The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-14
CHARLEY'S AUNT.
This Bright Comedy. App ropriatcly Called
the King OF Laugh Makers, Ton icht.

The great laughing success. "Cnarlcy's
Aunt" will be the attraction at the Acad-
envy tonight and tomorrow.
Mr.. Charles Frohmans name IN con-
ncction with the presentation OF plays
has come 10 be regarded in Richmond
with all the faith and satisfa ctiOn that
beams from the eyes Of good h~use-
wives i'm picking out the brand upon GER
tain rOunu and famous old Dutch cheeses.
IL IS a guarantee Of excellence, whose
verify the plays, like the cheeses, pro-
claim loudly and unmistakable for them
selves.
Ii is a farce comedy which comes 70
Richmond play-gOcrs like moonlight
dancing over the sea. WORKOUT old hearts
klndied before IL. shr-yelled and dusty
faculties OF delight expanded and be-
came dewey IN its presence, ana Houl-7
that had long been as mirthless as death-
masks rounded into Cupid's bows ana
laughed as heartily rs Democritns. Ana
now Mr.. FrOhmau gives us del'ghtlul
little cOmedy-farcical comedy NJ caiis
it-at which we can laugh with our he3ds
and our whole hearts and not our
mouths and our nervous systems. There
Is no dancing In "Charicys Aunt, no
singing, and, bless the holy name OF
Brandon Thomas, no Irish comedians,
with red, white ana blue whiskers. IL
il a clean, neat comedy, bubbling over
with fun. sparkling in dialogue, and with
action that is "a thing OF delight and JOY
forever. In the college lie depicted one
/
Pendennis career at college. the same
oxford, by the way as that wherein the
scene OF the present play Is lald. ana the
principal chagacter. Lord Babberiy IL
genuine specimen OF the type Of merry
fun-making, college mau OF when rokef
IS so famous an exponent Bsyohh
everything else that cbaractert2es 't.at-
ley's Aunt" and makes II good 10 see Is
The healthy and hcalthful atmosphere mat
lives in Ii. IL is the atmosphere OF the
A. hos a
the atmosphere one might say, OF horses
and roses and pleasant people In i"i-
partlng this subtle something u the play
Mr. Brandon Thomas has. perhaps,
transcribed anything OF the kind he has
ever attempted. The story OF the play
hinges upon the adventures OF two OK
ford men who fall in love. The
objects OF the affections OF these two
young English gentlemen are on the eve
OF leaving for Scotland They must de-
clare themselves on the moment or never.
In the nick OF time a wealthy and widow
cd aunt OF one OF them announces her
approaching arrival in London from her
vast estates in Brazil She Will be there
that day. The everything: here's an op-
portunity for asking the two girls 70
luncheon in the elegant rooms OF Jack
Chesney, one OF the SWANS. The aunt
will arrive IN time 70 chapcron the afraIr.
The girls accept the invitations and short
" appear but the aunt does not, and no
tice soon comes that her arrival has been
unavoldably delayed Meanwhile Lord
FancOurt Babberly, wealthy ana wag-
eish young collegian, has been asked 10
the luncheon as a makeShift TO entertain
the aunt while the lovers do their loving
Rabberly Is on the eve OF going 20 anna
teur theatricals. where he Is 10 personate
a maiden lady OF advanced years In the
inventiveness of desperation II Is decided
that Babberly must impersonate the aunt
who has arrived. on this oersonatlon
hinges the whole fun Of the play.