Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-31
THEATRIcALs At BLESHEIM.
The Duchess OF Marlborough Makes
a Hit.

restoration fund of st. Mary's church,
Woodstock, three performances, consist
ing OF tableaux and theatricals, have
been given at Blenheim palace-last night,
by invitation. to the tenants OF the Duke
Of Marlborough on the estate; this ar
ternoon for the county families IN the
neighborhood. at half guinea seat,
and tonight for the gentry, who paid
crown. Special trains were run from Ok
ford. and the audiences were large. par
tlcularly tonight.
The entertainments were given in the
long library OF the palace. The heavily
moulded white ceiling, brightly lit elec-
tricalIy. the long rows of reddraped book
cases, and the silver-piped organ, made
a fine setting for the weil-dressed crowd
The stage, draped with red silk curtains,
was erected at the western end.
The performance opened with an organ
overture by Professor Perkins, OF Dir
mingham, who composed the music for
the musical burlesque with which II
closed. The participants in the perform
ance were the Duke and Duchess OF Mari-
borough, Lady Lillian and Lady Nora
Spencer Churchill. Lady Randolph
Churchill, Lady Blandford, Lady Curzon,
and Lady Sarah Wilson, and Lord Ches-
terfield, Lord Curzon, the Hon. Mrs.
Bourke; Mr.. Henry White. secretary 10
the United States Embassy, and Mrs.
White; Mrs. Henry Miner. and Mr.. j.
Churchill.
THE TABLEAUX.
The. Duke of Marlborough appeared In
two tableaux as Louis Nv. with the
Duchess as a lady of his court.
Both dressed the parts splendidly,
the Duchess being very handsome. Lady
Randolph Churchill. in a most superb
costume. appeared as the Empress Theo-
dora. Ii was the same dress she wore
at the bali of the Duchess of Devonshlre.
Mr. and Mrs. White appeared In tap-
leau entitled "The Eve of st. Barthoio-
news" Mr.. White as the Duke OF Guise'
The tabIe.iux won the heartiest APP
plause. In the last one OF them Lord
Curzon appeared as Lord Nelson, the
audience joining in singing Rule, Britain
MA"
A two-act musical burlesque brought
the performance TO a conclusion. Its
librettist is Ian Malcolm, Conservative
member of Parliament for Sunolk and
one of Lord Salisbury's private secre-
taries. 1t is a feeble piece, with no plo'
10 sneak of, but with some smart lines
and songs.
The characters were sustained by the
Duke of Marlborough, made up to rep
resent Uncle Sam; the Duchess OF MARI
borough as the Countess or hlonuike
Lady Randolph Churchill in the role oi
a woman reporter, j. Churchill as emma
man. and Lord Churchill, Ladies Dlllar
and Nora Spencer Churchill, and Hon
Algernon Bourke in minor parts.
the piece contained many illusions t'
| Arthur Balfour, Cecil Rhodes. Sims
| Reeves. Beerbohm Tree. Mr.. Gladstone
Emperor william, and others
SOME OF THE SONGS.
The following is a sample verse of tn'
song of Lady Randolph Churchill:
| "No subjects too private for me;
ia fan on duchess at tea,
The felon in Jail,
| The millionaires mail;
They're matter and money for me-"
Hero, are verses froTS the song of TN
Duchess:
"Of course ] saw the jubilee,
1t was a firing function;
7 saw the Queen, the Queen saw me,
And bowed with special JUNCTION.
estate concerts, operas, and plays,
Innumerable, pleased me;
intermingled nights with days.
Until the megrims seized me.
CHORUS.
81 am so tired;
| Terribly, awfully tired.
think l shall die,
don't know why
Except that am tired
This she sang prettiIy in sweet smai
voice. She was charmingiy dressed ant
radiant. and achieved great success.
Lady Randolph Churchill showed won
derful vivacity, and made hit.
The artistic success OF the puriesque
which Is entitled IAN Idle Hour, wa
achieved by Hon. Algernon BoutKe
Boots. his capital song achieving tripl
| encore. ..,
Tbe whole affair was very successrul
| and netted a considerable sum for IN
charity.