The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-09-29
MERCHANT OF VENICE.
Mr.. and Mrs. Hanford Give An
Excellent Performance.

lgza4 n
Excellent Per Torrance.
& Mr.. and Mrs. Charles 3. 1Iunford play
ed 1.-THE Merchant OF Venice" last night
before a large and enth usiasticsa audience.
This statement IL literally and ubso.
31utely the truth. for the support the stars rs
received from the DOZEN; players who
filled tho non stelargroles wa to say the
least, unstable and unsustainlng.
Mr.. Hanford gave. an excellent por-
strayal OF .'shylock, b" - and Mrs, Hanford
who for stage purposes; rcverses her
name to Miss. "Drofnah, f4{made an at
tractiv and comely Port tea Z IN q 4
It may bol that the memory of Sir
Henry irving, Miss Ellen Terry and their
excellent company in the Venetian play,
still fingers with Richmond play oers,
for a fer one has had u taste of wine,
cold milk seems not too exhllerattng.
There was noticeable last night lack
OF modern stuge-setting and plethora
Of modern innovation. The funny bus
mess z between Gratano and Nerissa,
however, caught the gallery, alth ough y
must have made the ghost Of William
espeare turn red with righteous In
sdignG tlon VIZ n
Always excepting the stars. there was
no " one in the company who deserved
Mr.. Caryl a Gillin, who, as Launcelot
BGobbo, proved himself clever and con-
vincing. .57$ sS5 &
Miss Drofna h, while excellent through
out the play, was especially happy IN
the fifth act, THE Quality Of Mercy
scene; y Mr. SHanford,s best work was IN
the third act. when his revenge scene"
was mastery, lf IS FIJI " 81 ls.
5 IT may be said that there appeared 70
be hardly speaking acquaintance be- be-
tween several OF the actors, and IL their
unhappy lines and this despite the fact fact
that u1rheard OF liberties were t ken
with them. So NJ N e "a ST n IS
"a very fair description OF the play last q
night would be the statement T that shy 81
lock and PortLa, supported by EL -altl OF
Gobbo, gave a seeming satisfaolo ny per-
Torrance Of The Merchan of Venice e, g B
The Babes Toni ght.
When Hamlin & Mltchell's gorgeous
$extrayagunz Babes in Toy land Is seen
al the Academy tonight and tA-01esOW',
the theatre goers OF Richmond. according
to the press agent, will have an oppor-
itunity to witnessing one OF the greatest
musical comedies according to the YER
dict OF Now Yorks most eminent critics.
and the public generally, produced In
Years. III 5 s
So much has been written about this
decentralization OF the famous Babes In
the Wood" fairy stories, that thelpublic
is thoroughly conversant with the scheme
Of the plot. Sa5.. s
To accentuate the beautiful music,
Hamlin & Mitchell are sending out an
auxiliary orchestra to reinforce the local
orchestra II. st.5
"York State Folks"
Fred E. Wright will present the orlg1-
raj company ins''York State Folks. Z that
most delightful OF all pastoral plays at
the Bijou Thea tire next week direct from
Its phenomenal run at the Majestic The
atre, New. York. s4l} j gsy. 4 i&iSS & Ky
James Lackaye. who has added to his
already distinguished reputation by his
powerful portrayal Of tho village auto
scrat, Simon Peter Martin, will be seen
in tho part he created, as will Ray ..
Royce, whose lovablo old organist, Myron
Cooper. has made himN$ an immense
favoritc everywhere. The role of the
awkward and Jealous lover, Lem Dun
bar IS still in the hands OF Harry Cros-
by, and the great original company re-
mains intact, clear down to the, three
clever children and the invisible quar-
tette. g, Il u
Mason and Mason are sttll delghtlng
crowds. + III atj it
fg 10 = & 4 4 j. ii