Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-28

..The rne,a ncholy days have gone the
raddcst of the year This was the lay
of the local managers as they gazcd
fearfuily al the box-of!ce receipts for
The days just preceding the advent OF
Christmas. which are acknowledges to
be the dullest Of the theatrical var.
The dollars rolled in at both Christmas
performances, however, making glad
the managerial heart. as both the Acaoe-
my OF Music and the Bijou report eS-
s-sptioaally good business on that day
Al Tho former house the seemingly peren-
nial rural drama. Way Down East.
with its prosecuted heroine and design
ing william. its ha,nyard and cows, and
snowsterm that was so realistic 1t made
the colo shivers run down ones back,
held the boards ana played TO an over
flowing house At, Jake Wells Prey
little Broad street playhouse Little Chip.
OTIS Harlan petite Mary. Marble and the
other members of the popular Musical
Comedy Company made merry in the
1Iofmanized version. by the Sad Sea
Waves Santa Claus was also kind al
Ibis temple Of amusement and filled the
1reasurers stocking with clnking gold.
James o'Neill came TO the Academy
Friday evening in q dramasized version
of Hall Gaines work. The Mansman"
and gave a mastery conception Of the
character Of Pete Quillian." o'Neill has
been SO long associated with Monte
Cristo that II was hard to think Of HIM
IN any other role. And one expected
throughout the Hall Caine play TO hear
him Dramatically exclaim: The world is
mine
oNeili is superb reader. and gave
q finished performance of the Game play.
He WAS ably assisted by May Bulkiey
r.-okia and 2iICl-
ancss witnessed the two performances.
From this time on there will be host
Of good things al both playhouses; SO
that the lover of the drama will have no
cause TO complain.
The present week brings popular How
ard Kyle In Nathan Hale and new
play, Laughter and Lies" Handsome
Herbert Kelley and Fife Shannon VIII
be seen in Sherlock Holmes made
popular by Conan Doyle and William Gil
lette. while ponderous and unctious De
Wolf Hopper will finish the week al the
Academy in q musical version Of Dick
ems "Mr. oiczwick.'
At the Bijou the George Fawcett Stock
Company. with Frank Gilmore. Grace
KirnbalI and other favorites, will be seen
in the Gillette war play, Secret Ser
vice JOHN ny. FEhA.
NATHAN HALE.
increases every day. is demonstrated by
the a. .ention which publications of all
sorts pay to the drama and to the actor.
Whether a flippant society paper or
stately review. political journal or news
bulletin, yellow newspaper or the best
example of metropolitan Journalism; no
matter what it is, SO long as PRINT ana
paIrer are combined there is certain 70
b. due and elaborate attention paid iheat-
IF lighter
magazines and illustrated weeklies rccog-
,,jze this interest by deyoting a page to
scenes from plays and portraits or &C
Yors. and il is we'll understood there are
no pictures of any kind that attract SO
much attention and, insure such large
sales as those Of favorite actors and ac-
.resses All this recognizes q certain
fixed fact which no. amount .ol sophisus
IAN overthrow. The theatre is the means
Il recreation and entertainment which
entered into the life of the civilized world
several hundred years ago and has grown
steadily. and within the last fifty years
20 enormously that il can no longer be
either denied or ignored. When good
plays we'll presented are given IN our
theatres they become well worthy OF pup
lie favor and patronage, and OF late have
Invariably received il. Never was there
time when the theatre was SO patron
lied as to-day, and all stars and plays
IF any fair degree of merit are. where the
business is not overdone. filing the the
aires There are plays and plays-those
that are meritricious and those that are
nleritorious-sonle that are demoralizing;
some that are simply pleasing or enter
tanning and some that are ennobing.
Among the latter, to be seen at the
Academy on Monday, matinee and night,
is Nathan Hale, that true story OF
artx sroy n arrjot which
thrilled every American schoo! boy who is
familiar with his countrys history. The
play, by clever Clyde Fitch, can be COM
arended from every standpoint: in II he
has given us some of his best work. 1t
vas given here last season by Mr.. How
ard Kyle and his admirable company.
and as will be remembered. left an en-
auring impression. There is not more
.nnob,ing play upon the stage to-day.
Ar. Kyle has made the part of Nathan
Hale his very own. and in love and he
.oic deeds he fully meets all the require
nents without in the least over-actins.
.mbued with the righteousness of his
purpose, young Hale inundated himself
Ipon the altar of his country, and through
Iii The varying stages OF the fortunes
IF war he followed MS fate nobly and
'earlessiy. With him there was no te1i-
,orizing between love and duty; he sac
,tficed his love and his life and was glad
% do it in the cause. The lesson Of Ma
than Hale is an admirable one. and 1t
is a noble and Inspiring play which. with
its efficient cast and elaborate settings,
should fill the house Miss Florence
s;myth a veritable sunbeam. returns with
the company, as does that sterling actor.
Mr.. Frederick Weber. and all the mem
bers OF the cast are fully adequate 10
the requirements Of their parts.
AS mark Of appreciation Of his ef-
forts by the Richmond theatre pat
rons, more especially the lady contingent.
Howard Kyle who Will make his third
appearance here al the Academy on Mon
cay next, will present TO each lady pre-
sent a handsome volume of Clyde Fitch'e
thrilling romance OF the revolution, ma
than Hale" which viii be given at the
evenings performance. This beautiful
specimen of the printers art contains
splendid portrait of Mr. Kyle and an au-
rograph as Iell, and ought TO prove
highly acceptable holiday gift in addition
TO being a nemento of a theau .cal oc-
casion which cannot fail TO afford much
sleasurabic enjoyment. The performance
81 Nathan Hale IN this city next Mon
lay night Will be the sixth hGndredth an
,!versary of the production Of the emf
,ently successful play, and for tnat rea-
son Mr. Kyle desires not to allow such