The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-01-07
MOTORING AND GENERAL SPORTING NEWS
The Merry Widow.
Merry AS Ever. Is
at the Academy

richmond mas not tired OF fh4H
Merry Widow" especially the waltz
IN the second act, which turns up
again at the close Of the third and coca
10 the Tilt OF Music Swaying, CONS
a Maying, lala-lal You we're saying
Hens are laying, la-la-la-" Or some s
thing equally appropriate
knowing person says tho name cf
the piece is 4 Love You So" Maybe
IT Is. There Is no accounting for
tastes. Probably the first time THIS
waltz was heard IL did sound good.
After 1t has been heard few million
times the title is an unhappy misno-
mer. Absence would make the heart
grow fonder Of it anywhere, almost.
Ii did not in the Academy, last
night, however. The audience de-
nanded 1t in the SECOND act at least
six times. After that the record Of
recalls was lost. There may have
been nine OF them. also. thera may
have been extenuating circumstances.
Come to think OF f., there were.
Charles Meakins. in spite Of carrying
q little extra hesh--which he Is sure
to lose before the season is much older
and Mabel WILDER were at least two
of the circumstance that extenuated.
They can dance. They seemingly know
all about the poetry OF motion and add
little ginger to II, ginger and liz
tie other spice-cinnauon, for Instance.
Meakins was the Prince Danilo, and
Mabel WILDER the Sonia, otherwise the
Merry Widow" herself. Mabel VIII
Der Is not beauty, after all, who needs
must demand police protection. but she
Is not without good looks, and has q
sophisticated air most becoming to
widow. She is graceful. and In the
language OF the day. believe us, she
can dance. She had Carmen, SalomA
and few other ladies with regulations
In the dancing line looking for their
laurels last night. Not that she Ia
Genee, but she certainly knows some
thing of the art and the style affected
hv the ladies in far warmer ciirnass
than Broadway, New York. In winter
time.
AS suggested, Mr.. Meakins Is n
tri1e plump to the eye. but IL he does
as much dancing the rest Of the week
as he did last night. he In likely TO be
down To fiancIng championship
weight before the season is much old
er, He was all over the stage and
into the footlights. too. And he
made a great big, ROBUST hiI. Mr..
Meakins can tell with truth that he
certainly captured the Richmond peo-a
pie.
Next 20 these bright particular
stars was that shining light. n. Po-7
pof. otherwise Oscar Figmau, a reg
ular comedian, clean cut, and polish-l
ed to the highest degree. Dir. Fig
| man WAS true 10 The best traditions
| ef the straight comic opera comedian
Just az Arthur wooley was true to
I the best traditions of opera houffe,
! Incidentally. r. J. Mccarthy gave a
splendid performance as Nova Ko-
vich and his display OF grief was
hjIarfnusiy affective
AS Vernon DaIhart displayed a very
good voice as De Jolidon and Olga
Roller a pair of magnificent orbs
and al Tally magnificent gowns as Ma
talie, the cast may be said tn he ex-
cellent 10 a superlative degree. In
/ the minor roles II was superb. One
| little girl OF the Maxim brigade, with
blue slippers and pink decorations, APP
pears to be a budding genius, and
Ralph Writings Englishman was 4
triumph In makeup.
Much might be said of the leader
OF the orchestra in Maxtnis-on thA
program as Frank Baliy, and also of
Viola Napp. Fi-Fi, who does dance
which won a worthy encore. two of
them. in fact
From which Il may be gathered
that the Merry Widow" was q large
and giittering success last night. II
was and more. IT took the Academy
! by storm, even as on it's first ap-
pearance. and. like many other coed
things, seems to improve with age.
Those who overlooked it last night
or who could not get In, will have IN
| opportunity today. A matinee. as well
as a night performance, In schedule4.