Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-17
THE RICHMOND DIsPATCH-sUNDAY SEPTEMBER n. 1899
THE NEW ACADEMY
OLD PLAYHOUSE CONVERT .aTo
A MODEM ONE.
The OPENING TOMORROW HIGHT.
Warde, the Popular Trng-
cdian to christian the Theatre
Some of the Seasons Attractions
The Bijou improvements.

The Bijou improvements.
The Academy Of Music-practically a
new house--opens its doors tomorrow
evening for the season OK lse9-190o No
one will recognize I'm the beautiful in
terlor OF the playhouse, as it now IS. the
dingy walls OF the building, which, for so
many years. has served Richmond as
theatre. Indeed, the bricks compose the
only old material which has been retain
ed In the new Academy OF Music. The
walls OF the building alone were allowed
to stand. and in fact, these were added
TO in the portion OF the house occupied
| by the stage.
| The work Of the artisan and the artist
! has wrought wonderful change in the
appearance Of the interior OF the Acad-
envy. Handsome furnishings and decora-
| tiOns have added TO the effect, and when
the house is thrown open TO the public
| tomorrow, those who enter it will, no
| doubt, agree that an old theatre made
over is as good as a new one-at least
that is so In the case or Manager Leath's
house.
|
| needed a new theatre. Visitors to the
city who only stopped here for a short
time-nOt long enough to see the town
| often left with a very poor impress
sion of Richmond, simply because
three, probably, of the twenty-four hours
they remained in Virginias capital were
| spent in the building which served MS
| as playhouse. The writer VIII remem-
! bcrs a remark made to him last winter
BY stranger who was witnessing Lewis
irison's production OF Faust" The
| gentleman inquired III the Academy was
| Rchmond's best theatre. OF course, but
| one reply could be made TO the question.
The visitor smiled IN a manner that was
| sperating, and settled himself back
il his seat without a word.
no one. however. will have cause to be
| ashamed Of the Academy, as remodeled.
About $4,000 has been spent upon the
! building, and not a cent Of this sum has
| been thrown away. Those who have had
| charge of the work were men who knew
their business. and the result Of their
labor is shown in the handsome play
house which tomorrow evening is to be
| opened to the public.
Quite a happy selection was maze In se-
curing the opening attraction, for there
is probably no actor who is greater
tavorte here than Frederick Warde. Mr..
| Warde this season has surrounded him
self with an excellent company, which
! includes Mr.. and Mrs. Clarence NJ. Bruno,
Charles y. Herman, and Frank Hening.
| Henry Guy Cartoons Venetian romance,
| 1.-THE Lions Mouth" will be pre-
! scented tomorrow evening, and at the
! matinee Tuesday, while Mr.. Warde viii
be seen Tuesday night IN "Virginius."
Tho mounting Of all the plays included
in Mr.. Warde's repertoire this season is
said to be superb. Especially is this
so of The Lions Mouth" Mr.. Warde
| has presented this play here before, but
this season he is said to have provided
himself with newly constructed scenery,
ana all the accessories which go to make
up a stage production far SURPRISING
the ordinary.
1.-THE Mysterious Mr. Bugle" farce
comedy that has only been before the
public a short time, will hold the boards
at the Academy Friday and Saturday,
with matinee the latter day. The farce
is said TO be 4 bright and wholesome
bit Of nonsense. The complications, sufi
GENTLY absurd IN themselves, are de-
vsed with no little ingenuity, and several
of the situations growing out of them arc
treated in the spirit of light comedy
rather than OF broad farce. The piece j
! one OF those IN which everything and
everybody get hopelessly mixed up, and
remain in this condition until matters
are dexterously Strengthened out in the
last act.
Among the early bookings at the Acad
envy this season are 1.-THE Jolly
Rovers; Charles Coghlan; The Turtle
Because She Loved Him So Lewis Nor
rison: Sidewalks of New York; Darkest
T1rcefas T2arfa COOtp. lanes * id0er- Ha n
ford Combination; Sporting Duchess
Shore Acres Otis Skinner; Nat Good
win. Sousa, Stuart Robson, Willie Col
lier. The Christian. Ward q Nokes, Ly
ceum stock Company. A Texas Steer
Olympia Opera Company, Denmar
Thompson, and Roland Reed.
The Packard Opera Company returns
tomorrow to the Auditorium for 4 two
weeks engagement. Pinaforc Will D
the bill Monday and Tuesday evenings
and Wednesday matinee; The bohemian
Girl will be sung Wednesday an'
Thursday, and on Friday and Saturday
Erminie will be given. During the Sc
cond week Of the company's engagement
here the bill will he changed each night
This organization made an excellent I'm
preston during its recent engagement
here.
The Bijou is undergoing extensive re
| pairs. which, when completed, Will mate
rally change the appearance Of the IN
terror Of the house. Manager Wells
COSY house of vaudeville will open Mon
day. September 18th. No doubt the man
; agement will secure an excellent bill wit
which to usher in the second season o
his house. bhUOH'