The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-24
IT the theatres.

zig Tag Alley. is appropriately
named trick farce. The eDg slap stick (
plays one OF the most important parts
In the piece. Its characters are made
UP OF an. Irtshman-one OF the regular
stage kinda Hebrew pawnbroker, who
CONFIRMED to all the rules of farce
comedy, but was not at all like any of
his race; a messenger boy, too quick to
be anything like the real article; two
dress-suit tramps of the usual type; an
Irish wash lady, soubrette. who dressed
like the principal female rider. in Il
circus, and a lot OF girls, who are Just
thrown in for Cooks"
All of these sing and dance and gem
orally mix themselves up through the
three acts in a manner that 1t altogether
+ satisfactory to the audience. AT least,
so 1t seemed last night
The performance is half vaudeville,
and there We're several members that
Were exceptionally clever. The trick
bicycle riding of zeb and Zarrow was
one of these. Thi., Is one Of the best
acts Of its kind ever seen here. The
two performers can do almost anything
on wheel. It must make the mem
hers& Of the orchestra feel very uneasy
during the progress of the act, 1t seems
about certain that the riders will spill
themselves over into the orchestra lust
before they finish their exhibition. Ella
ingale, does a singing act that calls for
several encores. The conversational
song In the second act also caught on
well.
Lille Sieger rende n concert solo,
the effect of which was somewhat spoiled
by the pantomimic business of the 9TH
ers who occupied the stage during this
number.
The performance lasts nearly three
hours, and it was enjoyed throughout
by the usual Monday night audience.
Broadhurst 81 Currie's big musical
comedy. 9''AIr. Jolly of JOLIET which
comes to the Academy tonight, is the
latest Offering of these popular mana
gers and from It's record up to date It
bids fair to outstrip many Of its older
rivals in the race for public approval
The author. Charles Newman. has Sc
lected a theme for the story of his play
that will Interest all people who enjoy
the elaton Of facts and fances of stage
life. It tells Of a prominent traged!an
who on account of his waning popularity
is obliged to enter the variety business
and, together with his leading lady. be-
come a comic song and dance team, 1T
will be seen at once that there is great
field for burlesquing certain characters,
and the comic treatment OF the stua-
lions and dialogue by the author has re-
ts,ulteu III All eNLFe!lielS GieYor+ entertain
ment. The company Is headed by the
unique comedian, Edward Carlyle, and
in addition to a large company Of clever
performers it carries q specially selected
chorus OF lovely birls.
In Lewis Morrison's elaborate presen-
tation OF the new "Funst" much diff
Guilty Is experienced on onesnlght stands
In placing the scenery, which Is of en-
unusually elaborate and Intricate kind,
1t Is therefore customary for the adj
vance agent to question the local man
ayers as to the exact measurement of
tho stage. height, depth and width Flo
then notifies the stage carpenter back
with the company. who provides accord
ingly. Another necessary feat ure is a
number Of trap doors from which flames
leap In the Broken scene and Sntan's
imps disappear into the flames Of tho
lower Inferno at his command,
In one Western city some seasons ago,
after the usual inquiries as to measure
ments, which seemed to annoy the local
manager for some unexplained reason
(possibly because he ran a dairy and
4 didn't know much about the opry houseD,
the agent asked, "IIow many traps have
yon2 nYoul' folks needn't worry about
their clothes bein eat up, We don't
need no traps hero. There aln't been a
rat or n mouse seen In the house since
we had these here cats In was tho un-
expected reply Lewis Morrison himself
will appear as AlephiJto forathe stytime
Sat the Acad deny to-ihorrow matinee and
fnight ina splendid new production at
NJ iUNall