The record-union., 1897-04-19
AMUSE MENTS.

AL the metropolitan Iheater this
evening Mr.. and Mrs. Russ Whytal, in
the new play by Mr.. Whytal entitled
For Fair Virginia. The piece has
had a great success, and everywhere
has had the commentator of the crit
les and the theater-goers. The San
Francisco Bulletin" said Of it re-
Gently:
Russ Whytars romantic war drama
For Fair Virginia. at the Columbia,
drew a goodly number of people. 1t is
Illustrative all through Of the horrors
of internecine war; but, at the same
| time, the treatment of the subject is
unhackneyed, and, in fact, very novel
in many of its features One of the
strongest scenes of the play is that at
the end of the first act, where Edward
Esmond (Farreu), "a Southern Yankee
married to a Virginia girl Miss Mabel
BerD, feels it his duty to forsake his
wife and boy to fight on the side of
the Union. The fiery words of the
Southern wife, as she rends the ties
between them, and dedicateS her brok
en- life and lacerated heart to Fair
Virginia are characteristic, and thrilled
ones heart by the idea of the deep,
but hopeless patriotism they conveyed.
The scene was intensified by the part
ing of EsmOnd from his infant son, Jul
Ian Miss Lottie Briscoe). She is Won
derful as a boy in her naturalness, this
little Lottie. Mr.. Whytal has the role
of John Laughlin, a Southerner by
adoption, and played it with an energy
of purpose on the side of the Confed-
eracy that gave strength to the say
ing: Converts to any cause are gen
orally more ardent than those who are
dyed in the WOOL John Woodward. as
Uncle Zeb, the essence of or Virginny,'
was very much in evidence all through
the play mad gave a perfect idea of the
faithful old servant willing to go to the
death for those whom he loves. Mrs.
Whytal played Nell Esmond Yankee
girl, and was well placed. The play is
full of strong scenes-the episode of the
spy, with which it winds up, is one of
these"
The company carries a complete
scenic outfit and mounts the play with
particular regard to details and general
effectiveness. The story of the play in
wolves the trial of wife and husband
parted because of the warning senti-
ments that separated South and North
in the hours of the rebellion. The
wife is Southern; the husband intense
ly Union. and a soldier besides. An old
lover of the wife taking advantage of
the quarrel and separation renews his
suit to the woman and is repulsed The
husband drawn back to his wife despite
their quarrel returns. bringing with him
his sister. to whom a Southern youth
is devotedly attached. and whose love
story threads delightfully."- through the
whole plot. An old plantation hand has
g leading part in the play. He over
hears matters not intended for his ears
and does heroic act. The husband
fails to effect reconciliation with his
wife and returns to the army In the
course of time the wife's old lover be-
comes a Confederate General and
chooses her house as his headquarters
Then begins plot and counterpart in
which the sister and boy of the absent
Union soldier, a Southern Colonel in
love with the sister and the old plan
tation hand play most important parts
The story is natural. not too talky. and
rot exaggeratedly sensational There
is no appeal to jingoism and nothing
that stir5 old sores. Yet we are told
that it is a story trimming with good
humor and the romantic, and that it is
in all respects an original and wholly
new creation.
Tomorrow evening, at Pythian
Castle. the Sacramento Camera Club
will open the second quarter of it's Sc
ries of lantern evenings. Subscribers
tickets for the quarter will be on sale
at the door. Each of these tickets rep
resents three admissions for each en-
tertainment, are transferable and cost
but trifle. The purpose Of the camera
club is to about meet expenses, and to
give the very highest form of photo
graphic lantern slide exhibition that is
possible for the education entertain
ment and entire satisfaction of the peo-
pie who aid in supporting the club.
The views to be shown tomorrow even
ing come from the exchange sets of the
Buffalo. n. Y, and Rockford Ill., cam
era clubs. The club hopes the attend
ance tomorrow evening will be suffi-
GENTLY large to constitute verdict in
confirmation of it's plan to add lectures
and music to each Of it's programmes.
end which, of course, means an added
expense.
At the Clunie Opera house this even
ing the Pearson Stock Company enters
upon the last week of its successful en-
gagement 1t will give tonight and
for the week the realistic melodrama,
The Police Patrol" In this play a
police patrol outfit is introduced, with
an example of the quick hitch of a
team to a patrol wagon. Mr. McAlpin
end Miss Dollie Foster will introduce
new specialties, and there will be much
new scenery. The piece is to be cast
to the full strength of the company,
and mounted with especial care to the
bringing out of all the striking situa-
lions with effectiveness.
Albert Marks, advance agent for Mrs
Annie Besant, lecturer, who is to APP
pear here May 21st, is in the city ar
r;,,cr for t.a+ Io+a