The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-06-10

sDiavolo' and "Chimes of Normandy
The first week ofathe summer season at
the Academy has been replete with sur
prises When the announcements were
first made and up until the opening per-
Torrance, very few. II any of the city,s
theatre-soers believed the enterprise wor-a
thy of very extensive consideration, but
public incredibly gave place to public en-
thusiasm during and since the initial ap-
pearance of the Giffen Company. Those
who have visited the Academy during the
week have found a company made up OF
talented people throughout, an organza-
ton far better than the majority seen
here during the regular season
Commencing tomorrow evening. and
continuing throughout the week, with the
exception of Thursday evening, the COM
pany will present for the first time here
"a Social Highwayman,' d play in every
respect worthy successor OF The WIFE.
Dramatized from the novel of the same
name, originally for Richard Mansfield.
the play was produced by e. NJ. and Jo
seph Holland at the beginning Of their
starring tour under Mr. Mansteld's man
agement some three years ago. Probably
no play that was ever produced in New
York received a more unanimous or hear
ty verdict of approval.
1t at once sprang into prominent place
among stock company plays, and since
then has been a favorite bill.
"a Social Highwayman'' is distinctly
original. and it is play that once seen
is certain to be long remembered. 1t is
one of the good plays promised in the
advance notices of the company. and We're
it not for the present engagement it Is
highly improbable that it would ever have
been seen here How much those who en-
joy play in which the interest never
flags for moment would have missed.
-, fnr "a
week.
The role of Courtice Jaffrey, tue title
part will be in the hands OF w. II. Pas
coe. who won his spurs as the leading
man of the company by his fine perform
ance of Senator Rutherford, in THE
Wife" while Alexander Kearney, who
also scored SO strongly as Mathew Gull
Yer in the first play, will have the good
fortune to appear in one of the best parts
ever written in any play, that of Jen-
kins Handy. Jaffrey's valet. This splen-
did part was originally played by E.
NJ. Holland, one of the finest actors OF
which the American stage can boast.
John A. Holland. an old man last week.
will be young man this week. appearing
as Merton Harley, falsely accused Of some
Of the work for which Jaffrey has been
responsible. Charles B. Hawkins. as Des-
pard an artist: Herbert Carr as Gordon
Key: and Frederic L. Powers as Liv-
ingston Renson, will have rather limited
opportunities. but they can be depended
upon to make the most of them. Miss
Fitz Allen. as Sonora Caprices, will be
cast in a role similar to those in which
she has achieved her greatest successes.
Miss Winthrop will appear as Mrs. Mum
yon Pyle. Miss Wilcox as the Duchess of
5Clayborough, and Miss Scott Elinor
Burnhanl Miss Scott will also portray
Dora La Fargo, maid to Sonora Caprices.
Miss Helen. Reimer. who makes her first
appearance with the company, will enact
the important role of Mrs. Deane, spir-
itualistic medium. The production will be
even more elaborate than that given 1.-THE
Wife" 81
Matinees will be given Wednesday and
Saturday at bargain prices. An ingenious
arrangement, consisting Of electric fans
placed behind huge blocks Of ice, renders
the theatre surprisingly cool and comfort
able.
Ada Retlans season as a star has turn
ed out to be Unexpectedly successful-that
is to say, while everybody thought she
would do some business, very few believed
she would crowd the houses wherever she
went. But she did it just the same. In
short, she proved to be a great fayorite.
and as she had doubted her own power in
this respect it proved to be the more
welcome. Now she Will become one OF the
regular stars of the season and will, like
Goodwin and others, go and spend in
dear. old London the good money she
makes in America.
In an interview in London, Madame
Calve makes the announcement that after
next year she viii leave the grand opera
and devote the rest OF her career to the
dramatic stage. The change will involve
a considerable pecuniary sacrifice, for
Calves singer nrOh1hlV
average a quarter Of a million dollars a
year. But she is a comparatively rich
woman, and the artistic qualification that
the new career will mean is likely to
prove compensatory.
rip Van Winkie' has just been given
in the form of a spectacular at the Carte,
in Paris.
Edmond Rostands next play will be
written for Sarah Bernhard, but will not
provide for her another male character.
The action passes in Rome. under the rule
of Nero. A young Christian girl gives her
self to the Emperor to save her lover from
death. But the tyrant does not keep his
word and determines that his old rival
shall, with an old Bishop, be given to the
lions. The girl throws herself from the
royal box between her lover ard the
beasts, but in vain She and he are torn
by the beasts and die in the arena to the
last blessing OIL Inc WOUNDED BlSnOp-
The theatre has improved as rapidly
as the world about it and, though d.
vorces may be frequent among the play
ers Of the present, still we have among its
female representatives such women as
Mrs. Fisse, Mrs. Kendall Nine. Modjeska,
Julia Arthur, Fanny Rice, Viola Allen,
Mary Mannering. Julie Opp, Ef1ie Shan
non, Isabella Irving, Lizzie Hudson, Col
l!er Grace Filkins and scores of others
who might be mentioned. whose lives are
as pure and as far beyond reproachS as
those Off the best wives. mothers and
daughters of this or any other day. Nor
can it be said that the majority of the
women of the stage VINO have been COM
PEELED to air their grievances in the di-
vorce courts are unworthy recognition iii
honest homes When the divorce court
is a place that cannot be avoided, it is
just as we'll to remember that the women
OF our stage find company there from
the most exclusive society circles every
day in the weak.-Montgomery Phister in
Cincinnati Commercial Tribune.
Victory Batemen is to appear in vaude-
vile.