The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-08-28
COUNTY FAIR
EXCELLENT SHOW
Neil Burgess Appears at the
Academy in His Old
sssis s.. Role.
IM,INs Il AT The CASINO
SHaverly's Black Face Comedians
3$ Present a Pleasing Enter
tainment.

1.-THE County Fair" with Nell Burgess,
who made himself and the play famous
In the role of Abigail Prue. was pre-
scented at the Academy las night. The
play has, In Its best days. had tremendous
runs, but has failed to keep such O hold
upon the public as has he Old Home
stead, e Way Down East . and Shore
Acres Presented us it was last night
by the actor, whose name Is always as
ISOLATED with the piece, tt nevertheless
failed to draw q large aud ence.sg It must
be- reInembercd however that Mr.. Bur-
CESS has not been playing the role any
thing like the lifetime of the play II
self, and TO many his connec ton with
1T now did not mean q great deal. AS a
matter Of fact, this old 4 Now England
piece has been given a better production
here than 1t was last evening, and that,
too, with Mr.. Burgess gu OF the cast.
Staging Not Perfect,
There was lack OF attention to de-
tail In Z tho staging Of the present pro-
sduction that detracted from the effective
ness OF the piece. The atmosphere was
mot preserved as well as It might have
been had little more expense been at
tached to the merely mechanical part OF
the production. The stage settings were
not arranged with care. and In a3play of
tEis type much depends upon this.
The cast was not apove the average.
SO that what was lacking ri the setting
to assist the Imagination was not made
,up ny any very life-like portrayals of the
several III roles. Mr., Burgess brings into
play all Of his old business In the enact
ment Of the role Of the big -hearted8 spin
ster, but somehow does not impress one
as being quite SO convincing as ne might
be. It Is, perhaps, tho old story that
time will tell.
The race horse scene In the fourth act
does not now stir the audience to any
great enthusiasm, 1t being made Insight
ficant by comparison with the great Ben
Hur race, thought the latter owed its
conception as being practical for stage
presentation to the mechanism employed
in the race scene of THE County FAIR
The old familiar lines and scenes OF the
play are Still enjoyable, but a much more
elaborate production OF the piece than
that Of last night Will be Necessary to
bring the drama into popular favor again,
4Haverly's Minstrels Good
! IIaverly's Mnstodon Minstres showed
to large audience at the Casino last
night. 81
II that prehistoric term. mastodon,
means that itHla not fossil show, but.
on the contrary. good one then 1t is
a good definition, for the performance Is
exceptionally pleasing, In the sentiment
tai songs the singing was rather weak
but when the two end men, Billy Beard
and Billy Norris, sang a coon song, they
more than covered up the weak places.
There were many new gags, and these,
too, seldom failed to get a laugh, In the
| specalties jacobs and Sardee are ath-
lctes OF a high order, but they do not
| seem to realize there Is no humor In 81
! .sap-stick Swift and Bockley the ec-
centric musicians. are exactly to the
contrary; their music is very ordinary,
| but they are genuinely funny.
Bill Beard made good in an amusing
Imonologue, and responded to several on
| cores. # ~ s III II s
Several times during the performance
\ tho roar Of tho rain on the tin roof OF
the big building almost drowned the per-
| formance, but In no way dampened the
enthusiasm Of the audience. Hayerly's
AIinstrels Will show at the Casino the rest
/ Of the week. t4Etit lt8s- = 5{Eij5 4ttaiBH l- i