The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-30
Iheaters
MINsTRELs HOLD MERRY
CARNIVAL AT ACADEMY.

AS we have taken occasion to remark
each year after his appearance here.
Neil O'Brien, since Honey Boy Evans
death. Is the unapproachahle king of
burnt cork comedians on the contem-
porary stage. 4 crowded house. as
usual. received his fourth annual OFFER
ing with apparently unbounded enjoy
ment. The setting for the first part
Is novel and unusually attractive. The
vocalists this year were somewhat be-
low the average. though their support
was ancommoniy good by chorus and
orchestra. J. Lester Haberkorn has
rich and vibrant baritone and James
Barardis counter tenor is still sweet
and musical. Lasses White, Eddie Ross
and Neil O'Brien are again the only
end men worth while and were very
amusing. though 1t does seem that they
might inject more new stun and dis
card the old to their advantage. Fol-
lowing a well-staged and executed
dancing ensemble. OBrien gives his an
nual side-splitting sketch in his own
inimitable style. THE Jitney Joy Bus"
of which the comedian. OF course. Is
the operator. and II compares favorAbly
with his previous skits of like charac-
ter. OBrien. while he may not be as
painfully funny as George Evans. Is a
more faithful delineator OF the darkey
character and as an interpreter of a
thick headed. stupid. over-grown negro.
he has no peer, nor has any one been
half so ridiculous.
Eddie Ross. the laeonic drawing In
divsdual who Is one of the big reasons
for the shows success. still extracts
deftly about all the music that can
be Drawn from a banjo. and again ac-
complishes the seemingly impossible
by whistling simultaneously the air
and alto TO the tinkling accompaniment
Of his african harp" His monologue
Is = faithful reproduction Of last sea-
sons but Is droll enough to stand repe-
tition. A one-act sketch. 1.-THE Bold,
Brave Black and Tans." closes the olio
and features I4asses White in a charac-
ter that bears evidence OF a close
study by the performer OF the well-re-
membered Honey Boy. The perform
ance in its entirety is hardly equal to
that of former seasons or OF one. at
least, OF Its competing organizations.
But 1t matters little what this column
expresses as to its merits. There Will
be two performances today and 1t Is
already difficult to obtain desirab Bile
seats c. p.
Al II. Wilson. the singing dialect
COueQiau anu Capapie CSupduys VIA
present the new Irish song play. my
Killarney Rose" at the Academy on
Wednesday matinee and night.
This latest Offering Of Mr.. Wilson's
was written by Herbert Hall Winslow.
who has an enviable reputation as =
writer Of successful plays. The at
mosphere Of MY Killarney Rose" IL
purely Irish in character and 10 on
HANGED by appropriate stage settings
and number OF electrical effects new
to stags-craft.
Around the plot Of the play. which
10 said to be ingenious. the author has
supplied an interesting story through
which n drawn well-denned threads
Of pathos ana comedy. This new de-
parture from the former offerings Of
this favorits comedian bids fair to
outrival In success anything he has
heretofore produced. since Il offers q
new field for his versatility.
A number Of songs will be introduced
during the action. the titles being my
Killarney Rose" 1.-THE Love Give to
You. where the Shamrock orows,s
Mary Houllihan." ana The YoAet that
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