The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-04-05
GREAT EVENT
OF THE SEASON
Elaborate Preparations for "A Mid
summer Nights Dream"
THE MAGNIFICENT COSTUMES.
The Production Will be One of the
Most Elaborate Ever Presented In
This City - Special Music
Has Been Provided.
THE MAGNIFICENT COSTUMES.

The sale OF seats for "A Midsummer
Nights Dream" winch Is to be presented
at the Academy of Muse on MOheaJ
and Tuesday next under the auspices Vl
the Association for the Preservation Oi
Virginia Antiquities, will open at the box
Office on FRIDAY morning at O'Clock.
Applications Tor blocks OF seats nave
been received from Charles City, Peters
burg and many OF the surrounding towns.
number OF theatre parties have been
organized In this city. and there has been
strong run upon the six boxes for each
performance. There is every indication
that the audiences will fairly test the
capacity of the Academy.
ELABORATE PRODUCTION.
Preparations for the elaborate environ
ment OF the play are all complete. and
thore will be a dress rehearsal at the
Academy tonight. An effort has been
put forth 10 make this production the
most elaborate ever placed upon the
boards of a Richmond theatre by anna
tours. The costun es which have all been
made on purpose for the play. are very
picturesque. and some very beautiful et-
fects will be introduced to enhance the
scenic environment The attendants upon
Duke of Theseus' have been drawn
from the ranks OF the debutantes with
special view TO their personal charms and
social prominence, and the stage pictures
will be gorgeous and attractive to a very
eminent degree.
The cast numbers nearly 12g persons and
each member of II has been thoroughly
and carefully trained by Miss Nancy
Brooks, who has spent the last four
months i'm bringing them 20 a very high
state OF perfection. Those who have seen
the rehearsals believ, that the efficiency
OF the cast and the talent. that certain In
dvidual members display. will be an ab-
solute revelation TO the Richmond pubic.
There will be no stilted awkardness
and little. II any. OF that amateurishness,
which goes TO stamp 80 many undertake
ings OF the uninitiated
The stage groups have been made con-
stantly attractive. and the actors have
all been thoroughly drilled In the requis-
tie stage business The foriy-seven
fairies. who will appear IN the Woodland
scenes and dances. are models OF grace
and elegance. They have been most care
fully trained for this occasion by Miss
Mary Thaw.
SPECIAL MUSIC.
The orchestra IS 10 consist OF fourteen
pieces. and each member has already
had opportunities to make thorough
study OF the score. There will be re-
hearsal of the orchestra at the Academy
on Thursday morning and second re-
hearsal with full cast next Monday morn
inc az II o'clock
In no other one OF his work has Shake
speare more brilliantly shown that com
plete dominance Of theme which Is man
Tested I'm the perfect preservation OF pro-
portion The strands OF action are BRAID
ed with astonishing grace. The four
fold story is never allowed 10 lapse into
dulIness or obsourity. There Is caprice.
but no distortion The supernatural ma
chinerv Is never wrested toward the pro-
duction OF startling or monstrous effects.
but 1t defty impels each mortal person.
age In the natural line Of human develop
ment .
THE DREAM SPIRIT.
The dream-spirit Is maintained through
out and rerhaps n Is for that reason
that the poet was living. thinking. writing
I'm the free. untrameled world Of his
snacious and airy imagination, and not
IN any definite sphere OF this earth-that
"A Midsummer Nights Dream u radi-
collv superior 10 the other comedies writ
ton nv him at about the same period.
MS Genius overflows IN this piece. ana
tho rich excess Of It isrseen In passages
of exnttlsite poetry-such as the beauuiui
sneeches OF Titania and Oberon. In tne
second act-over against which Is set that
,riumph OF humor. that Immortal inter
ma NJ pyramus and Thishe when IL the
father NJ all the burlesques I'm our IAN
a,,ooe and which for freshness pun
,N,,cy NJ opposite satire. and general ap-
Ttcob,I;tv 10 the foible OF sef-loNe ~
,,,,,,ar nature and TO ignorance and folN
y, human affairs, might have been VIII
ten Yesterday.