The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-10-30
PRINCESS BONNIE
4 GREA I SUCCESS
Spenser Splendid Opera
Brilliantly Presented.
DAME FASHION THERE
One of Most Splendid Audiences
Ever in Academy.
PRINCIPALS WIN HIGH PRAISE
Miss tiutzIer, Miss .l1echt ard Oilers
Fill Their Roles In a Fault
less Manner = Exceptionally
Fine Chorus Work-Gor-
geeus Costumes and
Scenery.
PRINCIPALS WIN HIGH PRAISE

All the coIors of the rainbow and some
the rainbow never heard of garnishcd the
emy of Music last night. The occasion
was the amateur production of Willard
Sponsors dainty comic opera, Princess
Bonnie for the benefit Of the Hebrew
Home for the Aged and Iniirm. There was
an irridesccnt glitter about it all. a
smoothness and Il sequential consistency,
particularly noticeable in the matter Of
costuming, that was unusual in an ANA
teur event, and incidentally the splendor
of it reflected a. vast deal Of credit upon
those who have laborcd so hard for the
success OF the performance.
From the front row of the orchestra
seats to the back, the public was hang
ing on by its eyebrows, and it was not
slow in expressing its hearty appreciation.
The stunning gowns of milady; her
cleaning shoulders, her flashing jewels
and man in his best bib and tucker, all
contributed to the success of the occa-
sion. Several hundred dollars, it was es-
timated, We're added to the fund for
Which the benefit was given, charity
thereby gaining largely through this, pos
sibly the most successful affair of the
kind ever given in this city.
OPERA WAS a GEM
Had not Willard Spenser unfortunately
written ''The Little Tycoon" many
moons ago Princess Bonnie would cas-
lily have been his most musical produc-
ton; as it is, Princess Bonnie" pos
sesses to & vast degree the jingle and go
Of ."rhe Little Tycoon" and it was all
hIr
the amateurs.
Honors were even all around. Miss
Rhonie Hutzler, in the title part, looked
charming, stunningly so, sang better and
possesses the true histrionic talent to an
unusual degree. In the Spanish costume
in the second act, she looked as if she
had escaped from some quaint old Span
ish picture. All she needed was torea-
dor. Miss Hutzler's singing of the lullaby
and of the 'Love, Sweet Love-" duet IN
the first act was particularly striking.
Miss Blanche Hardy Hecht, of Nor
folk. as kitty Glover, the lloy@enish, the
adorable, the ..cute," par excellence, was
literally the part. Her dance in the second
act was easily the feature of the latter
part of the performance, and her s'.g-
ing was at all times excellent. She nae
possibly the most dimcult role IN the
orera, and sang it with all the YIN ana
Intelligence it needed.
..SHRIMPS'' MADE a HIT.
The .Shrimps' of Mr.. Tom Mitchell was
genuinely funny, Win enough of the ac-
cepted horse play of modern comic opera
to make it go will. Il roar. Incidentally,
Mr. Mitchell paid his respects to Presi-
dent Roosevelt and the noled Booker
Washington dinner, i'll his Canoe song
by declaring that it would have been
quite the proper thing if Washington had
6ined in the kitchen. The audience
thought so, too. Other up-to-date touches
of the go away back and Sit down. or
der We're all received joyously.
Edwin Bosher has a large. albeit musi-
cal, voice, and he let it all go as Admiral
Pomposo. Two or three of the singing
..plums'' of the opera fell to his lot, and
were ably cared for, while his comedy
work was good Alfred Abrams, as Sal
yador. the black skinned white ScmH:an .
attendant of the Admiral, was another
of the cast, who added largely to the
amusement of nations. He mad not SO
much to do, but it was all done intelli-
gently and well.
William Heller, as Roy Stirling; Aaron
Jacobs, as Count Castinett; c. c. Crunp
as Captain Tarpaulin; Mrs. Morris II.
Asher, as Susan Crabbe Tarpaulin and as
Donna Pomposo; Henry Schartzsch!ld, as
Captain Surf, and Sydney Gunst, as Lieu
tenant Fuzee, all showed the result of
careful and intelligent coaching in their
parts, the singing voices of each being
good.
a SPLENDID CHORUS.
AS for the chorus. Certain it is iLat
there has never been on the stage OF any
theatre in Richmond such a gorgeously
gown'ed. bewilderingly beautiful mass Of
fenlininty as was there The costuminS,
at all times correct, was brilliant, the
dance Of the bridesmaids in The second
act being one of the most effective bits
ever seen here The costuming of the men
was equally strong, a dazzling effect be-
Ing produced in the first act by The S-p-
pearance of a score or SO of the chorus
in the dress uniform of the Richmond
Light Infantry Blues. Scenicaliy, the
opera was entirely adeQute.
To. Mr.. E. Bruce Chesterman, Jr., Is
due the credit for the staging OF the
opera. His long efforts resulted IN al
that he could have hoped Tor poth
artistically and financially for the
fund which he had worked 10 peneht.
Curtain call after curtain can, encore .a,
after encore, and round OF applause 1ol-
lowing round of applause must, perforce
have been gratifying to the man who
had caused it all.
CAST IN FULL
following is the cast in full with the
ladies and gentlemen of the chorus:
Shrimps, champion canoeist, in love.
with Kitty, Mr.. Tom Mitchell.
Captain Tarpaulin, keeper. Of Light
house. Mr.. C. C. Crump.
Roy Stirling. in love with Bonnie, MI
William Heller
Admiral Pomposo, of the Spanish Navy.
Mr. Edwin Bosher.
Count castinetu Marionetti Plageo-
letti Falsetti, Mr.. Aaron Jacobs,
Salvador, bodyguard to Admiral Pom
poso, Mr.. Alfred Abrams.
Lieutenant Fuzee, a Spanish officer, Mr..
Sydney Gunst.
Captain Surf, fisherman, Mr.. Henry
3Schwartzschild ISL
Kittie Glover, belle of the village, MISS.
Blanche Hardy Hecht.