The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-09-20
60 1TTH He e22 D Ky
!, heat KESO'

I y
1.-THE Fatal Wedding g. is a melodrama
with all OF those qualities so dear to
the heart OF those who like nothing better
than an evenings entertainment such as
a piece Of this type affords. The melo-
drama will always have a place upon the
stage, and no form Of theatrical amuse-5
ment will answer as a substitute for It..
And In its way, the melodrama serves
a purpose, and, despite its nlock-herolcs,
and often its cheap sentiment. 1t Is far
more wholesome than some Of these latter
day plays.
i While the audiences witnessing the two
productions of the play at the Academy!
yesterday We're not evenly distributed
throughout the house, the galleries being
very much more in evidence than the or
chestra at both performances, they were
nevertheless what would beatermed good
houses" 5555 5&l 4
The play was producedsat the Academy
last season. and is there fore famil liar to
tile patrons ef that house. That It
pleased last season accounts for the size
of the audiences witnessing 1t yesterday
The cast was a capab BILE one. Tho child.
Baby yirena," was exceptionally bright
and clever a Jessie, the little mother
There are several striking scenes in the
play, one OF them being the evening we'd
ding in the famous Grace Church, New
York, and another showing the Pail
sades Of the Hudson during snow
storm. n. ~
The Peddler at the Bijou.
II The Biiou this week has one oftthc best
Offerings in tho shape of melodra1la
that has probably ever played at that
house. Joe Welch, In the producti Ion OF
..Tle fPeddler,' gives a life-ltke portrayal
of this type Of jewish character 50 often
seen on the East Side of New York His
work, while not as finished as that OF
David Warfield, compares Very favorapiy
with the characterization, Of that actor,
The play is one of the best that .f1al
Reid has written. There must have been
restraining hand on the playwright
when no was enga ged In turning out this
dramatic composition. ThereSa are, not the.
usual number, OF 1neodramatC thrills that
are generally found3in the Hal Reid plays.
Tho piece does not lack action and strong
climaxes, so necessary for melodrama,
hut there is not nearly as much blood anu
thunder and deep-dyed villainy that as
a rulc.s are the principal ingredients OF
PLAYS of this class. Tho character drQ "
!nS Of Abraham Jacobson-the part, played
Nv Mr., welcl& is very good, and some
az tho lines are entirely beyond the hack
neyed speeches which SO often fall TO
INA ,nt 81 tho characters In ono of these
i Il
"molos." \,
Therc is a voin OF patllos beneath the
comedy OF Mr. Welch's portrayal OF the
Jewish peddler that makes his work
worthy to be ranked with that OLA char
acter actor, rather than Of q low come;
dian.
rho other roles OF the play are II capa-
lie hands. Mary Noble, ms "saiome
Wyandotte." was far superior to the
,f
nroduction. Nina Harrington Won many
laughs for her representation of "Lige
Barclay" which was amusing, but not
a clever character portrayal of this type
Of the East Side Francis NfcGrath
PLAYED With sweet childish simplicity
"Idttle Nary.''hthe blind girl.
There will be aSmatinee to-day, and the
production will continue for the remainder
or the week.
Candida.
Literary and artistic circles, az we'll Us tho
regular theatregoers Of the GUY, VII Wn',
the " las season Viii viz DO pro-
sented at tho Academy Thursday matinee ana
night ~, I, 8 u. ma Il ma comedy. ana
cseerse N Bernard Shaw its author, The char
acters are SO out OF the ordinary, me mes trs
t hun'ur sS ike refreshing breeze from
the 9or ad6 ar inds II will Viii stir them
~ Nv exciting some OF tho vellest thinking
that II has been engaged in for many day,
aPolly Primrose"
clever comedy G"Poliy Primrose will be tho
selection at the Academy next Saturday
'' Miss qhu 'a present tour through tho
South is n repetition OF her former trlumplis>
and sho Will undoubtedly be greeted here
6w n crowded house. Her supporting com,
,any Ia rractcaily the same as last season,
and the same beautiful production Is carried
Gloomy Gus Brother.
G Gus IIill,s laughing absurdlty, Happy
EIiooliga,l," win he seen at Tho Academy lri-
day night, " ~, 49, II, ~ 81
fIish ruby Raymond, Eva Thatcher, Charles
Gramhlich Charles Saunders and John Pet