Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-11-07
Wang as Good as of Old.

| IL you missed your nelghbOr from
| his accustomed pew in church last
evening the chances are. if you will
press him for an explanation. he will
tell you that he and the good wife
! Judged and took in the show at the
theatre.
Not that it is a crime to patronize the
theatre on the Sabbath. but if you
will look back a few years you will
recall that the local playhouse was
not allowed to open its doors on that
day.
But Rock Island is becoming metro.
politan in its views as regards amuse-
ments as in other directions. 1t would
have given more general satisfaction if
Wang. one of the chief attractions
of the season. had come on some week
day, and doubtless there were many
who denied themselves because it was
Sunday, but then these were those who
stretched their conscience and made
the break, probably for the first time
in their lives, with the result that
there was a sprinkling of society in
one of the biggest audiences of the
year All the boxes were occupied.
the first time on a Sunday evening
since the opening of the Illinois.
Wang" is little changed from what
it was on its original presentation
10 years ago De Wolf Hopper ap-
peared in the name part then. He
was on deck again last night, and as
sprightly as ever, although the big fel-
low is beginning TO betray his years.
He has a wonderful voice. When he
sounded his lowest note it felt as
though the house trembled.
While the production in all respects
was all that could be asked. still, 10
those who remember Hopper when he
was accompanied by Della Fox and in
later years by Edna Wallace. who sub
sequently became the comedians
wife. and afterwards divorced him,
there seemed a void. But this senti.
mentality faded as one was carried
away in the merry Jingle of the mu-
steal Siamese tale.
Hopper was in the best of humOr
So were all those about him. He was
forced to make a curtain speech after
the first act. This was a refreshing
imprOmptu bit. in the course of which
Hopper told of his troubles in one
night stands. He asked the audience
to imagine one of his stature dress
ing in sleeping car berth. There
were calls for Casey at the bat" but
this was reserved until the last act
This recitation. which relates the
disappointment of big baseball crowd
through the failure of the hero of the
burg, Casey, the last man up. to drive
in the winning run, instead striking
out. has become a part of Hopper. X
is demanded no matter where he is or
what the occasion. Probably he never
rendered ii more effectively that he did
last night. But Hopper has more to
do than recite Casey" In the first
act. with the assistance of Ada
Deaves. a delightful commedienne, he
introduced a burlesque on love-mak
ing after various fashions. He has sew
eral songs. each of which he tops OF
in the typical Hopper style.
His company is large. Frank Bel,
cher who has a fine baritone voice
that he employs to pleasing advantage
i'll his numbers. was Col. Robert Fra
casse. Frank Casey was funny as
Pepat. the keeper of the sacred ele-
plant; Marguerite Clark. a youthful.
chic and fascinating bit of femininity,
made much of the role of Mataya: Ada
Deaves was fairly killing as lie VeuvG
Frimousse. the much-married. who
finally lands Wang" as her fifth: Sa-
bry D'Orsell was the remure Marie
TO perfection. her singing being fea
ture. and Mabelle Rowland was 6.
sweet Gillette. The chorus was pleas
ing both to the ear and to the eye.
and the staging was adequate. The
show is TO be presented this evening
at the BuTtis. in Davenport.