The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-11-01
s = 5 - (. $1,000
IT The Theatres.


II you have mind for plays Of ac-#
! leap from sheaths, Williams plot a maids
! undoing: where the shrll bugle calls:
| where clash OF arms and shouts of multi
tudes quicken the pulse beat. and cause
! you to hold your breath-why they are
all there in ..Arizona.'' But they are
employed with such skill and taste that
you find only in plays that possess the
literary quality. the one thing that makes
| a play really great or even worth sssl-5
ously considering, the quality that causes
such play as the one a the Academy
to be greeted with loose enthusiasm. ana
with will for nothing else but celeora-
ton Of its Sraces.
Put upon the stage as iH is. with
; scenic effects Of exquisite illusion, and
acted with intimate unde. standing ana
nice taste In some Of the salient roles,
, the pay becomes at anXiously sought
for pr.ze OF the theatre-a sensation.
Lest eatfus asm seems too headstronE,
or to put 1t frankly. lest criticism seem
not to know It's business, it IS necessary
to record that Arizona is by no means
4 perfect play. It wants that e5sent al
product of genius. originality. In theme.
IN episode. in decoration. it recalls. and
even repeats. several OF the classes of the
drama. The story of the colonel who
marries young and attractive Wife. who
Ing and d sSol,:te captain or the troop q
comes under the influence OF the design
commanded by her husband is not new;
nor is it g fresh Invention that the VIE
is brought to her senses just as she is
about to take A step that would leave
no avenue of return. by the young leu
tenant who is a protege OF his command
irg officer, and who for his good offices.
finds himself compromised in the eyes OF
his henefactor The scenes OF personal
proves have done much popular service.
Then. too. the happy finale in which the
captain falls q victim to a Mexican. who
is quick on the trigger. and the lover OF
victim of former lason of the ofti-
Ger. while the young lieutenant appears
at last in his true colors, is the reverse
of novelty. But fig for logic when
popular ending is at stake.
In truth. it were q pity had Mr.. Au-
guStus Thomas done aught that might
have irnperil!ed the general vogue OF this
play. Arizona" is so exalted in sent-#
ment, SO noble In speech. SO gentle and
universal In its humanity. and the DIVER
sion OF its lighter phases is SO invigor-
situations revived with such distinction.
and invested with such extraordinary in-
tersst.
The value Of this play does not reside
in its teach ng. but in its dramatic pre-.
sentation Of strong character. Individual
experience and strong story. The effect
( produced by Arizona, is that of moral
elevation. Its auditor is touched and 4
ennobled by a spectacle of stern trial.
nj tin HE CT suffering Sf0:ca1 fnRI!raNre
Most of thu p'avs that ara written in
any given period paSs away witt the parlo1
to which they #a0pertailr. Arizona is
one of the exceptions for its brilliantly
treated theme is ne&of perennial Interest.
ard there seems reason to believe. of
a work 50 vital that long tier the pres
ent ge-era ton has vanished it will still
Keep its nlace@ in the theatre and some
times be acted, not as a quaint relic, bit
5as q living lesson
THE company seen in the play here last
right contains several of the actors who
vrre5 secn here last year. The performs
4aaca Is aciuirar'e in al essential re- 4
ssnects There will be matinee and night
performances to-day.
Miss Kate Claxton viii play her fare
we'll enga cement atathe AcaderrTv ne~t
Monday matinee ard rrht She will
aiareaI - of course. in The Two Orphans
J!iftfSt'S nee. CIa'ft6i@ p'i I - I
has been announced by Miss ClaStort s
management that the production OF the
r,Iav is cnade along very elaborate lines
to s'gnalize what she declares will be 4
her last tour.
Rart,ev Camrhell's celebrated rIa,r. ..a'y
I,art-er" will he the attraction at ire
.-tadamv on TUESDAY. n,atn"e and rt=r"t.
Tt Is a distinctlv american rlav and in
Its day was a *r-ost faHlo.rs n1"'adra ia. 4
rs reriv~l 1T this time when the rop't-
I,'ar taste inc'ires 80 st-o-F'v to mc!o-
drama, is particularly interesting
lines, BarS will lie ar TIE arn'erlv on
Tl,ursda,. nieht and Nat Goodwir's Old
#-,;av. .:The Cc-rT,cv md tae aav-. will 4
he 1T tl7e 4 ca1e--~- for i-vn -a-fr~-~, a r,cns
ac-, e.,.,,t.5rc,, '1-l,e rart nIa,-as; nv >-at
srson,s will Re in tta t,s'-i'4 nf Miller
Kent, who is a very capable actor
rHe rat,,r- of TIRE pisnn fovor'.aS ra~t
rneI, VII he the si~~aI for -c~owrtHti
ro,,ses -Thare IS no roe z-,op,hat' o,-era''i
- ton ir5S+rn e'~,,.H a,,1 its a.f,-e-1t oil
#..-s '>~-.rer week a the coy
R.nad- Street theatre.