The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-10-16
AMUSEMENT

The Bijou rung in a change last evening
on their usual vaudeville performance
with the introduction Of Hayes d Lyt-
tons comedians in "a Wise Guy. Inc
| performance was creditable in every re
spect and kept the audience, which taxed
the capacity OF the handsome theatre, IN
! a, continuous llproar Of laughter. The pro-
! gra1n7ns bears a. note in which the audi
( ence is especially requested not to worry
about the plot of "a Wise Guy, and IN
| g senli-apologetic fashion goes ON to say
I'VE confess in advance that the plot is
not a deep one. Our aim is to anuse you
| II this be accomplished the mission Oh "A
Wise Guy is fulfilled
+! Certainly there can be no doubt OF the
| accomplishment OF the mission. 1t
amused, and though as explained, it was
devoid of a plot, it cflaineqP the interest Of
| the audience from start to finish and COLI
| annually excited Their risibles.
The character of Spike HennesSy, the
! Wise Guy, as portrayed by Mr.. Edward
Hayes, is a radical, departure for him
| from romantic drama and classical comedy,
but in the role Mr. Hayes gives an unique
and original character type to the stage,
and by his faithful portrayal of it gives
an artistic and elaborate character study
| of the rougher class of humanity. He
showed his versatility when in the last act
he transformed himself from the happy
! comedian into a, tragedGan and assumed
the role of the gladiator.
"A Wise Guy is merely a vehicle for
many unusually clever vaudeville acts,
each of which is far above the average OF
7 such performances. There are nine spec
| ialties and considerable clever work by
| the entire company. Hayes and Neville in
| their sllit were ludicrous, though the sll:t
| has been seen here before. Reno and
!: Richards have also been seen here. but
| their acrobatic work was none the less
pleasing. Moreland, Thompson and
] Roberts gave a clever comedy sketch, and
We're followed by Mr. Ray L, Royce, who
| by lightning facial changes produced some
exceptionally pleasing and clever character
! representations.
! The Doherty sisters were clever, but in
F.; their make up just q wee bit outre, rather
| too much so for a Richmond audience.
They are clever dancers. however. and
| ELECTED considerable applause. Joe Roberts
| and Miss Jean Cunningham were ludi
crous and m!rth- provoking in the juvenile
| speciality. and the tout ensemble of the
Dct-pourri Of specialities was undoubtedly
| pleasing.
There will be a matinee to-day and "A
| Wise Guy .wyll hold the boards through
! out this week.
! % PRISONER OF ZENDA.
THE Prisoner of Zenda,'' which will be
| presented at The Academy next Thursday
| and Friday, is a play OF intense interest,
! and its composition SO natural in construc-
! ton that one does not think of it as an
! ideal romance created in the imaginative
brain OF a literary genius. The entire play
hetrayS an originality in conception, a
| nspturalness of force and harmony in col
orilsg that places it to-day as one OF the
greatest romantic dramas OF this decade,
and in its presentation this season the
management has spared neither effort nor
expense in obtaining what is promised as
a most excellent company, as well as en-
beIlishing the play with scenic invest
ture which is said TO be superior to any
former presentation OF tbs splendid ro
nance.
MR.. ERNEST SETON THOMPSON.
Mr. Ernest Seton Thompson was the
second lecturer to appear before the
Lyceum course at the Academy yesterday
and was greeted by. a large audience who
followed him through his lecture, Per
sonality OF Wild Animals with attention.
He has excellent powers of narration
and his lecture, composed Of stories drawn
from his own experience was attractive
for this reason if for no other. HIS
camera and sketch book came into play
and made much more interesting the bare
facts he had to relate. His lecture would
perhaps, appeal more to the younger mind
than to the grown UP children but those
in the audience who are lovers OF nature
found much to interest and entertain.
J