Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-27
PLAYS OF THE WEEK.
TIE HEART OF MARYLAND AND
NEGRO MINsTRELs.
LLDAUGFS STOCK COMPANY COMING.
THIS Splendid Organization to Play
n -Four Days Engagement Hero
Early In December-Gosrip of the
stsxe-Nced n New Theatre.


formances will be given at the Academy
during the current week. the offerings
being "The Heart OF Maryland" on Mon
day and Tuesday. with matinee the lat
ter day. and Richard & Prlngle's Min
strels "Wednesday afternoon and night.
In the past two years much has been
heard Of David Belasco's romantic drama,
THE Heart of Maryland" 1t was first
produced In Washington in 1896. and be-
came an immediate and unqualified suc-
cess, and since has met with the most
profitable welcome wherever presented.
i had a run Of 900 nights in New York.
five weeks In Boston, eight weeks In Chi
cage, and six weeks In Philadelphia. and
recently, during the past spring and sum-
mer, closed its season with q successful
engagement of 100 nights at the Adelphi
Theatre, London. England. So great was
its popular and artistic triumph there
that terms were at once arranged by the
leading managers OF the principal cities
on the Continent, and SO at the present
time II 10 being played simultaneously In
Germany, France, and Austria. and with
in tho present month 1t Is announced for
production IN Melbourne Australia, CAL
cutta, India, and in St. Petersburg. Rus
STA.
The author has woven story which Is
instinct with vitality. well proportioned
IN form, and, above all, which appeals to
our common nature. The action taking
place during our civil conflict, and though
the scenes are all associated with the
tented field, there is no attempt to pic-
a 81 n
The story is not SO much one Of war as
OF love, devotion, hatred, and patriotism
The characters are true to life, the most
insignificant of them has distinct fndi-
viduality and the result is work which
appeals TO the fancy and imagination, sp5
yet touches some Of the tenderest enc
tens.
The plot in brief is as follows: The hero
ire. Maryland Calvert. whose sympa
th!es and home ties are with the South
owes northern colonel, who Is tbe &C?
Of a southern general To save HIN from
death she bejrays to him military Sc
cret Of tho Confederacy. Her brother,
aorthern spy, is shot while trying 10
escape with important documents, and
her lover, who has penetrated the Con
federate lines to see her, is arrested ano
held as a probable accomplish Of the
dead man. His adversary, who Is the
Confederate officer commanding, deter
mines to have him shot. In the presence
of the manacled prisoner no insults
Maryland when she seizes bayonei
and strikes him down. She then frees her
lover, who escapes. The order Is given
for the ringing Of tho tower bell as
warning of a prisoners escape. Maryland,
to prevent the bell from ringing, PUSHES
up into the belfry, seizes the clapper' and
swing to and fro as the bell rope Is pull
ed from below. and the lovers lie Is
saved The eliminating points OF the
first three acts are Of unusual strength
and the fourth act untsngles the oifhcul-
ties and unites the lovers.
The cast is said TO be an excellent one
and among It's number includes Alma
Kruger, we'll known here as Louis
Jamess leading lady.
Richards e. Pringle's minstrel organiza-
ton is composed Of colored performers.
They were seen here last season, and
gave an excellent performance. Billy Ker-
sands Is the head liner with the organl-
cation, and his work is remembered
The programme promised will be on the
old-time minstrel order, In which there
will be no lack OF sweet southern m'lo
DIES; dances, such as only the Geor8ii
plantation darby can execute. and joke
which II Is e. easy for him to get OF
In a laugh provoking manner, as 1t Is for
him TO eat the luscious watermelons thai
grow In his native STATE.
The organization will give MONDAY
street parade in which nearly nifty mem
bers will participate.
It is not an exaggeration TO say that
one OF the most important dramatic
eVonts that have taken place In Rich
mond for como time Will be the engage
nent at the Academy. commencing or
Monday, December 9Th, and containing
on Thursday. Friday. and Saturday, De
cenlber Sh, eth, and 10th, OF Al
baugh's Lyceum Theatre Stock Com
psny, OF Baltimore. The organiZa-
ton is Acknowledged to be the
company par excellence Of sIts bind
In America to-day When the ultra con
servatism OF our Baltimore neighbors Is
realized, and the statement made that
Mr.. Albaughs company Is now in Its Sc
oond season IN the Monumental City, the
oalibre OF the company which holds such
an exclusive clientele will be appreciated.
This IS the first appearance of the Ly-
ceum suck Company away from Its home
theatre, in itself q compliment TO Rich
moad and the enterprise OF Mr.. Leath,
who was most liberal in his Inducements
TO get Mr.. Albaugh to come here In
Baltimore the ladies and gentlemen OF
the company are held in highest esteem
socially as well as professionally, and
they will, do doubt be received with open
arms by our own people, to whom they
come with the highest Endorsement for
their abilities as dramatic artists, and
letters of introduction from the exclu-
sive circles OF the Monumental city
Mr.. Albaugh promises that the plays 10
be given in Richmond will be presented
with all the scenery, accessories, and
properties as at the home theatre. The
repertoire for Richmond is as follows:
Monday and Friday evening and Satur-
day matinee. William r. Cranes great
est comedy success, ''The Senator;
Thursday evening, THE Ironmaster,"
considered by many to be Mr.. and Mrs.
Kendals masterpiece, and the engage.
nent closes on Saturday night with an
adequate production of Ouida's Moths"
The sale Of seats commences at the Acad-
e~iy on Thursday, December 1st, at A.
III.
Big amateur productions always have
the effect OF giving Squire Lonnie Graves
and his assistants an attack of nervous
prostration. And II is no wonder that
such should be the case. The Dispatch
critic was on the Age last Wednesday
when the tableaux S.ere presented. He
enjoyed the entertainment very much.
and why shouldn't he? Among the par
Elephants were some OF the very prettiest
girls OF Richmond. Many of them didn't
need the tinsel wings TO show that they
were angels" But when the scribe saw
poor Squire Graves. sport Fisher" ''Big
Ben" Lowry. and Charley Van. trying
70 make order out of choas, as they ran
here and there. obeying one order. only
70 have II countermanded the next b.