The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-06-08
DEBIT OF WELLS COMPANY
Casino WIN Be the Scene Of Manager
Wells First Venture in the Drama.
GiHen Has New Leading Man.
Miss Ellington Returns.
ACADEMY OF MusIc-Giffen Company
presenting Held by the Enemy.
cASlNO-wells' Dramatic Company IN
.I.osf Paradise,

CITY In over generation. The Percy
Haswell Stock Company was IN Oppose
ton to the Gifren Company several weeks
ago. but the Baitimoreans were seen IN
comedy while Mr.. Giffen chose drama
Tomorrow night the Wells Dramatic
Company makes its debut at the Casino.
appealing to the public upon the artistic
phility Of the organization more than
as one that covers the shortcomings Oh
the members with elaborate scenic en-
bcl3ishmeats rLost Paradise, play
OF capital against labor. in which the
haIshness Of the iron master toward his
employees is widely used as subject
manager Giren places his splendid COM
,paDy in war drama. Held by the Enc
NY q play written and produced by
William Gillette This is another play
of the Gillette series that hdr. Giffcu is
Graking a season Of.
WAR DRAMA AT TILE ACADEMY.
Mr.. Giffen's company will be heartily
welcomed ct the Academy this week in
William Gillette's great war play, Held
by the Enemy"
How intensely this stirring drama is
looked forward to in Richmond may be
gathered from the enormous crowds that
have besieged the box office for seats
during the latter part of last week. The
clever and exciting tale will be en-
.
realism of the battle scene with its
Maxim Aguns and smokeless powder, and
the crashing of a cannon ball through
1he Federal division headquarters, wreck
Eng the building. These and other stage
effects. as novel as they are daring,
cannot but impress those theatre-goers
in the habit of seeing the conventional
episodes of melo-drama
.'I,eld by the Enemy is the most
successful war play ever produced in
America. It's record proves 1t. There
IS not an episode. sirlsle line in all
Of the five acts. that could be construed
by the most uncompromising partisan as
offensive to the North or to the South.
1t deals with the Civil War, but the
chief characters are those of altogether
lovely Southern women, and the locale
of the piece is amid the Southern homes.
with all their beauty and attractiveness.
The chief interest in the play is a love
interest which is not merely strong, but
vital and the marriage Of the last Of n
handsome brave. gallant and true officer
of Massa chusetts regiment to a patrf-
otto Southern girl is very happy cul-
animation that is sure to send the audi
ence away well contented.
NEVER SEEN HERE
The play has never been presented in
Richmond. This is really a remarkable
fact. because the scenes show the dis
ccmf1ture Of the Northern army at
every point. The Federaiists are driven
from their occupation of the Southern
town: they are outwitted at almost every
point, though the loyalty OF one officer.
most sympathetic character, crops out
again and again. leading the iatrigues
into unexpected channels.
The play gets its title from the cap
tnre of the lover Of the heroine. who
Isl tried and convicted Of being a spy
and held as a prisoner until he dies
as he is being carried from the Federal
hospital to the Southern lines a certif-
cate Of his death and a pass for his body
having been obtained by a ruse from
the general commanding the army of
occupation.
There are five acts in the play. In
two of them the scene is laid in the Nc
Creery mansion in another the case
mate of the fort is represented, fourth
presents division headquarters. and a
fifth the interior of a military hospital.
What opportunities there are for scenic
effects will at once be apparent, and
Mr. Charles Boss and his assistants have
been hard at work for some time re-
producing the original models for this
production.
In New York Held BY the Enemy en-
Soyed q wonderful career. It's run of
over a year was unprecedented in the
annals of war plays. and it would
annals OF war plays, and it would
have been continued longer had II not
been Tor contracts which could not be
closed By purchase and which forced the
play upon the road. Crowded houses
have been the rule everywhere ana the
piece has had a remarkable vogue. us
success in New Orleans was instantan-
eous, and no play has ever drawn such
crowded houses as this wonderfully con-
sstructed piece of realism. The scenes
of the play all have delightful South
ern atmosphere
HOW THEY ARE CAST.
Mr.. Bennett will have delightful
sirht comedy role this week as Ihomas
TIenry Bean Leslie's Special. IT Is a
mart SO exactly suited to his deilghtfui
touch and go methods that MI 9iiien
decided to cast Earl Ryder for part of
Colonel Prescott, a character that really
<.ar,ies the most sympathy. Mr.. Lamps
accident of the week-before last made 1t
.dr.pcssible for him TO play the part OF
aseau. Mr. Ryder was not suitable TO
the role SO the change was proush1 apous
with the consent Of all concerned.
Mr.. Ryder is a very decided acquisition
TO the company. he was with e. NJ
IIc,land last season, and is an actor of
wide experience and considerable achieve
inert. It is the concenSus of opinion that
he has come to share the honors OF the
established matinee idols. for he is
possessed of very attractive stage pres
ef,ce.
Miss Ellington returns to the cast this
week and will be seen as Rachel Nc
Creery, a part that will make a greatzde- 4
n.and on her emotional qualities. The
role is admirably suited to Miss Hing 4
tons methods and personality. and she
IS sure to make the most OF her oppor-
tuuities. There are many great ntua-
tiers in the play which will be made
Intense by the profound sincerity and
She rich woman-like passion Of this ac-
fracs
Miss Grayce Scott will have a de-
.iglitful opportunity for the display of
her charming comedy methods as Susan
McCrecry. Miss Scott has assumed many
characters during the three seasons that
the Gifen Company has played here.
She has always been eminently success
full. and the field Of thought in which,
obviously. she must have studied, is eN-
terasve. diversified and important. sp
that her success is an eloquent denote
men. OF her elemental power and her
various ability.
MIR. DUANE APPEARS.