Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-24
ADJUSTMENTS
JoLsoN SCORES HIT IN
uItORISSON CnuSOE IN !,


The musical extravaganza. Robinson
Academy of Music. proved to be an un-
qualified success. and met with the
entire favor Of the large audience. dem
onstrated in veritablc riot of en-
thusiasm. With everything in the way
Of weather unfavorable. the curtain
rose upon 4 very well-filled house,
and evidently one which came with
the intention OF getting the most en-
joyment possible out of the perform
ance as a whole and from the antics
and jokes of the one and only AL
Jolson.
The production was given with all
the lavishness of the famous Winter
Garden. The chorus-large, attractive
and we'll costumed; the scenes-varicd
and spectacular; the little platform.
extending out into the audience, all
were suggestive Of the wcll-knoo II
and always popular New York theater.
1t required stretch of imagination
to believe that the company had been
eighty -four weeks on the road.
Al Jolson was the pivot about which
the performance revolved, and the pivot
was by no means a fixed one. He was
constantly Oh the move and always
breaking out in some new place. Jol-
n
face comedy; he has always been
kind of composite of Primrose and
West, Lew Lockstader and any other
burnt-cork comedian one might think
of. with dash of Bill Nye and James
whitcomb 'Riley thrown in. His style
is inimitable. and the audience capitu-
lated to him completely. His speech
on Robinson Crusoe's island. Begin
ming with meaningless sentences, with
out form or conclusion, DEVELOPED sud-
denly into an impassiored appeal for
he purchase OF Liberty bonds. which
aroused the greatest enthusiasm, re-
lapsing again into the same senseless
tnanity.
Jolson's songs. Ike his witticisms
met with great favor. While. music
ally speaking. Jolsrn's singing leaves
something 10 b. desired from the
standpoint OF pure vocal art. his own
.nimitaole style and his selection Of
remarkably catchy melodies has made
dim favoritc with all who like music
with rhythm and personal appeal. His
songs last night embraced many Of his
Old favoriteS: one. in particular. a pot
D"urr: nt Did Winter Garden songs, in
GLIDING such airs as .he Hunting
Melody" almost br, uGhi the crowd to
It's feet. His When Leave the World
Behind" was a decided hit. His speech
before the curtain was also much rel
Ishcd. and no INDUCED here In some
personal "reminiscences. including an
appreciation of Kitty and Mabel which
was characteristic OF him. His capacity
| OF taking the audience into his con-
dence is one OF his best mannerisms
Mr. Jolson was supported by an ex-
! ceptionhlly strong company and chorus.
! The latter especially was always a
leading and attractive feature. or un-
usual personal pulchritude. the chorus
members exhibited their charms quite
/ frankly In variety OF costumes. in
dicative OF golf. tennis. boating and
/ hunting. also maSQueradng as sailors.
! Spanish maidens. Crusoniennes-to coin
word--and such varied number in
addition that the memory fails to re-
/ call them all. Their singing was good
and some attractive marches and spec
! tacular features were introduced. The
/ chorus were never idle, and this is one
VI the comm"ndable points OF the pro-
duction that the time never lags.
/ Al each entr'acto. something was GO
ing on before the curtain, one of the
best of these being the Maynower
dance with pretty little MaLe. withee
and Harry kcariey in Colonial costume.
Lawrence D'Orsay was familiar
figure as Captain Chichester Always
taking the Englishman to perfection.
his wcll-known "Haw-haw" was remi.
niscent of old times. The other leading
parts were well sustained, FFranklin
Battle. as Hiram Westbury, and later ms
Robinson Crusoe, making nrst-rate
impression. His song "Robinson Cru