The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-12-31
THE ACADEMY ATTRACTIONS.

When ''The Secretary Company was
here last it rained in torrents and pre-.
vented the theatre goers from seeing n
good performance, aud we feel sure all
lovers Of the legitimate, wholesome
comedy will be delighted to know it will
return
When II play runs for fourteen years
and each season continues to meet with
success, there must necessarily be great
deal of merit attached to it. Such is
the proud position he,G by '"rhe Private
Secretary which comes to the Academy
tomorrow night.
This great comedy" says the st
Louis Globc-Democrat, 'seems destined
to amuse for many II year yet, and last
night the ludicrous situations seemed
just rs funny as they did when the poor
Secretary, Il long time ago it is now,
first came meekly before the audience,
with his goloshes and his 'nourishment'
and his goods and chattlcs. Like wine,
"rhe Private Secretary improves with
age, and this season Mr.. Edwin Travcrs,
who has long been identified with the
play, has not only engaged splendid
company, but has entirely revised the
piece and considerably improved it by in.
Producing many new and novel musical
numbers rs IL special feature.
EAST LYNNE" - Eugene Blair
comes to the Academy OF Music next
Monday night, january 4. There always
comes Il time when the public, tired of
new effects, new expenses. and new plays
looks backward through it's memories
and calls FOR by-gonc fancieS, for old sen
sations, half forgotten, ana to such, and
to such the revival of East Lynne II
wei! remembered and popular play
comes with refreshing sense of old time
pleasure when we wcpt and thrilled
over the beautiful but unhappy life Of
''Isubel Naue.'
When Mrs. Henry Wood wrote "East
Lynne" she did u good and lasting
thing. 1t has been taken ever since rs IL
lasting type to study, and steer ones
power and success by, as an actress, and
great artists have made it their test
part before now. To none has been given
any greater qualifications for the part
than to Eugene Blair, the always popu.
lar and successful young actress who
needs no new introduction to the public,
but who in this new venture, will surely
win fresh laurcls, and succeed to the
place of those older by-gonc favoritcs, in
the hearts of the American public. !; :
Born III the warm, rich climate of the
South, Eugene Blair has inherited from
it fervor and passion, which makes hcI
conquest easy in this new role. and with
beauty and charm of manner she viii
find it an advantage over the greatest
, emotional actress the American stage
has ever seen in the same character
Her husband, Mr.. Robert Downing, is
directing the company, and the leadirl
man, Mr.. Edwin Ferry, will prove il sue
cessful support, and the stage of to-day
will be greatly benefited by the proluc
ton and revival of one of the play,
which, twenty years ago, swas Il univer
sal favoritc.
Eugene Blair knows how to adorn
character with beautiful and efrectiv
costumes, her skill and taste as NO
man aiding her ability as an actress
and making her in more ways than one
true artist.
The company is one which deserve
success, and under the direction of til
| popular actor Mr.. Robert Downing, i
will surely win applause, and brinl
upon itself the gratitude of the theatr
! loving people for calling up again thos
| old memories