The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-12
THE HAM TREE
At THE ACADEMEY
Mc1ntire and Hcatl, With a Fine
Company and Big
Chorus.
MARY MARBLE AT THE BIJoU
Countess Won Hatzfclt Will Play
"rhe Little Duchess" To-
morrow Night.

James Mcintyre and Thomas *. Heath,
the only living genuine dcllnentors of the
old-style OF negro, who nourIshed in the
South in the days OF their youth. are
stars of Klaw and Erlanger's production
OF George " Hobart's big musical vaude-
Vile. .Thc Ham Tree which has
proved success in New York. Philadel-
phin, Pittsburg and Chicago These art
lists, who have been before the public
for thirty years, present the negro with
all OF his natural comedy. Mcintyre and
| Heath long ago established their right
to be recognized as artists. and hold the
position Of leaders In this field of enter
| talnment. There Is no riot of raStlme.
coon shouting and obtrusive substitution
| this performance. They present re-
| markable contrast In their performance
to the garsh noisy style of their inartis
tic contemporaries. 1t Is refreshing to
| see two men, with Il few old clothes and
| the daub of burnt cork on their counte-
| nanCcS, create tue genuine atmosphere
of the Southland with tho natural touch
| OF the negro whose very seriousness Is
| productive of laughter. II Is this quality
| In their performance of Tho Ham Tree
| which raises them far above the ordinary
| and which proves a revelation to many
| who have not heretofore seen them or
| known of their remarkable success on
| the vaudeville stage. Klaw and E;rlangcr
| chose wisely when they selected these
two men as the stars of ''Thc Ham Tree
AS creators of innocent merriment they
certainly have no equals. Mr.. Hobart.
in the writing of The Ham Tree took
the famous old sketch, THE Georgia
Minstrels." which Mcintyre and Heath
had been playing for several years. and
! wrote his play around IL. The result is
one of the greatest laugh-makers tho
American stage has ever known. and
from the time OF til crse of tire curtain
till It's final fall at the end of the per-
formance, these clever artists keep the
audience in continuous laughter Klaw
and Erlangcr have given these players
their usual elaborate production. and
have surrounded them with remarkable
company, headed by Jobyna Rowland.
Carolyn Gordon, Belle Gold. Forrest Huff.
David Terrence and Alfred Fisher. Fred
erick V. Bowers. the popular tenor and
song writer. and w. c. Fields, tho tramp
OF the cast Besides the cast there is n
large chorus OF over sixty girls. making
the organization second To none in every
feature.
Mary Marble in Nancy Brown.
Rollicking mirth and laughing songs
are the salient features OF the clever
musical comedy which will he played at
the Bijou Theatre all this week. when
Nancy Brown" as impersonated by
petite Mary Marble with her bevy of
girls. will make merry with the intricate
adventures and pleasing comedy @ith
which the play abounds. Miss Mary has
undoubtedly done much to make Nancy
Brown the success 1t has been. but
the honors arc shared With her company
Of excellent players, who have ably
supported her. The scenes of tile play
are set In a picturesque oriental atnlos-
phere. the court of the Bey of Baiiyhoo.
TO this court comes Nancy Brown. with
n bevy of American helrcsses. one Of
whom she hopes to wed to the rulers
son. the crown prince. Meanwhile fonr
impecunions noblemen have arrived with
view to marrying the Bey's daughter
and to add 10 the complication the prince
falls in love with Nancy. There arc some
highly laughable situations and climaxcs
and the arrival of a fresh Yankee drum
mer. who posts bills on the sacred 1hlte
elephant tends to increase the fun. When
all is In most excited mix-up, Nancy
exhibits her powers as n diplomat and
settles everything in a manner sl..stac-
tory To all and the end Is happy as
usual. There is dashing chorus Of
girls who know how to look pretty and
to wear handsome gowns becoming'y.
The Little Duchess"
After meeting with success In concert
and vaudeville the Countess Won HATE.
feldt returning to tho musical coined,
stage comes to the Academy tomorrow
matinee and night In production OF
Dekoven and Smiths The Little
Duchess" which has been rewritten Ter
her. The Countess. q very clever young
woman, has many attributes that 20 t.
make up the successful star, and her
c!evcrness In singing and dancing. her
exceptional ability in musical comedy and
her attractive personality has placed her
among the top-notchers In tho CONC
opera line. The company supporting the
Countess Is said to be one or strenpt,
and clcycrncss.
Theatres Adopt 8:15 Curtain.
Beginning with the performance ut
the Bi1ou tonight the curtain VIII
rise on al night performances at sis
o'clock. This policy was recently
adopted at tho Academy and II has
met With such favor that Manager
McKee, will follow the same hour III
thc BiJou Patrons OF both NAV
hophes arc requested to be in their
seats at that hour rs courtosv IN
the management and tho company. as
well ~ tho patrons who arrive nj
n proper hour.