The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-11-12
Captain Dictionaries"


When Captain Debonnairc" Is presented
at the Academy "Wednesday and Thurs
day. with Thursday matinee, that spien-
did young artist and favoHte star. Paul
: Gilmore, Will be seen III the largest and
most sumptuous production with which
he has been surrounded since entering
tho stellar field The five scenes are
spectacular In scope and treatment. the
electrical effects are unique, and the
sartorial accessories are quaint and elab-
crate. Mr. Gilmore in this play steps
again into the field where he is supreme
the romantic. Three seasons ago he
strayed into drawing room drama and
met with extraordinary success In THE
Tyranny OF Tears" and THE Mummy
and the Humming Bird" But last
spring he felt the call of the Wild
had an Irresistible desire to return to
first principles So his manager Jules
hurry obtained the play rights to VIII
liam Farquhar Payson's popular novel.
'Debonnaire," and had Mr.. Payson and
James Macarthur turn 1t into five
act play for him. The result OF this
change has been highly satisfactory to
Mr.. Gilmore's friends wherever he has
appeared in Captain Debonnaire.
Clever as he Is In evening coat. 1t Is
when he dons top boots and cloak and
sword that he Is in the domain where he
stands alone, And this play furnishes
the opportunity for Mr.. Gilmore to be
the cavalier at his most dashins. for IT
even SURPRISES "The Three Musketeers"6
In action and sentiment. "Captnin De-
bonnaire' is picturesque in the extreme,
and presents Interesting contrasts. First.
the contrast of the French and the
Dutch the scenes being laid in Quebec
and New Amsterdam then, the con-
trast OF humor with action and Of wit
with force. The dialogue is as quick In
sword play To present such play
repartee as some of the cltmaxes are in
properly. more than ordinary amount
Of talent Is necessary In the nlayers. and
this fact was fully taken into conside-
ration by Manager Jules hurry in gath
ering the company together.
"a Message From Mars"
Local theatre goers will no doubt re-
call the brilliant success OF "a Message
from Mars" and be grati!led TO learn that
with David Proctor and the original
London cast 1t is to be the attraction
at the Academy Friday and Saturday,
with Saturday matinee.
Horace Porter, according to the story
of "a Message FROM -dars," Is an en-
tirely selfish young follow, but other
wise q good sort. Naturally he thinks
everyone else selfish and entirely re-
gardless of his own wishes. One snowy
evening he refuses to take his lance.
Minnie Te,npler. to ball. because he
wants to study at home and read mag
azine article on Mars. Hasn't he been
cut once in the storm to buy q magazine.
Why should he go out again2 How sell
fish she Is! So she goes with her aunt
and rich young American, who loves
her, but before going shc breaks her
engagement to Portor. So Horace reads
his article at his ense and Is Visited by
the messengers FROM Mars. For a crime
or selhshness he has been banished
from Mars to earth to redeem the most
selfish man there. BY mysterious power
he forces Horace out In tho cold. and
then takes him in front of the house
where the ball Is given. beggar comes
by and begs aims. Horace refuses. but
is forced by the messenger to give her
money. The spirit moves aside brick
walls. and Horace hears the guests at
the ball discuss his charaeter-hears his
flance repudlnte him and accept the
young American, a fire breaks out near
by, and tho messenger urges him TO
help, Why should he bother? The fire
men know their business, ~ man -
brought in injured by the falling walls
and the spirit again forces Porter -
give up all but his last penny BUT ne
is still unreclaimed, A newsboy comes
along, and with his last penny Horace
buys a paper, and learns that ms Dams
has failed, and he Is ruined man. TO
hears comments on his misfortune. but
no regrets. In rags, cold and hungry,
he and tramp sweep the snow froH