The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-15

AcADE1fY-Tuesday, Hermann; We'd
nesday. matinee and night, Sweet Glover:
Thursday. Friday and Saturday, matinee
and night, Foxy Grandpa
B1JoU.-cnpple Creek, ell week. with
usual matinees.
Melodrama-the good, old-fashioned.
Western melodrama-will be at the b.
lou this week. There are many theatre
<oers who still are not ashamed TO admit
that they like this type Of play. The
old-un1e melodrama certainly had less
harm in 1t than many of the new plays
which have been given to greedy pub
Ic within the past few years.
The good old melodra.Ina, which has
seen its best days, always upheld all
he virtues and condemned the vices.
The sins Of mankind were not set In q
silded frame, but were painted in the
darkest colors. The villain was always
81 the deepest dye, and received the
Kisses OF the gallery. The melodrama
appealed to honest hearts. and its SEN
dments found an echo among the great
middle-class. The gallery was not
ashamed to show emotion, and while 1t
expressed its contempt for the villain
:, a most emphatic manner, It often shed
.ears at the trials and tribulations OF
the, heroine. 1t was a good, generous
sindhearted gallery, that entered into
!hc spirit OF the story that was told
md made those upon the stage feel that
their mission was not in vain. The gal.
lery that welcomed the old-time melo-
drama seems to have passed away with
the play itself. Occasionally some piece
With all the elements Of the old-timo
lnelodrana. will awaken the old spirit,
and the gallery will come forth in a
manner that will make glad the hearts
Of the players.
The Academy has good week before
It It will be dark only one night. The
weeks offerings are varied enough to
please every one. Foxy Grandpa will
dtsport lhimself for three nights: Herr
mann the Great will. puzzle his audience
with his wonderful illusions, and on
Wednesday that delightful pastoral play.
Sweet Glover. with Otis B. Thayer, In
his original role, will be presented.
The engagement Of Hermann the
Great at the Academy on Tuesday,
matinee and night, will be notable one
for all lovers of the mysterious and oc-
cult Herman long ago came to the
conclusion that his audiences desired
something new on each OF his succeed
ing visits, and that no matter how mys-
ferrous trick or Illusion may be. that
once seen. 1t must be shelyed for some
thing else, some new trick must be sub
stituted or his; popularity would begin to
Tane. Convinced of the soundness Of
bis reasoning, i,that the public demand
vas for novelty, Hermann has been in
sefntigable in his pursuit of It, OF an
inventive turn of mind he has been
able to convey his impressions to his
assistants and from tli>r, evolve some
startling and sensational phenomena.
: Mr.. Herrmhnn has In his employ prob
ably the most famous builders Of mag.
cal paraphernalia in the world. Many
OF the most famous tricks Of magicians
have been built by them. and their
ability to create and build. IS counted
by Herman as his most valuable asset.
For his present engagement in this city,
It is announced an entirely new pro-
Eramme Of magic will be presented. and
that every trick and illusion on the long
programme, with the exception of two,
will be absolutely new. Among the
larger and more snowy tricks to be
presented are ''The Hindoo Mango Tree"
"The Enchanted Cabinet" "The Aerial
Mystery" The Princess Mahomeda."
''T11s Hand Of Rnlsamo." la Fete DIES
FlNurs.'' The Tamhorine of Seville"
1.-THE Santos Dumont.'' 1.-THE Chinese
WaIsl1ee washee," and the sensation OF
Pekin. entitled Voyage instantaneous"
The musical Goolmans will furnish ponu-
lar selections on various instruments.