Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-02
"a HOT OLD TIME" GOT
A COLD RECEPTION.
Johnnie and Emma Raw ONT ~ c,.+
and Company and Play Was
Mediocre.

l.
terlalize at the Academy OF Music at
either the matinee or evening perform
ance yesterday, and consequently "A
hot Old Time" the play in which they
was stale, fiat, and unproftabie
The conglomeration Of nonsense was
originally written for the sole displayal
OF Johnnie, Rays marked eccentrici-
Ties, and character was added for his
wife, who acted as his counterpart, or a
sort of butt for his witicisms.
The comedians original makeup and
lines, gained hira SONS distinction in
popular-priced burlesque houses, and
Oscar Hammerstein afterwards took the
couple coup !. up and attempted to play them
at his Victoria Theatre. Neither the
Rays or the play were suited for a Broad
way audience, and Oscar pocketed his
loss after a short forced rum
Gus Hill bought the play and is now
the Ray trademark and Autographs,
but without the Rays themselves.
The latter fact is hidden, however, and
a number of people who have heard Of
the famous pair are induced into legiti-
mate theatres to see them.
The audiences at the Academy yester-
day afternoon and night, which WERE
fortunately. small. scanned the play bills
for the Rays names, but they were DOOM
ed to disappointment. The show with
the Rays was bad enough; without them
wv OAANA
ment
The company is chiefly made up of
people who have been seen in cheap
variety houses in the eastern cities: and
looked sadly out OF place. on a legitimate
stage. They had no right there, and
neither did "a Hot Old Time"
It was a hodge podg gt Of hackneyed
diamonds in a Richmond coal-yard at the
present time. The Russian acrobatss,
bition of whiriwind dancing, and the
Three Rackets, which had been seen in
Richmond at another house were the
only features worth mentioning on the
tiresome bill
and Master" which will be produced at
she Academy tonight. by Miss Helen
GRAVITY and a competent company a t of
action opens in Colorado and shifts tc
London The first scene INTRODUCES the
London. The first scene Introduces the
ing parties for which. Colorado has be.
come famous The chief parsonage of
the cast are the members Of an Amer;-
can family Of good position in the Rocky
Mountain district, and a couple Of Eng
fish lords One of the latter, Lord Can
ming marries the daughter of the fam
lily mentioned Indiana Saltwater, and the
subsequent experience Of the impetuous
w
the rest Of the story. The play IS beau
tifully written one, concedely the dra-
matte hit of the season in New York
last year and peculiarly fitted to the
talents of Miss GRAVITY and her spe-
cially selected organization.
Haddon Chambers's famous comedy,
1.-THE Tyranny of Tears" will be pre-
scented at the Academy tomorrow mat
inee and night by Paul Gilmore and a
specially selected cast of metropolitan ac-
The play is described by its clever
author as a comedy of temperament. It
is a comedy of the most exquisite kind,
intermingled with more serious vein
in a manner that excites the warmest
conmenda ton.
Charles B. Hanford will be at the Acad-
envy next Saturday in spectacular re-
"Much Ado About Nothing" Miss Marie
Drofnah will be his leading support. and
his company is said to be the strongest
ever seen with this star: Mr.. Hanford
needs no Introduction to the Norfolk pub
one Of the most welcome visitors, and
his preserta ton of Shakespearean plays
has always been complete and satisfy
ms CHANGE Of BIJoU BILL.
BY special request there will be a change
in the bill at the Bijou this week Lord
and Lady Algy.' giving way tomorrow
night to ..The Lars which was played
here so successfully last week. Lord and
Lady Algy'' has crowed the house at
nearly every performance. but there is
such "a general desire IN this city to8s see
...rhe Liars, again. and the management
has received so many esters asking for
a revival OF this piece that the change
ihar s1aAn decided uuOy