The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-02-16

eelored performers.
Bijsu-Grayce scott company. 4.
"Darothy vernon."
Lyric-Ke1th Vaudeville.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES and motion pie
twres-
Saperier-Motton pictures.
Neutrality-suspicious. pIctures-
The phenomenal popularity of THE
Chocolate Soldier is due to the fact
that il Is radical contrast to the
musical productions common on our
stage in which a single song Is relied
upon to offset a hundred other de-
fects Of Ibretto and score. 1t Is a
pure and rare specimen of comic opera
and perfectly balanced animation of
dramatic scenes. in which comedy. sa-
tire and romance are wittily blended.
and superb songs, waltxes and marches.
each IMPLYING some passing mood OF
the action and each genuine bit or
melody. Bernard Shaw's spirited ro-
mantle satire. ARMS and the Man.
is the dramatic source of the opern,
to which Oscar Straus has added the
finest product OF hts musical genius in
a score that amaxcs and amuses critics
ana piaygoers of all degrees.
The Chocolate Soldier will appear
mt the Academy tonight and Tuesday
and Tuesday matinee. Critics, and the
steruest of them. have searched in
vain for flaws and biemishes in the
Individual and united work of the
members OF the Whitney Opera com
pany. Finish precision and dra-
matte skill that is rare In companies
of this kind are the weii-known merits
OF Mr.. Whitneys organization. The
Wild grandeur of the Bulgarian noun
tains, in whose Businesses the scene is
laid, afford striking background for
the rich costumes. the many hued uni
forms. the elaborate pomposity of the
men and the voluptuousness of the
women In that faraway land. All this
Mr. Whitney has represented In his
production with distinctive grace and
elegance. The unusually difficult or
chestration Of Straus' masterpiece is
secure in the hands OF the special or
ehestra OF picked musicians with which
Mr. whitney has equipped the COM
pany.
dorothy Vernon, Of Haddon Hall,
In To be the attraction at the Grayee
Scott Rijou theater this week, begin
ming tonight. The mere annottacc-
metft that Manager Newing has select
ed this charming play as the vehicle
for his star will cause mild sensa-
tion Built around the most dramatic
period OF English history. during those
days whom courtiers wooed and won
their ladies fair at the end of lance
rich and brimful of intrigue and court
life Dorothy Vernon. of Hadden Hail.
viii go down as the most suecessfui
achievement of the current stock sea-
son.
Miss Scott. as Dorothy Vernon the
heydenish young woman who defies
queen and outwits her, yet who has
tender heart particularly tender Tor
4 particular man. will be more pleas
antiy cast than she has been since
When Knighthood Was In Flower
held the boards. Miss Theodore Dud-
icy u to have chance to show just
what she can do with Mary. Queen of
Scots; Miss Atkinson is to be seen as
Queen Elizabeth. while Mr.. Warner.
SIR. Thompson, MIR, Bassett and Mr..
3erthelet will share the principal male
-oles. The production will be literally
kumptuous the original production be-
ing reproduced in every detail.
The Kid Kabaret. one OF Gus Ed
wards latest and most pretentious Of
ferings, Will be the headline feature at
Keith's Lyric this week. This COM
Iany IL composed OF fifteen or twenty
Juvenile entertainers and promises to
be one of the real treats of the sea-
son.
An instructive and interesting fea-
"Barbarous Mexico given by Captain
Winfield King, who has recently re-
turned from that country. where he
was in a position to learn many In
side facts regarding both the federal
lists and the constitutionalists. His
talk Is fully illustrated with interest
NIX views, never before shown to the
public.
The usual number Of excellent acts
will complete the vaudeville bill.
We were disappointed In not having
pictures Of Governor Stuart's fnaugu-
ration last week, but the General Film
company has promised that they Will
be ready for exhibition today.
HeadiininE the bill at the Colonial
for the first three days OF the week
will be the comedy duo. McGrath and
Yoeman, in their original comedy sktt,
..rhe Lunatic and the PrimA Donna"
Every line IN the skit contains
laugh, and every situation. and there
are many, Ii said to be provocative OF
FUN OF the clean and wholesome kind.
Advanced reports ON this act are very
laudatory Of its merits. and 1t may
% safely predicted that Colonial pa
IRONS viii and II thoroughly TO their
liking.
This headliner with the regular
number OF other acts and motion pic
.ures will MI out the program.
There will be three reels OF first
time shown motion pictures TO conl-
aplatA the bill for tho first half Of the
we1k. ~ usual the Country Store