Fred Walton

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“Cissie’s Dream” 34 min. F.S. open and close in 2. 2 shows. This is a very interesting, artistic and novel feature. In fact, I fear it is a little over the heads of the audience, as well as too long drawn out. Little Cissie is put to bed and goes to sleep. She dreams that her toys have come to real life. After a quick dark scene there is a F.S. scene of the same playhouse that was seen in miniature in her nursery. Thereupon follows a lot of most amusing and grotesque work by Walton and his cast of living toy people, which includes a very pretty girl as the doll, a sprightly young man as a dude and a Jack-In-A-Box. It is all in pantomime. Walton’s work is very fine and holds the interest amazingly although there is rarely any laughter or applause. The manner in which he portrays every human sentiment and passion under difficult circumstances is quite remarkable. Walton received good advance hand and evidently has worked up considerable interest here which he will sustain throughout the week. The music is very apropos and pleasing. Closed good, with two curtain calls.   Important note on Walton’s act- “Cissie’s Dream” The young lady who took the part of Cissie was supposed to be discovered seated on the floor surrounded by her playthings upon the rise of the curtain, and to tell the story of her wish that they might be real grown up people. She then goes to bed and her dream is realized. This important part was quite lost on both of Monday’s audiences for the reason that Miss Meysereau, who took the part of Cissie, was attacked with stage-fright, and the little that she could recall of her lines could scarcely be heard halfway across the auditorium, so that it might have been pantomime as much as that which followed. Not only that, but Miss Meysereau made a failure as a child of eight years in appearance, for she was nearly as large as her nurse, and altogether started off with a bad impression. To-day, Tuesday, another Cissie has been substituted and gives it the idea of an eight-year old much better, and starts off the feature properly. This is an immense improvement and will have the effect of increasing the interest in the act.

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