The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-03-11
AUTHOR OF LORD BYRON"
Miss Johnson Will Assist in Its Pre-
sentation Tuesday Night.

Miss Rida Louise Johnson, authoress
Lord Byron" the new play that is u
be presented here Tuesday night, is II
the city. She is stopping at the Yarpor
ough, and will be in Raleigh until Wed
nesday morning.
Miss Johnson is a young lady OF genius
and great beauty. She has written man!
fine things that have given her place
in the literary world.
OF these Lord Byron is the most am
bilious and the most successful. Mis-:
Johnson is not only gifted writer bu
an actress of great power She Will as
sist Mr.. Young in the production of Lore
Byron here.
The presentation of the new play here
will be a notable theatrical event.
Miss Johnsons play of Lord Byron" is an
Interesting and dramatic one, with its picture OF
life in the Nineteenth century, and it is
remarkable among many things for its originali-
ty OF invention and grace of expression, its
heeh m Se ana bng ePgrams
OF the charmed circle in which the poet lived.
1t has a powerful and captivating story of the
poets life, in which there is continuity of action
and a succession of striking climaxes, the whole
being encompassed with a most elaborate set
ting. Two acts are laid in England, in the at
mosphere of the Byronese influence and two
all classes of people. 1t contains comedy, TO-
nance, music, poetry, thrilling incident in the
revolt of the Greek soldiery, intrigue and a
conspiracy.
The musical features of the play are particular
ly attractive. They full of character and his
torical significance. The relation of the music
to the play, indeed, will the purpose OF in
struction. The charming old ballads that were in
vogue in Byrons day have been revived, and the
old English waits will supply one of the strik-
ing features of the scene which portrays the
house, which is so dramatically interrupted by
Lady Byron and ends with the duel between Lord
Byron and Sir Charles Lamb Among the old
favorite compositions that will be heard in
Athens Farewell My Native Shore loft
in the Silly Night, and others. These, togeth-
er with beautiful serenade, will be sung by a
quartette of trained voices, led by Eduard Won
Berggrun, of Vienna.
All this makes a pretty play, and it de-
mands actors of peculiar qualifications, and a
treatment as picturesque, as full OF spirit, as
sentimental as the story, and it must be con-
fessed that Mr.. James Young has succeeded IN
giving it that spirit. Everything that stage
management could do for it has been done. The
setting is in every way artistic. 1t is to some
extent success OF spectacle. From beginning
to end the stage is blaze of perfectly harmon
lied color, and the period to which the play be-
longs and the fact that two scenes are laid In
Mayfair London, and two in Greece-whither
Byron went to fight for the freedom of the
Greeks-gives great scope for costumlng, Whlch
Mr.. Young has not neglected to seize. In swell
ing stage crowds in dazzling richness and varie-
ty of costume, in glowing beauty of scenery, IN
every sort of equipment of brilliant picture on
brilliant picture sumptuous scene on sumptuous
scene, the play Lord Byron" certainly excels
Lavish in his scenic outlay, Mr.. James Young
has not stinted the piece in the quality of the
company. In principals the company is very
strongly composed, and the minor members, the
throng of auxiliaries, all show in their degrees
the high general capacity that makes the per-
Torrance one of the most noteworthy
The cast is long one and includes many names
that will fall familiarly on the ears of those
who keep in touch with the affairs of the stage.