Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-16
LOCAL TALENT GIVES
PRODUCTION OF "M|KAD0"
amateur Performance at Academy
OF Music Is Attended by Large
Audience.
OFFERING is WELL STAGED
Cast, Chorus and Orchestra Join
WhOlc-Iieartcllyc ENTHUSIASTICALLY
Pcrformancc-AIrS. George BETH
81, Bryant and Others Featured
ny JOIN GEORGE mAnnIs.

When the curtain rose AT the Acnd-
eih% OF Music last night. II revealed Il
dozen or more gentlemen Of Japan
strollinS !cisurcly about the stage. ar
raycd In kimono and pistails. for The
Nj ikado'J - in town for "A day or two
IL Is a very modern AIlltado. with up
to-date ideas and language and n com
pictc a'anainta nee among Isichmond
ties Of Tho dag. shown in frequent
reference 70 city officials and promi-
ncut citizens.
The revival OF the Gilbert Sullivan
iavorite by the Rotary Club in it's first
presentation last night gave Il perform
ahce that barring a few iapscs Of
varied natures. was OF highly credit
able and entertaining character. Cast.
chorus ani orchestra joined whole
hcartcdly IN q bright, nuSically strong.
humorous and generally praiseworthy
performance If any one came OK
Dectins that. Alvin Smith. with his
clever comedy, WAS gong 10 b." the
whole show the? were disappointed.
for. as clever as h" Was Ill. Inner
sonation "f k.ltisla b. Mrs George
Bethel, ana jhat OF POO Ban. by toward
bryant. were 500 good - be cXc.ll.d.
ENERrTHING Is As NEAR
JAPANESE AS C0tLD RI:
The p"y was especially staged and
costumcd and in these respects vs.
a =
- JapancS" :R We might expect cut
'idc Of Tokohome or NnSosaki. TIL.
opening "f the second yet. u Japanese
garden. with tho ladies OF tho chorus
grouped about Tho Siaie was c.p~c .,i
y artistic aud brought 1, burst "a! aD-
piause. If they have public "X.cution.
re In Japan rs terrifying ls Alvin
smith looked Win his huge chic. Sc.
Snifc and tn" section OF ships .iaw So!
pom his neck a IL Or. Cook "" VIII.
t5N al home EIt Nr. !mith certain
did have q 10, Of trouble with those
Honare trousers and he had the audi
nc" rather worried I.iE.vis,. IA
snas iorsneit" was nothing Il no,
oriental. since VIC hav. ncv." seen
Sih'ng like tina; hero hcfcre
turning TO the musical Side oc the
cFiofHihhcc. praise must Toe awarded to
tch member OF the cast. Mrs. Norman
an as Yum Yum, about whom much
d INC action ccntcrs. Mas q most at
faciiNc young heroine aud brou.l,
bcaut? aud charm - the roll. jI.r
1910 in IN" second act The sun Whose
ihys In which she was seated alone
On inc stage. was .rrcti lily sung. anu
made :; delightful picture IN the cal
infn hight sine was vision IN silver
nd gray tones. Tie irio cf thrcr lit
ie maids MAS mad. uD Of Miss Mar
ortc liarcum and Mrs. Lou Ella Cow
ncrd. with Mrs. Cali. nuch OF the bur
len OF tlic solo work faltiur: 10 Miss
farcum. who's" lovely coutralto voice
gave tho greatest amount Of pleasure.
She sang her solo parts splandidly- and
such voice i" rare. indeed OF tho
ounccr cortraltoS or the city. She Il.
almost without peer.
Mrs. Gcorrn Bethel. as katisha made
most amusing elderly coque,;c. bring
ne out tho droll features OF the part
F,nd proving capa Die comcdicnnc. Her
scene with ko- ko WAS fanny and
nirth- provoking her songs pa-ticu-
arly the recita;!ve in The second act
|iisniaych hcr voice :" advantage.
MALE VOICES STAND
OFT WELL IN ENSEMBLE
or tho male solo!s,s. Lynn Tucker
as NankiPooh sang well. and was
Equal to his part. his makeup being
Excellent; Norman cali was in nnc
voice. and his resonant and fuli bar
one quality stood ont we'll in al the
ensemble numbers: Howard bryant was
Vel cast az rcch-E2h, tn" role suitinc
aim exactly. and he sang as usual TO
he satisfaction OF all; Horace Powell
'anE his solo in tho role OF the Miitado
,api,ally: -Nv.n Smith sang wei!
kWhcn he chose. and Durlcsaued his
3.lcrerncss.
parts of tn" production, the two .fnales
moving The chorus up remarkably
we'll for volume and quality Of tone.
ORCHESTRA GETS AWAY
FROM CHORUS At TIMES
5Thc orchestra comprising abou,
wcnty or tho musicians OF the city.
|or the most part. was good, though
times there was An inclination to
andcr OF by themselves ana leave
ne chorus and sololsts to do the bcs,
liey could without orchestral assist
nee. kiTh Mathews WAS right on the
1b a. all times. and displayed a master
and in Keeping things going straight.
lie was obliged 10 supplement his Ill
ection with the baton by audible re-
marks ana admonit!ons. which were
Undoubtedly necessary. In the suc
NedInE performances however. these
tile dev!ations of rhythm and attack
III have been solved. ANA the mlshaos
f. the premier performance will he
bscnt
Taken as whole. the presentation
as we'll done rejecting credit on both
". Smith and MIR. Mathews for tho
ainstaking work they have invested
4. the revival Of the opera. There
re numerous parts Of the presentation
T. this time which call for special
raise. among these the quartet in the
Madrigal" brightly Dawns Our
WEDDING Day" the ladies' chorus OPEN
ne the second act, the Tit Willow"
yet, and others. if there were time
nd space to mention them.
There will be matinee and night per-
ormances to-day.
yHrDAlAlIo nrrat,t aasH~-