Fred Irwin

Location:
Theater:
Date:
Type:
Several acts are involved in the full show: The first is "The Great White Way", a succession of songs, including the march from "the Pirates of Penzance". There is also an olio in four acts: There is singing in each, Irwin garnering his company with the sole object of obtaining voices. The hit of the vaudeville end is Gertie De Milt and the JVatson Sisters (Kittle and Fannie) in a "three-act" There are a couple of songs, "Rainbow" and "Mandy Lane," but the hard-shoe dancing makes the act immensely strong. The heavier Watson girl is a corking stepper for her size, bat Miss De Milt captures the big plum for dancing, as she does also in the burlesque in a "clown" dance. It is Bessie McCoy's "Tama Yama" without the music or the costume. The burlesque is "The Actor's Club." It is cut up into minute specialties, and is a "Review." There is one numper in this, "The Toy Soldier," with quite the neatest background. It is the best number remembered in burlesque. Edna Roberts led a "baby" song shortly after, but following too closely for any effect, although Miss Roberts won encores by offering to k'ss the audience. Singing "Mary" Florence Bennett claimed she was impersonating Fay Templeton. During the athletics of the Bennett Sisters (Christie and Margaret), when a couple of comedians thought they were doing something funny with a pail of water while "stalling." The Bennett girls give a fast exhibition of wrestling and boxing. "The Hebrew Fireman and the Foreman" is performed by Harry Campbell and Joseph Brady. James Harkins, a "coon shouter," opens the olio. "Huckin's Run" is repeated by Walsh, Lynch and Co., without change, excepting as to the girl perhaps. The same songs are there. One fits in, but there are plenty to replace "Take Me Back to New York Town." As David Warfield, Livingston has the artistic hit of the show. In Warfield's famous speech, Mr. Livingston employs a dog, which he leads by a string on the stage. In addition to this improvisation, Livingston has also a few lines not in the original manuscript of "The Music Master." Billy Walsh and Frank B. Lynch both have parts at first, but are used in a minor way after.
Source:
Variety 13:7(01/23/1909)