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29 min, FS, 2 shows. On at 8:49. This is one of the most professional and literally ship-shape acts of ambitious kind that we have ever played. In fact, it is as good as Jerome K. Jerome’s short story wherein the workmanship is just as brilliant as if it were a long novel. The rise of the curtain displaying one of the most novel scenes ever seen in Vaudeville, gets a good hand and starts the houseboat adrift in good shape. The characters do exactly the opposite from what the audience expects and there is a surprise and a paugh [sic] at every turn. There is not a weak character in the cast and if the string of amusing episodes were to run out to a two hour length, I am sure that the audience would not tire. The man who plays the part of the Englishman, and the lisping ‘fluffy ruffles’ are irresistible, and the illuminations at the finish were a triumph of stage craft and got rousing big hand. The Morning Telegraph was right when it said this act was a model for Vaudeville features of this pretentious order. I see nothing but long continued prosperity for it and the people represented. There seems to be poor management in this act. The paraphernalia did not arrive in the city until after eight o’clock Monday morning, and did not get to the theatre until 12:30. In consequence there was great confusion and delay putting it on. More than that, there should have been a leader to give a first performance a good send off, as has been the case with other musical acts of like proportions. The consequence was that the afternoon performance went unevenly, and the finish which would have been a spectacular display, was a fizzle. The evening performance went O.K.
Source:
University of Iowa, Keith-Albee Vaudeville Collection, Manager Reports, 23 September 1907-12 March 1908