
are numerous nowadays and watches of
both kinds are scarce.
BY one step only--the old house you
know, had several-we reach the main
lobby, In the centre Of which the box
Office fronts us--!t will drift TO the left
in the future. Through two doors, one
on each side OF the Office the people pass
into the wide and wel-lighted corridor
opening into the parQuet. We do not
enter that way. Outside here, parted by
the breadth OF the yestibule two half
circling flights OF stairs lead TO the story
above. We take the right-hand flight
Thanks, we are out OF the pressure
with no ribs broken. just where the
steps end on this second floor, the parlor
lobby begins. 1t is elegant. oblong in
form, spacious. IL is set of and furnish
ed with silk-cushiOned diVans and luxu-
rious settees, with curtains OF lace and
damask. with the glow OF bronze on the
walls with mirrors and chandeliers and
pictures and with shapely figures mo-
deled by petri--al.ogether charming
place IN which 10 stretch your legs or 10
lounge between the acts
But We lose time lingering now. Come.
Slip into the dress circle and let me ind
your seat. The ushers. poor devils. are
worked 10 death. Here the atmosphere
" oppressively warm and here II IS some
what shadowy. too. perfumed family.
hlled with the hum OF hundreds OF voices.
But In a twinkle the lights go up and
then comes a storm Of applause COM
pliment TO tho house.
BEAUTIFUL INTERIOR EFFECTS.
About US are clusters Of lovely women
costumed prettily, groups OF men, nota-
bic in civic life. and hosts OF cavaliers
and troopers OF rank. in gray OF course,
with touches Of gllt-braid sashed and
selted. and some--some have still their
changing spurs on-they are ready for the
moments buge-call OF the beat OF the
drum.
There may be fighting tomorrow but
tonight Is a festival night. Everybody is
looking everywhere and saying extrava-
CANT things OF the fine things they see
agree with you that the designers had
sly eyes for splendid effects. and the
lavish but harmonious use OF color. You
observe the ornamental panels beneath
the boxes. the doors In each wing giving
access TO the stage when the curtains
are down. you observe the symmetrical
curves OF the surrounding upper tiers.
sustained by white pillars. with raised
lines and leaves encrusted with crystal.
and brilliant scroll-work Of the balustrade
OF the four loges and OF the principal
balcony, unselled with gold-ieaf, inter-