Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-12
ADJUSTMENTS
THE GINGERBREAD MAN" IS
HOLLICkISG GOOD Fun

II YOU want to tax your brain as
II hasn't been taxed since you tried
TO work out the answer 10 How old
Is Ann go TO the Academy OF Music
|'h!s week and try 20 solve the plot
problem Of The Gingerbread Man" as
presented by the Comic Opera Play
|ers. IL you want TO rest your brain.
already taxed BY thoughts OF other
'axes. go take in The Gingerbread
Man. let the plot alone and be thank
!ul for It's many sparkling numbers.
There are two ways OF looking at that
plot: ono Is as a thing too deep for
UNFRAMED minds to probe: the other
is as bit OF frothy nothingncss that
could quite as we'll be played back
wards as forward. And the second Is
the right way: II would be just as en-
pertaining II the piece began In the
middle Of the second act and played it
|se!f toward tho opening until that was
reached. and then jumped back TO the
second act and speeded 10 the end
Wherefore. II Is good for summertime
fintndS. No matter how hot the weather
becomes. proper enjoyment of The
Gingerbread Man" will not require
warm unplcasantly even one single
lobe. The piece is Mother Goose in
extravaGanza form: that is. p!cturized.
ISet TO music. danced and permeate led
with rollicktng comedy. most Of which
lis too foolish ever to have found place
n the dignihed pages OF Mother Goose
Itself. Beside the foolerics OF The
li!nrerbrcad Man. even Alice in
WONDERLAND" is an abstruse mathe-
frnatical treatise. Perhaps the children
will delight to take II seriously; the
IErown-ups must count time between
THE numbers. and they will be reward
led
These numbers. set to music by a.
baldwin Sloane. with lyrics by Fred
eric Ranken-with topical verses by
Roger Gray. bly-and staged
by Mr. Gray. make The Gingerbread
Man" worth just about twice what
Pnust be paid TO see and hear il, But.
in turn. they wouldn't he half 80
funny. or interesting, or pretty. as the
3case may be. but for the cleverness
bind ability Of the people WHO present
Them Which brings u.s. by round
about route. to the company-just
about where We started.
In the title role. and a good make
flp. Dan Marble gives an excellent per-
formance, proving again how the years
have added to his equipment. Mr.. Gray
achieves enough merit by his staging
pr the piece and contents himself with
h part OF few possibilities. Of which
however, he makes the most. Mr.. CUT
err grotesaues with good will. and Mr..
fieyer handles bit capably. Miss
Jersey sings charmingly, particularly
IN the Moon Song" one Of the pref
Hest Of the numbers. and in II duet with
Miss Ford. Beautiful Land of Bon
Bon." which Is one Of the hest bits of
singing done since the company opened.
fr. Roguts establishes himself as an
Extremely rare figure on the stage
|, tenor who is also an actor. His one
good song was done in good style last
night, while his acting performance
was noteworthy. Miss Hills-to the
boy Of the audience-was given an OPP
2ortunity to sing one interpolated song.
which she sang with such beauty Of
voice and distinction that the house
demanded an encore, and got 1t.
Little Miss Bush strengthened her
Iilready strong hold by playing, dane