Academy of Music.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4858, 5 August 1884, Page 2

Academy of Music.

" BIP VAN WINKLE."

. Another large audience assembled in the Academy of Music last night to witness' the production of the favorite weird American drama, " Kip Van Winkle, or the Sleep of Twenty Years," by Willmott's Company, The plot is well known to most of our readers, and the characters were; on the * whole, strongly cast, while the scenic effects were good. As in the case of" Struck Oil,'' the success of the. piece mainly depends. upon the impersonation of the Dutchman, arid Mr Jas.v' Wilkinson's pourtrayal of "Rip" was excellent throughout, especially on his awakening from his long sleep, his acting at times holding the audience spell bound, and anon calling fortli peals of laughter and bursts of applause. As Dame Van Winkle Miss Crawford was not in her element, and though her impersonation had many good points, there was a tendency at times to overdo the part. Mr Teece, as Burgomaster-Van Slavs,- and Mr Alexander, as his Scheming and unprincipled son, acted naturally, and tlie latter's hate when Rip; turned up just in time to annul the contract by which his fair dauebter RoweiiaV (MisC Lawrencd) hand and fortune were to become his, was well expressed. Mr, Kede's Knickerbocker was carefully played throughout, his courting adventures with the lively Alice (Miss Johns) causing immense fun, •while he was equally fortunate ,in' the roe of the successful candidate in the election, and two or three local hits in the final Court scene caused roars of laughter. Mr G. Marter's acting—first as Nick Vedder, then the dwarf in the cave, and lastly as the Judge—was commendable, and the part of Gustave (Mr. Balfe) was also well represented. The minor characters were taken by other members of the company. The scene of the villagers dancing was very pretty, and the weird night scene in the cave was so realistic as to .cause a universal shudder. For tonight the double bill of " All that Glitters is not Gold," and "My Neighbor's Wife," and to-morrow night Mr Willmott will take a benefit.