The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-03-18
COMEDIAN CRANE IN
A ROLE new TO! HIN.

William II. Crane Is a comedian, and
has been accepted as such for these many
years. but In Business Is Business, as
presented at the Academy last might, he
appears in new role, and portrays q
character In which there Is not a. spark OF
hUrlor. It IS a. role. too, TO test me
powers OF any actor in the portrayal OF
emotion, nd In the final scene OF the last
act Mr.. Cranes work thrills the audlence
with It's intensity OF feeling. and holds the
II almost FRS
one scene Will live forever II the memory
Of those who witnessed IT. y was acting.
without words to express the thought;
lin the eyes OF the man, wildly. staring,
as he sought to realize the awful death
OF an idolixed son; 1t was in the twltcn-
Ing Of the mouth, the drawing OF the
throat, as words refused to come: tne
trembling of the hands. and the collapse
Of the very body Itself, as the awfui, Ter
FRe hse secN wfbdh hu 70 S
man in such situation, creeps oyer Wy ~.
audience and almost chills the blood IN
theEveins.
/. to enllven an audience. It ID too gloomy,
nnd pictures too vivldly the oppression OF
the weak and poor by the powerful anu ~.
rich. The role played by Mr.. Crane is s,, one
In the hearts OF an audience. There are,
Indeed. no comedy parts, In the general
sense in which the word Is used Yet al
The eses tedo n il length but
then this is not q play built according ~ 70
i the muoh-used models OF the dramat q y!
There Is an idea to impress, and ut is
to the set rules Of the craft, as they are
followed in most OF the works given !, TO
the stage.
The company Is without q weak mem
Miss Katherine Gray In two OF the scenes
wins as much applause for her efforts as
does Mr.. Crane ... his best work IS: Has
sard Short ns the eva
creation. q NV 55 81 81 .sstS
The scenic equipment OF the production
Is as handsome and a. perfect az any,
SOM There viii be two performa noes to-
day. s55{ ii5ss q;
Miss Louise Mink.
Miss Louise Mink who plays the part
OF Miss Gayoird I'm Busy Icy. Is one!
of tho best looking OF the many handsome
the sne ~ Is y ,tWn q,
which Mr.. George Sidney and Mr. Fred
1vyokofr get 80 much Gomez y work. n The q
musical ", 70
i 5nst tSo opportunsles this season
OF being q CUSTOM e lzzy,s store Or q
guest 1T his hotel, I and they are to-day
afternoon; and evening. S,s IA
Nance O'Neil.
The engagement OF the American
5tragediennc y Mss Nance Il O. Nell. h who
win come to the Academy Monday night
in. .Magda,,,' will undoubtedly be well
come tintelltg ence to thatss;large constltu-i
tency OF local .play.goers i who encourage
and maintain the Legitimate" drama. ut
Many critics OF the stage, who. by
some chance. are allowed Y to- air tn cir
opinions In various ma ga zines arestwort
to lament the 8degenernc y {of the drama
and deplore the ecline OF the "leEiti-f
mate play Z and play srs: The. errors Z
pointed out Il and ~ there is nos need st q
thrash over he old straw that shows
our stage Is not decadent. Tile truth
rs that ..Iegi Ultimate" Is receiving more
frequent presentation than ever before;
new interpreters OF the poetic tragedies
has more Interest In the classic drama
than. at any other time for some years.