The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-03-28
The !. |. old time VI WANG
PLAYS AT ACADEMY.
.DeWolf Hopper in His Old
Nancy Brown
II Bijou.5

5ss DeWolf HOPPER the elongate ed N comic
opera comedian Of the deep bass voice.,
last night took Up his old cues Of four
.teensy years ago, and appeared as Wang al
the Academy. Wang" iii this day Of,
musical comedy sextettes, is a almost q
curio, It is 50 antique. One wonders how 1t
ever was as popular as it was, but In
looking at the old piece In this light,
no allowance is made for the changes
that have taken place in the methods Of
construction Of musical entertainments.
Tho company and chorus surrounding
Hopper In this production are not the
best. The chorus is not well trained, and
tho voices are belowGthe standard neces-
sary for a. satisfactory rendition offthe
musical numbers. OF the cast, Frank
Casey. as 3Pepat. keeper OF the sacred
elephant was the only one who really
gave anything llle az 81 ever portrayal Of.
the parts, al fot which are SO familiar
to theatra- goers. But somehow, the per-
Torrance went along without being tire
some and after the first act. DeNVolfs
Hopper. In response to the continued APP
plallsc ofztie audi ence, made one OF his
curtain speeches, after his usual fashion.
1T was a lnonologue rather than a
speech" and would have made a good
number on vaudeville bill. Quite a
large audience witnessed tho performance.
Mary Marbles Nancy Brown.
With all her, vim, dash, originality,
quaintness and daintlness.5 Miss Mary
Marble came back home yesterday and
began a weeks engagement at tho Bijou
Theatre. AS was expected, the house
was filled, and the audience applauded
and tncored Miss Marble In her role ,of
Nancy Brown till she could scarcely
sing. IS II
Nancy Brown" is a musical comedy
one Of those vehicles of fun, which fit
the star as a glove. But Miss Marble did
not have to make reputation hore-ss
that was done three seasons ago, and
done In such n manner that she Is a
greater favorlte each succeeding appear
ancc. Nothing that can be said OF her
excellent work last night would add to
the estimate In which she is lleld--she
was simply delightful. AS the business
agent Of a matrimonial bureau, with
malriagcable clients for impecunious
Titled foreigners, she was at her best.
William G.. Vaudeville "Mully Mes
tapha, was conical and entertaining
He sings and acts well, and mover falls to
provoke laughter by his appearance. His
facial expression is something wonderful.
Robert T., lIarty, as Noah Little, the Yam
kee drummer. who invaded the precincts
OF Mully Mustapha, the Boy of Ballyhoo,l
and who profancd the sacred elephant
by posting advertisements on his back,
had ample opportunity to display his
tyocalspowcrs and was we'll received.
There is little need to particularlze--.
the company is good very good: the play
is bright and funny; the music Ntuneful
and catchy; the chorus young and pretty.
Of the week, with the first matinee this
afternoon. M
Nat Goodwin.
If all signs fail not then the return
engagement OF Mr., N. g. Goodwin at the
Academy win be the greatest ever played
by any star herein, He will be seen
here In a revival Of his society comedy.
"a Gllded Fool" a play In which love
is the dominant factor the love Of q
true man for pure woman. 4 can
readily be realized play with such a
motive appeals to every one. and as It
gives Mr.. Goodwin ample opportunitySto
display those def touches OF humor, OF
love and Of pathos that makes all Ills
creations so humane, the engagement will
he most notable one. He brings with
him q cast&of competent players. and
will stage his piece With the same mag
nfcent settings that aided In making It's
run in tho metropolitan cities so sue
cessfnl. Mr.. g oodwp viii he here for to-
night Only. 3,5 & 3 a
The Runaways.'
Interest is becoming general In the
coming appearance Mt the Academy, OF
Arthur Dunn In the musical extrava-
ganza, ",rhe Runaways,'' and the attrac-
ton viii be greeted by one OF the largest
aA1iences of the season, Local theatre
patrons have not forgotten the fact
lhatp"The RunaWays" gave complete sat
isfattion when the musical comedy
played here last season. when II was
generally acknowledged rs ono Of the
most magnificent productions ever seer
| on the local stage Already requcsts are
being filed away at the box Office for
reservation of sea is for 'rhe Runaways,
and there is no doubt but that the mer'
lrly singing and gorgeously sowne0
! Casino players Will receive an ovation.