The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-09-02


Coloninl-Vnudcvillc.
Empirc-KincmncoIor
Ounce Mt the Academy.
Quincy Adams Sawyer" that ster-
ling story of New England life. as
dramatizcd from Charles FELTON,
Pidgin's novel by Justin Adams, and
as perpetrated twice yesterday at the
Academy of Music, sent two small au-
diences away wondering why 1t is
necessary to send fourth class show
to n :irst-class theatre. IL the Merry
Countess left the Academy gates only
slightly ajar, yesterdays ounce, with
it's labored comedy and fantastic ward
robe. drew them closer together The
Academy az Music has not yet opened.
1t Is difficult to be charitable, even
considering the lower scale of prices
that prevailed, and remembering that
| The production laid no claim to ex-
cellcnce. Rural New England never
looked 50 bizarre and its people never
! SO unreaI--rot even In the Way Down
Easts" that visit the Bijou occasionally
at the flag end Of the season. From
curtain To curtain ran the unfailing
note OF medocrity-5erse and urre
lieved.
A restatement of the plot would
SAVIOR of post-mortem, and since
the show is gone 1T need not be at
tempted. For the same reason the
play-actors who tried manfully and
womanfully to wiring genuine note
from their lines. but couldn't because
something was wrong, need not be
named. TIE ounce was Just one OF
| those kerosene circuit productions that
slight by mistake upon the stage Of
first class playhouse to get the
clientele's goat and the managers. The
regular patrons of the Academy OF
Music, however, are stickers. and they
are still waiting for the opening.
Lyric Bill Crowded with Novelties.
With last weeks successful opening
bill ahead of it, and. also the fact that
Six of the seven Keith vaudeville acts
en- this weeks program at the Lyric
are making their initial appearance In
Richmond. mere statement OF the fact
| that last nights performance at that
theatre quite equaled, II 1t did not eN-
coed, the splendid impression made py
the artists who first Introduced the
theatre and the class OF entertainment
to local amusement seekers, Is praising
as fully as words may be constructed 10
bespeak approval
Karl Kraft, juggler and an ecctn-
trio comedian. opened the vaudeville
bill splendidly. His feat of catching
apples on fork. during which he has
| n funny scene with man seated In
box, made MS auoience Boou-natureu
and appreciative.
Lewis and Dody billed as the two
Sems"-it must be that their Chris
tian names are Sam-made much OF
their Offering. which consisted of
italian and Hebrew representations, the
closing number. n medley of popular
and classical numbers, being so we'll
done that they were forced to speak a
few words of thanks.
Doris Wilson and her company, evil
IDENTIFY her two sisters. since 1t must be
lard for their relatives to tell them
apart provided as pretty singing sur
prise and novelty as may be expected to
be seen. The rich ~hangings in their
dressing room scene. combined with the
bewildering silks and laces worn by
the girls, as we'll as the vocal and har-
monizing powers OF the trio, earned
them big applause.
Peppino, one of the many piano-ac-
Gordon players already seen in this
city. confined his efforts to popular
melodies. after the classical selection
at the beginning. AS usual. with this
style Offering. 1t was received with
hearty goodwill.
Fred Bond. dean OF American
stage directors, with the artistic touch
SO certain in students of the stage,
and the coquettish and attractive Miss
Fremont Benton, made much or a
cleveriy devised comedy sketch, Hand
kerUhief No. 15." 1t is especially we'll
played by each OF the four players, and
earned them many curtain calls.
The big laugh, or succession or
laughs. OF the performance. lodged in
the blackface comedy offering OF Fay
two boys. Their resonant singing OF
specially written songs and parodies.
their dancing, their harmonizing, and
last, but not least, the oddities intro
duced during the offering, closed them
to a whirlwind OF applause.
Probably no such Offering as that
OF Delmore and Lee has ever been
staged in this city The immense
stage settings and the brilliant, per-
haps silver. gymnasium apparatus they
use, started them off so impressively
that their succeeding feats of hazard
and cleverness forced them to many
curtain calls. which, for the last act
on a bill. is quite indicative OF un-
usual value,
Pathe's Weekly, motion pictures OF
International subjects OF general i'm
terest held the crowd. One of the
pictures showed the American tennis
team returning home after winning
the worlds championship in England.
Ii any praise for the Lyric is need
cd after the first weeks success. the
current weeks program will bring 1t.
Empire Season Opens.
The Empire opened it's new season
yesterday to unusually large crowns;
Kinemacolor pictures. with special
black and white photo plays. is the
policy at that popular house this sea-
son. and one Of the greatest picture
programs ever shown in Richmond at
popular prices caused favorable COM
as varied as 1t is wonderful-the world
and it's peoples its customs and Its
beautiful places. have yielded up their
n Kinemac0IOr "A
body of men whose eyes never seem to
close. for they perpetuate every hap
pening of the day, Best of nil. several
ity are creating triumphs every day In
the film-art play. and that Of Nathan
Hale" as shown at the Empire yestcr-
day In three parts, is so realistic and
true to life that there is n consensus
Of opinion that tho photo play az pro-