The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-07-13
.G|FFEN COMPANY
BIDS FAREWELL
Actor Folk Made Pretty Speeches
Before an Immense Audience.
YELLED FOR CHARLIE HAWKINS
Mr.. Bennett Made First Speech and
Other Members Cast Aside the
Mantle and Spoke of Happy
Tlmes-Miss La Verne.

Henry De Mile and David Belascc
never wrote The Wife" with the
intention that it should be a tragedy
1t was penned a comedydrama and as
such it has always been presented, even
last night until the final curtain. Then
the tragedy. 1t was the end Of the Grit
fen Company's season and the parting
words of the very clever company OF
actors. and as we may say friends. told
that for the nonce the comedy had van
ished and drama. real eragedy, STOOD
before the audience and actor folk alike
TheatmoSphere during the four acts was
heavy with the thought of every member
of the vast audience that they were for
the last, at least until some other time
looking upon their favorites. The same
fever filed the actors and during the
play it often broke between the lines in
little byplays and careless line. tokens
Of some past pleasure that had been
shared by those now acting possibly their
last role upon the Richmond stage
1t was a particularly sad event for
Miss Lucille LeVerne. for with the fall
of the last curtain her career upon the
stage ended and she now enters a private
life to be beside her husband. a non-pro.
fessonal and a wealthy contractor
1t was not until the play was ended
and in fact the audience had risen to
leave, that it seemed to realize that
Southern hospitality was being neglected
Then with one impulse there was a call
for speeches. after long applause that
brought the curtain up revealing the
members OF the company on the stage.
MR.. BENNETT FIRST.
Mr.. Bennett responded to the call. In
four words he expressed the prevailing
sentiment-.This is the end"
Next there were yells. yes yells, for
Mr.. Hawkins. and when he came to the
footlights the house fairly shook with
the applause. Beyond question. from the
demonstration. he was the favorite of
the company. He said he had a speech
but Charles King had stolen it, so there
and then Mr.. King had to come to the
front and explain why he stole Mr.. Haw-
kins' speech. but he became stage
struck" and had to ask to be excused
Then charming Miss Ellington looking
as pretty as Rembrandt came forward
forcibly urged by Mr.. Bennett. She spoke
two sweet words-'Thank you"-and
graciously bowed.
Miss Brown, too, had only few words
but they carried the weight of her feel
ings. THANK you; good-bye: au revor.'
and she was gone Miss Grayce Scott
made a dainty speech, such as becomes
an actress who seldom deviates from the
ingenue rolls. She was sweet and the
audience liked her.
HER STAGE CAREER ENDS.
Miss LaVerne led longest Of all the
stage center. She spoke like 6; good old
'Reb.'' aud said she would fight and die
for the South. Her words were patriotic
and full of fire. At the close of her re-
marks. she referred to the performance
being her last and that she was bidding
a6ieU to Richmond and the stage. which
she had so long cherished. She was
deeply affected and with difficulty con-
trolled her emotions.
Miss Deyo Scott had few words to
say, and then there were again yels.
this time for Mr.. Duane. the clever stage
manager of the company and the man
who has had much to- do with the sue
cess of the season as the members OF
the company. a storm of applause greet
ed him, and in response he told how he
had admired the beautiful women of
Richmond through a small hole in the
curtain, and how he wished he was a
snre enough actor, SO he could be a
matinee idol
Mr.. Lamp. Mr.. bennett and Mr. Brook
were the other members of the COM
pary who We're called upon to deliver
sEceches. and they did right smartly
Mr.. Giffen was called for but he refused
to appear. not being in evening dress
The orchestra then played "Auld Lang
Syre." and the curtain fell upon the
last performance of the Giffen season of
1902 To-day the members will go to
their homes for a vacation.