The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-02-05
9I..gt3al If39I15 4F15 4 ~ % nd
AT THE THEATRES.

Fl rhe tell Me- Pretty Maiden" girls,
bobb.ng at the audience with their big
black hats. end all the rest Of the crowd,
with Bob Graham in a spasmodic laugh.
and dainty 1sadore Rush, with her tam
ftalizil,g smile. though it shows Just the
SUSPICION OF crows feet around her eyes,
were at the Academy yeHterday at two
erformancas. n b, a "a "a
,rhc production was we'll mounted. but
good voices were sadly lacking. Mr.
Graham made brave effort at comedy
IN the role or Cyrus W. Gillian, ana
sometimes he hit the mark His tprin-
clpal piece OF business was a trick laugh.
Sometimes it reminded one OF George
Wilson, the minstrel, though the laugh
had variations that went up and down
the scale all the way from trill to
gurglng sound like that made by a man
choking. The judiolous use of this laugh
carried the comedian through the piece
Isadore Rush made quite Nvacious
Lady Holyrood but her powers to charm
seem to be ratherton the wane.8 AS usual,
she was rautless in her gowns. Mr..
Philip II. Ryley, as Anthony TWeede-
punch, did tho best work Of tho prodcc-
( ton. !. s5.}i,s- NJ
AZ h Largo audiences Witnessed ppthi. per-.
sformances and gave every evidence OF
being thoroughly pleased:
Clean Comedy Tonight.
Lovers Of good, clean comedy will have
an opportunity tonight at the Academy
OF witnessing in "a Friend Of the Fam sam
lly'' ono Of the brightest and cleverest
Of this style Of entertainment. Like
ali successful farces OF the past decade,
1T had its origln@in tho German, where,
under the name OF Der Fanliller
treund." It enjoyed a phenomenal run
sof two hundred and fifteen nights at the
Court Theatre. Berlin, Germany. After
considerab;, litigation, Manager w. q
German. who is personally directing the
tour secured the American rights to the
niece, and that it was worthy OF the
bitter fight for It's possession Is attested
by the record breaking business accorded
GA Friend Of the Family in every city
where it has appeared The leading char
acters are portrayed by artists who are
& well known to every frequenter Of the
theatre, and include Alice Johnson, late
leading lady of the Murray HiI Stock
& Company. New York: George w. Bar
mum, leading man of Mrs. Leslie Car
ter's company, and who has been tenn
porarily loaned at ans enormous salary
Il by David Belasco; Violette Villiers who
created a sensation in the Liberty
BeIes"5 Company; Joseph Crowell, Barry
Maxwell, Emile La. Croix, I-uo'le 4Villlers,
Cecil. N1agl.,s, Austin HUM, Ed. Mason.
Daisy Graham. Edythe Terry and others.
Funny Jeff De Angels.
'The Toreador,'' which will be given
here Tomorrow matinee and night. by
the jefferson De Angels Opera Company,
Is said to have proven tho most success
full Of any OF the recent musical pieces
presented by this popular comedian, who
is given splendid opportunities to dis
play his we'll known qualities as q fun-
maker in the role Of Sammy Gigg, and
he has created no end Of merriment in
the many lauglable situations in which
no is placed during the course of the
pay. Edgar Norton, Margaret McTSin-
ney. Edna Burd, Bertha Ricci. Norma
Bell Edward Metcalfe and John Dudley
have ali added to their regulations In
their clever representations of agree-t
able charnc ers. Sam S. Shuhert and
Nixon and Zimmerman, It is said, have
furnished Il most elaborate and pic
turcsque production. and provided "a
splendid singing chorus of dainty. pretty
girls.
Pantomime Comedy.
The attrac tion at the Academy Monday
night win be the pantomlmtc trick farce
comedy. 'Zig-Zag Alley" The press
agent AYERS that there Is; not tho sllsht-
est doubt about 1t that the new 'Alg-
zag Alley" can produce more continuous
and hilarious merriment than any other
similar show In the country.
"For His Brothers Crime"
Splendid audiences continue to go to
the Bljou Theatre to see the production
Of the Blanay play, "For His Brothers
Crime" which is being preccnted this
week by Montgomery Irving and a fuli
complement of players, including Miss
Mabel Bardlne,fn Virginia woman. The
scenery is good, the bridge scene being
ono of the newest and most original
The play will be presented the remail-
der Of the week, with the last matinee
Tomorrow.
"The Man Who Dared"
Al. the Norfolk papers speak In highest
terms of the attraction running there this
week, "The Man Who Dared" Howard
Hall is the star OF the play, supported
by. Miss lIthel FULLER and capable
company. The play comes to tho iB5ou
Theatre for a stay of week, begin
ming Monday, Seats are on sale ut the
box oH1ce.
MISS Minnie r. Kelley, at tho Retreat
fo, fire Sick is reported as Improving,