The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-10-21
At the RIlou.


 While the bill this week at the Bijou is not any stronger than last week, still it is far better than anything which has ever been seen in Birmingham at popu- lar prices and equally as good as many seen for much higher prices. Four of the acts are as strong as any to be found, the Rio brothers being the strongest of the four. They are probably the three strongest men of their size on the stage. and together make an act which abounds in strength
 The brothers are ring acrobats, not of the common variety, but men who have muscles which enable them to perform feats of strength little short of marvel ous. Their muscles are so well developed that to watch them is an act in itself
 Punched together in popular favor come the three other acts, Little Elsie, the child mimic; Falk and Semon, musical comedy, and Ward Curran, an original satire on the courts of the city. The lat ter act abounds in humor and was pro- ductive of unlimited laughter. It is orig inal and worth watching several times week.
 Little Elsie Is a wonder, and was not appreciated last night as she should have been, although her reception was cordial and long continued. She showed an un- usual ability to discover and initiate pe- culiarities of people famous on the stage. She initiated some well known actors and actresses, but her work was of a class higher than was expected, and the mt fn ha act
 Falk and Semon, or rather one of the members of the team. is a makeup artist of no mean ability, clever musician and a man with humor which Is catching. His partner is a musician and a singer with a splendid voice. His ballads were new and took well.
 McMahon and Chappelle have a nov city, a laughing act which is new and well received. The jokes they spring are new and they make a good stage appear ance, besides dancing well. It appealed to a large portion of the audience and was productive of much applause.
 Courtney and Duanne dance and sing well. They open the bill and start 1t roll ing in the right direction, giving the aud- fence reason to believe it is the beginning of a very pleasant evenng. The entire bill is worth seeing a second or third time.
 "The Wizard of the Nile."
 The Jules Grau Opera company pre- serted the Wizard of the Nile" at the Jefferson last night The audience was not as large as 1t should have been, as the at,f f11e yho1a Ia a o1a ha chorus is we'll trained and there are sev- eral excellent voices in the troup, not ably Joseph w. Smith, who took the part of Ptarmigan. Eunice Clark Drake sustained her part as Cleopatra and the comedy work of John Henderson as Ki- bcsh was good. although his voice is not as strong as might be.
 The Wizard of the Nile is clever little opera. full of light comedy and tuneful melodies. It will be repeated at the matinee today. The following Is the cast: Ilibosh, Persian magician, making a professional tour of Egypt, John Tender son. Abydos. his apprentice, Ethel Balch.
 Ptolemy, King of Egypt, William Her man West. olmOOna, FtOiemy SecoHu Wile, Deid Niven. ...... Cleopatra, a princess who knows nsught of love, Eunice Clarke Drake.
 Ptarmigan, Cleopatras music teacher, Joseph w. Smith, Cheops, the royal weather bureau, AL bert Wilder.
 Adeliska. captain of the Amazons. Mable Niven. Merza, an Alexandrian barmaid, Anna Marie Tyler.
 McIbis, policeman. Dave Yost; O'Pasht, policeman, Frank Wilson. Chop-Chop, headsman Charles Phil lips; Chopum, headsman, Aubrey De Wolf. Royal guards. nobles, citizens, pages, maids of honor, dancing girls, galley slaves, etc. This company will present Fl capitan tonight.
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