The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-23
ACADEMY SHOW
WAS EXCELLENT
County Chairman stirs Audi
ence to Great Enthusi-
asm.
|hUMPTY-DUMPTY IS COMING
Great Drury Lane Spectacle at
Academy All Next
Week.
.hUMPTY- DUMPTY is COMING

The County Chairman" with Macylyn
Arbuckle in the title role, showed to a
slender but intensely enthusiastic att
dience al the Academy last night.
George AIDE wrote this play and it only
goes to show what n close observer a
| humorist can bp. He has taken county
| politics and placed 1t on the stage. weav-
cd in 1t characters all know, and with 1t
| that horse-sense hurnor that makes 1t
| unique and delightful.
II doesn't make any difference whether
they chose 10 call that village Antioch
| or not. All know where 1t happened
| end every politician in the audience was
in that contest, for the play Is neither
misstatement or a caricature of rural
| politics in It's portrait.
The company is absolutely without
| fault, and If man wants to find fault
! he must needs go elsewhere. OF course.
things go by comparison. Some one may
| be more able to portray Jim Hacker. to
| put more genial hupaor, more Liz hearted
sympathy and gentle pathos in the part
than Macklyn Arbuckle. but any one who
saw last nights performance will not
believe 1t. Actors may be selected who
can better support him, but its doubtful.
and there may be better 'tnigger'' de-
lineator than Willis P. Sweatman in the
part of Sassafras Livingston, but Rich
mond has not seen him. =
Mr.. aSbuckle. at the close OF the third
act. was forced by repeated calls to
make spec.,h.
illusions to Virginia. the birth place of
his mother. he referred to his pride in
the play and in his support. He said that
he was especially proud of the cleanliness
of the play, because in giving UP his law
practice to follow the stage he had reg
istered- a VOW never to go into anything
but clean drama and he believed that
such plays, as exemplified by the County
Chairman. could be found In the writings
of our American dranratists and that for
eigp uncleanliness was neither necessary
or desirable.
The County Chairman" shows again
this afternoon and tonight.
A Colossal Show.
Klaw & Erlanger's colossal Drury Lane
spectacle OF "Humpty Dmnpty' will
make its premier bow in this city at the
Academy. beginning next Monday night
and continue throughout the week. This
is the greatest production of It's kind
that has yet been seen In America, and
the only one OF the great Drury Lane
spectacles that has ever been brought
to this city in Its entirety. and with he
original American cast and ensemble.
which numbers some $50 people. 1t Is
staged lin three acts and fifteen scenes,
an nearly 1850 costumes are worn dur.
Ing its presentation. The scenery was
painted by the greatest artists in Lon
represents the most artistic work of the
leaders of this art in this country and
abroad.
"Humpty ,Dumpty' is mighty merger
of rollicklng fun. sparkling music and
spectacular magnif1cence In addition to
the wide variety of speciality and musical
features. there are two great ballets and a
wonderfully beautiful transformation. A
distinctive feature of the performance
Is the marvellous troupe of aerinlsts
known as hte. Grigolatis. flying ballet
whose tableauX and posings in the air
form one of the most remarkable sensa-
tons ever seen in theatrical perform
ance. The sale of seats is now In pro-
gress and promises to equal that of ben
Hur.' another of the Klaw & Erlarger
spectaoles.
Theatrical Gossip.
Under Southern Skies'' comes to the
Academy of Music Tomorrow matinee
that has been presenting the play for
several years and is said to be cap
Southern life.
At the Bjou next week Lottie VII
Tomboy Girl" a comedy drama that Is
even better than the "Shop Girl" the
play that floated Miss Williams to fame
In the popular price houses.
The "Humpty Dumpt!" company will
arrive here on Sunday midnight from
Atlanta, 1t requires fourteen cars to
TRANSPORT the company and parapherna-
liza, The train$wi be In two sections
the first consisting of the baggage and
scenery cars and the second of Pullmans
ana aa1 coaches CARRYING the members of
trains aggregates more than the entire
expense of many of the big all-star COM
panes: s,' l1 n NJ