Two men. Burlesque Illusionists. This act played in burlesque here at the Star Theatre this winter. In some respects the act has gone backward. It seems to lack life and ginger which they are sacrificing for two or three illusions. I have seen the act go much better than it did today. Their close is weak. C.F.D. in three. Close in one. 18 min.
Two men. The billing reads Eccentric Grotesque Comedians. It is misleading. It should be Post & Russel assisted by a dog producing singing and dancing specialties, some cross fire talk, some jokes, and a few tricks by the dog. Both men work straight. They do a little of everything but their act seemed to please and they received the strongest applause of any not on the bill up to this time. Drop in one. 19 min
Sketch entitles “Jack & Jill”. These are the two children that were tried out by Mr. Rogers in New York house a year ago. They played Cleveland last winter at the Cleveland Theatre as the starts in a blood thirsty melodrama. The act they are now presenting is very pretty and appeals especially to the ladies. It went very well today and received a great deal of sincere applause. C.F.D. in 3. 21 min.
A man and a woman. These people are good choosers. The man opens with Chevalier song “My Old Dutch”. The woman opens with Vester Victoria’s song “Waiting at the Church”. They did not attempt to imitate anyone, but gave the songs as their own. They should have been arrested. To any one who has seen Chester or Vester Victoria the efforts of these people were pathetic. They closed with a coster laughing song that went quite well. Drop in one. 14 min.
Two men, colored comedy musical act. The best work is with the sleigh bells. Their act opened well but weakened toward the close. C.F.D. in 3, 17 min.
Two men and a woman, presenting a comedy sketch “The Wise Mr. Conn.” This is the same sketch we tried out and started in Philadelphia two years ago. The act contains a number of bright lines. Carter’s rapid work is the life of the act, and without him it would amount to nothing. It went very well today in spots, but it is hardly a suitable offering to follow Ed. Stevens, Carter had hard work with his songs. It should be noted that Edwin Stevens, who preceded him, sand three songs, that the Quaker City Quartette do little else but sing, that Finlay & Burke depend entirely on their singing to carry the act, and that Hodges and Launchmere do nothing but sing. It can be easily seen that Carter’s vocal efforts were not appreciated. The rough house fight at the end of the act sent it away with a good hand. 16 min. C.D.F. in 3.
Assisted by Miss Marshall. Sketch entitled, “A Night Out.” It should be understood at the start that Mr. Stevens does not close in one. We thought he did, because he did last year, and the result was, we had to follow this act with the kinetograph to save a five-minute wait. His entrance is the same as last year, and the body of the act is the same, but he has shifted it a bit to give Miss Marshall a chance. She simply acts as a feeder, and has no chance to show her ability, if she had any. While Stevens is a thorough artist, and while his act is as clever and polished as it was last year, it did not seem to go as well today as I have seen it go in the past. The finish of the act is very weak. There is absolutely no climax, the act ending with a simple little song. C.D.F. in 3. 23 min. THIS ACT DOES NOT CLOSE IN ONE.
This is the team that used to do the barbershop act. John Healy is now with them, doing the comedy. While the act is a welcome change from the old act, I doubt if it is as good. The close in one, in which Healy does the greater part of his old monologue, is the best part of the act. The black smith show does not amount to much. Closed to a good hand. 27 min. Full stage. Close in one.
Clown instrumentalist, presenting a musical act that is a novelty. He is assisted by a dog. One of the dog’s tricks is to lead the orchestra, with a baton tied to one of his fore-legs. The dog also plays the bells. A good novelty musical act. 13 min. F.S.
This man has some very clever dogs and some pretty ponies. He lacks personality, and looks like thirty cents in a dress suit. The dogs are well trained. His appearance and awkwardness prevent the act from being very good. As it is, it is good for this spot and that is about all. 11 min. F. S.
