The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-10-26

duction Of the London Gaiety Theatre
musical comedy hit. The Messenger
Boy which held the stage in that IA
nous playhouse in the English metro
polls for more than two years, and was
one of the greatest musical successes of
the past season in New York, where 1t
was presented moro than five months to Z
phenomenal bushes will be the attraction
at the Academy next Thursday evening.
This will be one of the most important
theatrical events of the entire season. /
This piece is described as one of the hest
constructed and most interesting in its
field that has ever been brought to this
country. It is a fact worthy#o of note that
the most successful productions of the
musical comedy class have been written
by English authors. James T. Tanner
and Alfred Murray are responsible for
the book Adrian Ross and Percy Green
bank for the lyrics and Ivan Carlyll# and
Lionel Munckton for the music The
Messenger Boy will be staged with all
the original scenery and effects from the
London Gaiety Theatre but the costumes
from the original designs. are of Ameri-
can make. Frank Deshea who has the
reputation Of being OIL OF the pest
character comedians on the American
stage, will play the part of the messen-
ger boy. Tommy Bang. Other leading
characters will be played by artists who
enjoy very wide repute for ability and
exceptional cleverness. The princlpai
parts mum twenty -SeSell, etiiu IiieAS
will also be large auxiliary company
appearing in the minor characters which
are considered necessary in big musl-zI
cal production of this kind. The story
is told In two acts and four scenes. The
stage pictures represent the Hotel de
Luxe, Thames Enbankment, London,
Brindisi and Cairo. The story is an in
tensely interesting one and is very orr
ginal in many of its scenes. particularly
in the first act which is played In almost
a melodramatic Vein; the other scenes
are presented in broad low comedy the
humorous situations OF which furnish
much merriment. All theatregoers who
enioy light musical entertainments of
a broadly humorous character will find
in THE Messenger Boy it is said, one
Of the most enjoyable entertainments
that has been seen here in long time
'.rhe play that made the biggest hit
Of last season." is what a magazine
chroniclcr OF dramatic events has said
in a current issue Of a popular peri
odcal with regard to Arizona. which
comes to the Academy next Friday and
Saturday And the magazine writer's
phrase might very we'll and very aptly
be employed in announcing the engage
nent here of Mr.. La Sheles eScellent
company, producing Augustus Thomas
charming play.
Arizona was surprisingly Well PLAYED
last time 1t was presented IN New AofiN
during the spring at the Academy of
Music for four-month's engagement and
the same company and production viii pc
brought here intact. There will be a
special matinee on Saturday.
The attraction at the Bijou for week
beginning tomorrow will be Jolly
George Monroe and his company of CO.
nedians presenting a new musical farce
called The Dongs of Mrs. Dooley.' t
is filled with songs, dances choruses, UP
to-datc .faGs" and is the latest Offer
ing of those two clever authors, Wilmer
and Vincent. 1t IS farce. pure and
simple ana is destined to create Laughs
ter Monroe is said to have character
in Mrs. Dooley" that fits him to life