Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-27
PLAYS FOR THE WEEK
ACADEMY OPEN EVERY NIGHT, AND
THREE MATINEEs BILLED.
DIGBY BELLS The HOOSIER DOCTOR.
The Popular Comedian in His New
P1ay-stuart Robson to Present The
Friend from India.

| Atchu rum inulHs
| Digby Bell, popular -)median in this
city, will begin an engagement OF two
nights and a matinee at the Academy OF
Music tomorrow evening, presenting for
the first time in this city his latest and
accredited greatest triumph, "The Hoosier
Doctor" Augustus Thomas's new do
nestle comedy drama, which is said to be
fitting companion-piece for Alabama"
and I'm Mizzoura," Mr.. Thomas'5 pre-
ceding successes.
The title-role which Mr.. Bell imperso-
mates is reputed to combine pathos end
comedy, as well as those pretty heart
touches which make the whole world
kim" all Of which Mr.. Bell is said to have
absorbed most thoroughly, and by his
artistic Interpretation of them surprised
his most ardent admirers and followers.
THE Hoosier Doctor" is a combination Of
self-sacriice, gentleness, and humor. He
is widower with three grown daughters
and mother-in-law, a spiteful terma-
CANT type of female, whose sole object in
everybody in general, and her son-in-law
in particular, and to in every way inter-
pose obstacles in his efforts to succeed in
life and properly provide for the comforts
Of the members of his family. The Doc
tors efforts in life have been exceedingly
checkered, until, as the comedy opens, he
has just succeeded in graduating at the
head of his class with honors as a medical
practitioner His mother-in-law's terma-
CANT qualities eventually become so I'M
bearabls that to secure the heart affec-
ton denied him at his own fireside, the
Doctor consummates a clandestine mar
riage with a particularly attractive widow,
and through the dual life led by him in
this secret marriage, and the hours pass
ed with his wife, whom he represents as
a patient named Robinson, many contre-
temps arise, and the particular comedy
scenes Of the play are developed, until
towards the finale, a self-constituted
white-capping committee, headed by his
mother-in-law, visit the Doctor and his
bride for the purpose of disciplining them
in approved white-capping fashion.
The organization supporting Mr.. Bell
contains the following well-known ladies
and gentlemen: Laura Joyce Bell, Mabel
Strickland, Margaret owen, and little
Ethel Vance, and the Messrs. Arthur
Hoops, Frank Monroe, Gage Clarke,
Harry 5. Robinson, and others.
my FRIEND FROM INDIA"
The original Smythe & Rice Comedy
Company, presenting My Friend From
India" begins a return engagement at
the Academy on Wednesday night, contin-
uing with two performances on Thursday
The company is the same that appeared
at the Academy on last New-Year's Day,
at which time the capacity Of the theatre
was tested by the large audiences, and
the press of this city was fulsome In its
praise Of the merits of the comedy, and
the company.
After considerable correspondence,
Manager Leath offering special induce
ments, the owners of the play have con-
scented to present the comedy in this
CITY without any advance in the price OF
seats.
STUART ROBSON.
That eminent comedian, Mr.. Stuart
Robson. and his company, will appear at
the Academy next Friday night and
Saturday matinee in Augustus Thomas's
pastoral play, 1.-The Jucklins," suggested
by Opie Reads novel of the same title.
In the dramatization OF the novel Mr..
Thomas Is said TO have made the best
NAV Of his bright career, and Mr.. Robson
has found play more adapted to his art
than any he has ever produced since Ihe
Henrietta" was first seen.
The story of 1.-THE Jucklins," as the !
dramatist tells it, runs like this:
Nestled amongst the hills OF North |
Carolina Is the humble farm or LemueI |
.ncklin. around which the more homely |
incidents OF the play revolve In years |
gone by its owner, and later, the Gov |
Cfata COmUQnlOnS In |
youth. had concluded to waller one |
another. and In the heat Of combat |
the latter had departed from the rules |
of fair and square, and had struck the |
other with stone. From then his |
mind was not just exactly right, and
here is where the pathos and 1eelllgs |
of the play is best understood. come
10 an old age. the hale and hearty farmer /
has two grown and handsome children. |
THE scion of a rich and hard-hsted neigh |
nor a slayeholder and a hard master,
6nding the son of Jucklin in love with |
and loved by the daughter or the Gov
ernor, taunts him in her presence WIN
his fathers misfortune Unable 10 resent
II there. the challenge Is sent, and peins
delivered by the friend and lover OF the
other,s sister. is torn up in contempt The
hot southern blood cannot brook the In
s.,tt ana a moment later the traducer Is
ebot down from his horse, and the youth
delivers himself over 10 justice and TO
the old friend Of his father, the Sheriff.
The trial which follows the consic
tion because the murderer viii not tell
the nature of the insult, and the high
minded determination to die rather than
Ter his old fathers name be blackened
by such a public confession, form the
strong characteristics OF the tnlru act
ner that the insulter died from heart
trouble clears the cloud that separates
ALI OF those who yearn TO be united, and
the curtain goes down upon one Oh .ne
nnietest and most intense and feeling
climaxes that the art OF true playwrights
and actors could design.
ON Saturday night the comedian pre-
sents a revival OF '"rhe Henrietta, py
special request from number Oh ms au-
,,,,rers IN this city. In Mr. Robson's
company are John Webster, Jr, Joseph
p T{eefe. Thomas A Wise, Mrs. Robson