Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-09
TIE KIRMESS AGAIN.
yae katInea Performance Yesterday
We'll Attended and PfOYd a Success
c,I,,psrs BEHIND THE SCENES.
Row The HANGERS "Make-Up' BEFORE
Going On-DirccfOr hnc"on"i
txent pusv About the Wings-so"c
Amusing incidents Occur

sark.halrcd girls Of Italy. and Laughing
Indian maldons, assembled on inc s'dse
,f tbo Academy yesterday afternoon, and
win All the rest OF the merry Tube, pre-
,or,ed the "Danccs OF the Nations"
rho ,,rmess matinee WIS FOR the benefit
~ the chldren's ward OF The Retreat
for the sick. ana the Academy was COM
forfsbly filed with an enthusiastic au-
6icnce that awaited themselves Of the last
onportlnity 90 witness the beautiful spec
ta,le within the space Of three hours
was crowded q bewildering succession Of
enchanting scenes, and the spectator was
carried .n rapid fights from the snow
capped mountains Of Sweden TO the sunny
nnd Of Italy. and thence 10 the nowery
kingdom of his Ighness. The Emperor
oi Japan.
GLAD TO MEET AGAIN.
And how they all seemed to enjoy meet
ing once more. and what chatter there
was behind the curtain. II was a sort OF
reunion, though instead Of years having
elapsed since last they met only a few
dsys had passed But where hearts are
ykng days sometimes are counted
tur.aque gathering OF "lore.gucr5' such
socIable one was that they all SPOKE
tho English language huenty. and there
WAS no need for an interpreter
The performance went or very
smoothly. and the orchestra OF me house
rendered the music which was "a decidcd
improvement over the arrangement last
week. Tor Professor Stc.n ana his men
knew their business" and there were
amy fault on their part
There were some changes I'm the cast
Miss Annie Mcclure being the queen OF
the kirmees." while Miss Fannie Nc
CURE posed as columbia Mrs. Lucie
WormcIcy again was the beautiful Dana
Goddess Of The chase. while Miss Nina
Randolph was Che Indian Princess, and
mr. Henry Valentine again smoked his
PIPE. and "fel asleep and the curtain
was ruug down. leaving him in front,
while the orchestra played the lively
strains Of "DX'e.'
One OF the features Of the performance
was the fancy dance executed boy Miss
Lilly Wfe. which was most gracefully
zone. and had not the programme been
such n lengthy one Mir. mcdonnell would
have requested her to repeat the dance
i1 answer 90 the storm of applause with
which her number was received.
After the grand march the following
dances were presented in the order
named. Highland fling by Miss Mary
rhaw's pupils. Greek cymbal dance
tambOurine dance, Swedish Christmas-Eve
festival dance Tiupu quadrllo and
japanese Satsuma ShInto court dance.
German North Country Harvest dance,
fancy dance by Miss Lily Wise. English
Mayfesuval dance, Spanish wedding
dance. and Indian Moon dance and ghost
dance By Indian braves.
In the japanese dance and the Spanish
wedding dance Mr. Macd0nnol took part.
owing to the absence OF two Of the par
Elephants. and the director of the Hirmess
was grace itself.
AS SEEN on THE STAGE.
Nearly every one has seen the Kirmess |
form 30 front Of the foouighis, but be- |
sides the participants thems yes very |
few know what took place behind the /
scenes during the hour before time for /
curtain" But on each evening. when /.
the house was "flline up' with the fash /
ionabie audience that mighty witnessed |
the entertainments. interesting scenes /
were being enacted behind the curtain. |
OF course. every one knows that the |
dancers came 20 the playhouse IN their /
costumes, but TO them the most difficult |
tlsk had yet TO be performed before they /
were ready 20 go on" and stand IN the |
glare OF the calcium-lght, and subject /
themselves TO the gaze Of a critical au-
dience.
NIAKING-UP.
woman's face without touch OF /
rouge on her cheeks would look almost |
ghastly-white beneath the powerful lights
Of the stage. And so, therefore. our beau
t.ful women found that before they step /
ped before the footlights IN the Kirmess /
20 was necessary TO resort 10 the methods
Il .N Inv no 81 ION I'm {
make their appearance with the roses
in their cheeks" They were not there 10
represent statuary, and so it was a case
or necessity that artificial means must be
rosorted 20. But Il was not overdone
There were several gentlemen behind the
stage who with the most delicate and
skilful touch. applied the rouge TO the |
faces upturnel 10 them. The makeup
OF the japanese required as much skin.
or more. than that OF any other partici-
pants IN the Kirmess with them the
eyes had 20 be carefully "llned." the
Monaghan" applied until their faces had
attained the hue of the a.mond-eyed rice
eaters, and the wigs adjusted carefully.
But when they were ready TO go on they
might have been members OF the "Aiika-
do or Little Tycoon" and have done
credit 20 those opera companies so far as
their appearance was concerned.
BEHIND THE SCENES.
There were many picturesque groups
behind the scenes. and the representa-
t.ves OF the various nationaities stood
upon no formality whatever. but con-
Versed with each other In the most
friendly manner. whether haiiine from
sunny Italy or the land Of Pharaoh. Ger
man peasants chatted with fair Greclans.
Spanish cavaliers whispered "airv no
things" I'm the ears OF japanese court
ladies. Indian warriors. with folded arms.
gravely talked TO the beautiful Nile
worshippers and gypsy girls and Indian
maidens. both Children OF the forest"
mingled with each other. and made the
stage ring with their merry laughter
Ii always took several minutes for
Director Macdonnell 20 get the dancers
in their proper positions for the grand
opening tableau and march. on the first
evening OF the performance Il IS needless
TO say that many Of the dancers were
suffering badly from "stage fright"
Some OF them would not have acknowl-
edged 70 for the world. while
others were in such a state that they
were glad 10 confide in some one Many
OF them, OF course. had appeared before
the fooulghts In various amateur enter
tainments. while others were making
their first bow TO an audience.
4 SERIOUS PEASANT.
Mr.. Macdonnei was always al hand
ready 20 prompt those who got ratified"
why don't YOU cry?" he asked one Of
tho North Country German dancers. who
was looking almost too solemn for the
occasion. THAT fellow thinks he Is
driving a hCarse." he continued.