The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-03-21
OLD FRIENDS GREET
HOPPER AS WANG
Familiar Opera at Columbia
ReneWs Favor.

A great many Washingtonians shook
hands with friend of their childhood
at the Columbia last night They came
again upon the elongated and ebuliient
playmate of their youth. Regent Wang
of Siam, and found him, to their appar-
ent surprise. one of the few incidents
of the times gone by which do not
change with years.
Wang" himself has hardly turned a
hair. His coat Is just as long, his seat
on the elephant is just as insecure, his
agitation is just as trepid. his financial
desperation is Just as acute, as though
il were 1890 instead of 1905, and he had
not aged fourteen years since hrSt ne
rode into our view and dismounted Via
the sisnboard of the Widow Frimousses
Inn. The person beneath the familiar
trappings Is the same DeWon Hopper
as of old and concealed about that per-
son is the same familiar Casey at the
Bat" Finally the same peppery mill
tary instructor of the SiaIneSe troops,
the same thirsty keeper of the elephant,
the same lovelorn French officers and
da lighters of the Widow Frimousse. the
same dashing little crown prince, me
same royal elephant and the same
strumning ditties complete the picture
1t is not a revival of Wang, as the
program announces, but the original
| Wang come back to life
| OF course there was running accom-
paniment of applause with continuous
| laughter. The tried and proven jokes
about gas meters and truth. and the
marksmen who could not hit the water
| If they fell into it, still do yeoman serv-
| i q
Summers Night ASK of the Man In
the Moon An Elephant on His
Hands, Baby, Baby" and all the rest
have not lost bit of their tuneful-
ness through disuse. And Mr.. Hopper
is as funny as ever in the ever familiar
| way.
But the performance is not all famfi-
| iar-not quite. There is new element
which contributes decided charm to the
opera 1t is the impersonation of the
Crown Prince Mataya by Marguerite
/ Clark Not even Della Fox, at the be-
ginning Of her career, ever found thu
favor with whic.. this dainty and unaf
fected title miss was rewarded las
night She sings sweetly enough. Blu
IL Is ~. iier voice which makes her So
agreeable a new member of the Wang
! Encourage 1t is her personality and
as long as that personality remains I'M
spoiled it will win friends for her by thu
/ legion.
Others in the cast were Frank Belcher
as Colonel Fra casse; Frank Casey. al
Pepat; Francis Carrier, as Lieut.. JeaI
Boucher; Ada Deaves. as the Widow
Frimousse, and Sabrv O'Orseil, as Ma
RE. 4 Washington girl. Mabelle Row
land contributed charm and personalit!
to the rather unresponsive role Of Gil
let. and in singing, voice, and actint
met all the high expectations of he
friends.
The audience was distinguished SO
cially. Mrs. George +. Huff chaperone'
the young people. who, as guests o
Miss Carolyn HUFF, occupied two boxes
, Miss Boeing, of Virginia; Miss Paulin
Morton, Miss Elkins, Miss Margery Col
ton Miss Steuart, Miss Seckendorff
Captain Evans Marshall Langhornt
, Mr. Cresson, Mr.. Reyburn. Mr.. Wyeth
| and Murray Cobb. Mr.. and Mrs. RrueT
/ of Chicago and a party. Senator Bev
/ eridge and party, and General Harrie
were also In the audience.